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Hi - I just received a new pc and after downloading SSMS v 20.2 I’m trying to import data into sql server. I receive an error message that the Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 provider is not registered on this machine. After some research found that I should install Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 (Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.16.0) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920 which I completed. But I am still receiving the same error. Anyone have any additional thoughts on what to try next?

1 Spice up
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Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 comes in two flavors 64 bit and 32bit, you probably need to install the 32 bit version. There is a chance when you do it through the installer that it tells you now because the 64 bit version is already installed or you have office 64 bit installed, however, if you install it via command line it works.

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Maybe try and register the Access Database Engine manually via command line? Or you could head to Control Panel > Programs and Features and ten find the MS Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable and repair it to see if that makes it work.

If these don’t work you could try and us something like BCP which is basically a bulk copy program that can import large amounts of data quickly or even the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard in SSMS under the tasks menu for a particular database.

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Hi Stefan - I should have been more clear. I am trying the use the SSMS import data feature but whenever I select excel and pick my file that is when I receive the error message.

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To import an excel file using the task ‘import data’ (sql server import and export wizard) in ssms first under datasource select excel (if it’s really a csv file, select ‘flat file’ instead). Then the trick is to select the correct version of excel file to import. Sounds like maybe you’re selecting for access source instead of excel, maybe?