{"product_id":"microsoft-access-2021-retail-2-pc","title":"Microsoft Access 2021 Retail [2 PC]","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMicrosoft Access 2021: The Current Perpetual Release of Microsoft Access\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf your team has been running Access 2016 or 2019 and is ready to move to the current perpetual edition with the modern data types, the modern Linked Table Manager, and the dark theme, Access 2021 is the right edition. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-access-2021-retail-2-pc\"\u003eAccess 2021\u003c\/a\u003e is the current perpetual release of the Access desktop application, included in the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-office-2021-pro-plus-phone-activation-1-pc\"\u003eOffice 2021 Pro Plus phone activation\u003c\/a\u003e family and supported through October 13, 2026. This page covers what is in the 2021 release, how a two-PC retail key activates, the new features that distinguish 2021 from 2016, who this edition is for, what your hardware needs to run it, and the licensing details that determine whether a 2PC retail license is the right fit for your team. Access 2021 keeps forms, queries, reports, and macros running on the familiar \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-office-2021-pro-plus-bind-1-pc\"\u003eOffice 2021 Pro Plus BIND\u003c\/a\u003e desktop, with a modernised ribbon, a dark theme, and the same ACCDB engine your team already relies on. The product key is delivered to your account dashboard the moment your payment clears, and you can reactivate the same PCs after a clean reinstall, a hardware swap, or a motherboard replacement. 🗃️\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Included and How Activation Works\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen your order is confirmed, you receive a 25-character \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-access-2016-retail-2-pc\"\u003eAccess 2016\u003c\/a\u003e product key delivered to your account dashboard and your order email. The key is a genuine, unused Microsoft retail key that activates Microsoft Access 2021 on two Windows PCs for the lifetime of the hardware. Because the key is retail, it can be reused on the same two PCs after a clean reinstall, a Windows reset, or a hardware upgrade on either machine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe standard activation flow takes about ten minutes on a Windows PC with a broadband connection:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownload the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-office-2021-pro-plus-retail-5-pc\"\u003eOffice 2021 Pro Plus retail\u003c\/a\u003e Deployment Tool from the official Microsoft download center and customize the install to include Access 2021.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRun the Office 2021 installer on the first target PC and accept the license terms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen any installed Office 2021 application and go to \u003cstrong\u003eFile → Account → Activate Product\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnter the 25-character Access 2021 key from your order email and confirm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepeat steps 2-4 on the second PC using the same key.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Access 2021 Runtime is freely redistributable from the official Microsoft download center, which means you can ship a custom ACCDB application to end users who do not have Access installed. The runtime runs ACCDB files in a locked-down mode with all design-related UI removed or disabled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features and Capabilities\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModern Add Tables task pane.\u003c\/strong\u003e Add tables to relationships and queries from a side pane that stays open while you work. The task pane is faster than the legacy Add Table dialog and keeps the table list visible throughout the design session.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModern Linked Table Manager.\u003c\/strong\u003e A central place to view, refresh, relink, edit, find, and delete linked tables across the database. The Linked Table Manager tracks the data source, the connection string, and the schema version of each linked table, so refresh operations can be scripted and repeated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate\/Time Extended data type (DateTime2).\u003c\/strong\u003e A new data type based on the SQL Server DateTime2 type. Date\/Time Extended supports the full 0001-01-01 to 9999-12-31 date range and nanosecond time precision, which is a significant upgrade from the legacy Date\/Time data type and a much better fit for scientific, audit, and multi-jurisdiction use cases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDark theme support.\u003c\/strong\u003e The dark gray and black themes that ship with Office 2021 are available in Access 2021, alongside the classic Office color palette. Dark theme is a softer take on high-contrast visuals and is the right choice for users who work long sessions in front of the screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSQL View Find and Replace.\u003c\/strong\u003e The new Find and Replace dialog in SQL View searches for and replaces text inside SQL statements. The dialog is especially useful for long, multi-line SQL where inline searching is not practical.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHex color input in the Colors dialog.\u003c\/strong\u003e A new Hex input field in the Colors dialog lets you enter a hex value directly, without converting it to RGB. The input is available in every place where Access lets you define a color, including form, report, and control color properties.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImproved Query Designer.\u003c\/strong\u003e Right-click a table in the Query Designer to choose Open, Design View, or Size to Fit. The improvements are small but make the daily work of building and adjusting queries noticeably faster.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImproved Relationships window.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Relationships window supports Size to Fit for tables, selection of a subset of tables and relationships, and horizontal scrolling with the mouse scroll wheel. The improvements are a direct response to user feedback on complex relationship graphs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eACCDB engine carried forward from 2016.\u003c\/strong\u003e The ACCDB format, the VBA 7.1 development environment, the Linked Table Manager, and the form, report, and query designers are all carried forward from Access 2016, so existing ACCDB applications open and run unchanged in Access 2021.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFree Access 2021 Runtime.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Access 2021 Runtime is freely redistributable from the official Microsoft download center, which is the right distribution channel for shipping ACCDB applications to end users who do not have Access installed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho This Edition Is For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft Access 2021 is the right edition for the bulk of small and mid-size Access deployments that want a current, supported release with a perpetual license. The personas below describe the most common buyers of a 2PC Access 2021 retail license.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmall and mid-size businesses running line-of-business apps.\u003c\/strong\u003e If your operations team has built Access applications for inventory, customer records, work orders, or membership databases, Access 2021 is the current target. The 2PC key covers a developer workstation and a deployment workstation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIT teams upgrading from Access 2016 or 2019.\u003c\/strong\u003e Access 2021 is the right target for any Access 2016 deployment that wants to stay on a supported release. Existing ACCDB files open and run unchanged, and the new Date\/Time Extended, dark theme, and modern Linked Table Manager are the right reasons to upgrade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIndependent developers and consultants.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you build and ship Access solutions to clients, a 2PC key covers your development and test machines. The Access 2021 Runtime is freely redistributable, so the same solution can be delivered to clients without additional licensing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower users consolidating spreadsheets.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you have outgrown a shared workbook and need a relational database with forms and reports, Access 2021 is the right step up. You can keep using Excel for analysis while Access holds the structured data behind it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSystem Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft Access 2021 runs on the same modern Windows baseline as the rest of the Office 2021 family. A 64-bit Windows PC with at least 4 GB of RAM is the practical minimum; 8 GB or more is recommended for users who work with large ACCDB files or many linked tables.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eComponent\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMinimum\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRecommended\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOperating system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWindows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWindows 11 64-bit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProcessor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.6 GHz dual-core x86 or x64\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModern 64-bit multi-core CPU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 GB (32-bit) or 4 GB (64-bit)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 GB or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStorage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 GB free\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSSD with 10 GB or more free\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDisplay\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1280 × 768\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1920 × 1080 or higher\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGraphics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDirectX 9 with WDDM 2.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDirectX 10 or later for hardware acceleration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInternet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRequired for activation, updates, and online templates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBroadband for co-authoring and cloud features\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft Access 2021 is supported through October 13, 2026, under the Office 2021 mainstream support policy. Mainstream support includes security updates, non-security updates, and free assisted support. The release continues to be a perpetual license that can be deployed and run for as long as the hosting Windows PC is operational.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eActivation and Licensing Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eYour Microsoft Access 2021 retail key is a perpetual, two-PC license tied to the hardware on which it is first activated. A few details worth knowing up front:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo PCs, lifetime of the hardware.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each key activates Access 2021 on up to two Windows PCs. There is no expiry and no recurring fee.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRetail key, not OEM.\u003c\/strong\u003e A retail key can be reused on the same PCs after a clean reinstall or a hardware refresh. An OEM key, by contrast, is locked to the first motherboard it activates on.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReinstalls are supported.\u003c\/strong\u003e Format the disk, replace the motherboard, or move to a new PC: reactivate using the same key on the same PC. The activation server recognizes the entitlement as long as the key is being used on the same two PCs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccess 2021 Runtime is free.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Access 2021 Runtime is a separate, freely distributable installer that runs ACCDB applications in a locked-down mode.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMac is not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e Access 2021 is a Windows-only application. There is no Access for Mac edition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVolume licensing is not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e For ten or more seats, an Open License, Open Value, or Microsoft Customer Agreement is the right path. The Access 2021 retail key here is for individual and small-team use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGet Started With Microsoft Access 2021\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuying a Microsoft Access 2021 retail key is the fastest way to put the current perpetual release of Microsoft Access on two Windows PCs, with no annual fee and no time limit. Once the order is confirmed, the key is in your inbox, the activation steps are above, and Access 2021 is installed in one short session. If you have any questions about whether Access 2021 is the right edition for your team or your workflow, our support team is on hand before and after the purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMicrosoft Access 2021 Alternatives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree credible alternatives cover most small-team database workloads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLibreOffice Base\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFree, open-source desktop database with native driver support, form designer, and macro language.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAirtable\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCloud-based no-code database with rich field types, automations, and a strong template marketplace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eMicrosoft Power Apps + Dataverse\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCloud-based low-code platform from Microsoft. Best fit for organisations already on Microsoft 365 that need mobile and web deployment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to choose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stay on Access for local-only data, deep VBA macros, and a one-time licence. Choose LibreOffice Base for a free, local alternative. Choose Airtable for cloud-first, no-code workflows. Choose Power Apps for enterprise-grade cloud and mobile deployment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat is new in Access 2021 compared to Access 2016?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccess 2021 carries the ACCDB engine, the form and report designers, and the VBA 7.1 development environment forward from Access 2016. The 2021 release adds the modern Add Tables task pane, the modern Linked Table Manager, the Date\/Time Extended (DateTime2) data type with nanosecond precision and the 0001-01-01 to 9999-12-31 date range, dark theme support, the SQL View Find and Replace dialog, the Hex color input in the Colors dialog, the improved Query Designer, and the improved Relationships window.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs Microsoft Access 2021 the last perpetual Access release?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft has confirmed that Office 2021 is the last perpetual release of the Office suite under the traditional cadence, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-office-2024-pro-plus-ltsc-phone-activation-1-pc\"\u003eOffice 2024 Pro Plus LTSC\u003c\/a\u003e is offered as a one-time release under the Office LTSC program rather than as a broad retail SKU. Access 2024 is the current LTSC release for users who want a perpetual Access license that is supported for the longest possible period. Access 2021 remains a fully supported, perpetual release through October 13, 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCan I open an Access 2021 database in Access 2016 or Access 2024?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. Access 2016 and Access 2024 both open, edit, and save ACCDB files created in Access 2021. The ACCDB format has been the same since 2007, and Access maintains full backward compatibility for ACCDB files within the Access 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 releases.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCan I install Access 2021 on a third PC?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Each Access 2021 retail key activates the application on up to two PCs. To install Access on a third PC, an additional retail key is required. If you need a multi-PC license that follows the user rather than the device, Microsoft 365 Apps is the right path.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eDoes Access 2021 include Microsoft SQL Server?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Access 2021 is the desktop database application only. SQL Server is sold and licensed separately. Access can link to SQL Server tables using ODBC, which is the standard pattern for moving an Access front end onto a SQL Server back end when the data grows beyond the 2 GB ACCDB limit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eHow long does delivery take?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Access 2021 product key is delivered to your account dashboard and order confirmation email immediately after payment is confirmed, typically within seconds. The installation and activation flow on each target PC takes about ten minutes on a modern PC with a broadband connection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","brand":"Microsoft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59850905026641,"sku":"MS-002-MICROSOFT-ACCESS-2021-RETAIL-2-PC","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/0191\/6241\/files\/microsoft-access-2021-retail-2-pc.webp?v=1784725449","url":"https:\/\/dotkeys.net\/products\/microsoft-access-2021-retail-2-pc","provider":"DotKeys","version":"1.0","type":"link"}