How to Save a Database as a Template in Access 2016

You can save your database as a template to use as a starter for your next project, or to distribute to others for their own projects.

Here's how to save your database as a template. I'll also show you where to select your template when creating a database from it.

  1. Screenshot of Access with the File menu highlighted

    Open the File Menu

    Open the database that you want to create the template from.

    Click File in the top left corner of Access to open the File menu.

  2. Screenshot of the saving the database

    Save As... Template

    Select Save As from the left menu, then Template from the Save Database As pane.

    Click the Save As button.

  3. Screenshot of the saving the database

    Provide the Template Details

    Enter the name of the template, a description, and any other information you'd like to provide.

    By default, the database will be saved without data. If you'd like to include the data, select Include All Data in Package.

    Click OK to create the template.

  4. Screenshot of the dialog box

    Template Created

    Access will display a message that the template has been created (and display its path).

    Click OK.

Use your Template

Now that you've created a template, here's how you can create a database from it.

  1. Screenshot of Access with the File menu highlighted

    Open the File Menu

    Open the database that you want to create the template from.

    Click File in the top left corner of Access to open the File menu.

    Alternatively, you can just open Access at the Welcome screen.

  2. Screenshot of the File menu

    Select New

    Click New in the left menu.

    Click PERSONAL to display your personal templates.

    Once you've used the template, it will probably appear in the list of templates on this screen.

    In that case, you can select it directly from this screen.

  3. Screenshot of the template

    Select the Template

    Your personal template will be listed. Click the template you'd like to use.

  4. Screenshot of naming the database

    Name the Database and Create

    Enter a name for your new database and click Create.

    Your new database will be created based on the template.