| First Published 28 July 2026 | Last Updated 26 Aug 2026 |
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After several years with very few new Access items, there have been a lot of new features in recent months with more items expected later this year.
To help developers keep track, this article provides a summary of the main changes together with current availability and related articles with detailed information.
It will be updated periodically when availability changes.
New Features - most recent first
Key:
Channels with Feature Updates: MEC = Monthly Enterprise Channel; CC = Current Channel; CCP = Current Channel Preview; Beta = Beta Channel
NOTE: LTSC = Long Term Service Channel (security updates only; no feature updates)
| Year | Feature | More Info | Access Editions |
Version / Channels |
Related Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Change Font Size in the Property Sheet | Access Options | Object Designers | 2016 onwards (NOT LTSC) through to 365 | 2608 CC, CCP, Beta |
|
| Cascading Combo Boxes and List Boxes | No code approach based on LinkMasterFields/LinkChildFields properties | 365 only | 2607 Beta only |
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| Big forms and reports | Removal of 22 inch width limit | 365 only | 2607 Beta only |
||
| Zooming feature - Stage 2 | Continuous & Popup forms; Report view; VBA support | 365 only | 2607 CCP, Beta and CC (rolling out) |
Zooming Feature (Stage 2) Now Rolling Out Fine Tuning the Zooming Feature (2 pages) |
|
| Zooming feature - Stage 1 | Single forms; datasheets; split forms | 365 only | 2605 All Channels |
||
| Full-screen mode | Removes ribbon & status bar to maximize screen space for app | 365 only | 2604 All Channels |
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| New SysCmd Actions | 6 new SysCmd actions to get detailed version info | 2016 onwards (NOT LTSC) through to 365 | 2604 All Channels |
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| 2025 | Regular Expresssions added to VBA library | Enables use of RegExp functions without reference to external libraries | 2016 onwards (NOT LTSC) through to 365 | 2508 All Channels |
|
| 2024 | Improvements to Modern Charts | 10 new chart types with extensive VBA support | 365 only | 2409 All Channels |
(3 pages) |
| Monaco SQL Editor | Significantly improved replacement to the old legacy SQL editor | 365 only | 2408 All Channels |
(4 pages) | |
| 2023 | Large Address Awareness in 32-bit Access | Allows 32-bit Access to use 4 GB of virtual memory (previously 2 GB) as for 64-bit Access | 2016 onwards (NOT LTSC) through to 365 | 2310 All Channels |
|
| Edge Browser Control | Modern control to replace old legacy IE-based web control | 2024 and 365 | 2304 All Channels |
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| 2022 | VBA Project Signing | Code signing of Access ACCDB / ACCDE databases and VBA code | 2024 and 365 | 2212 All Channels |
(2 pages) |
| Dataverse connector | Provides cloud storage, Azure security and links to Power Platform | 2024 and 365 | 2206 All Channels |
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| 2019 | New Linked Table Manager | Significantly enhanced functionality | 2019/2021/2024/365 | All Channels | |
| LabelName property | Assign labels to controls at runtime | 2019/2021/2024/365 | All Channels |
Upcoming Features
| Feature | More Info | Access Editions |
Expected Release Date | Related Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner radius property | Customizable rounding for form & report controls | 365 only | Sept 2026 | |
| Improved DateTime Picker | 365 only | Late 2026? | ||
| Zooming Feature in Forms & Reports - Stage 3 | Design View; Layout View | 365 only | T.B.A. |
Further Reading
A Trip Down Memory Lane A review of Access from Version 1.0 to the present day.
Microsoft 365 Roadmap - Access
What's new in Access for Microsoft 365
What's new in Access 2024
What's new in Access 2021
What's new in Access 2019
Feedback
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| Colin Riddington | Mendip Data Systems | Last Updated 26 Aug 2026 |
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