What is a .ADE file?
The file extension .ADE is associated with Microsoft Access, which is a program used to create and manage databases on your computer. Specifically, an .ADE file is called an Access Project Extension file. It's a special kind of database project file that you can create using Microsoft Access.
When you work on a project in Microsoft Access, you might save your work as an .ADP file, which includes all the data and information you've entered. However, if you want to make your project more secure and prevent others from seeing or editing your code, you can compile it. Compiling turns your code into a format that the computer can understand, but humans have a harder time reading. When you do this in Microsoft Access, your project is saved as an .ADE file instead of an .ADP file.
The main difference between an .ADP file and an .ADE file is that in an .ADE file, all the programming instructions you've written in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) are compiled. This means the original code you wrote is not directly accessible or editable anymore. This is useful for protecting your work or making sure that the final version of your database project runs smoothly without accidental modifications to the code.
To open an .ADE file, you need to use Microsoft Access. As of my last update, Microsoft Access 365, which is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of applications, can open .ADE files. This means if you have Microsoft Access 365 installed on your computer, you can double-click on an .ADE file, and it should open in Access, allowing you to work with the database project as intended.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .ADE file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.