I have MS365 Premium and have just created a database in Access, but it will only create Access 2016 format

Access 2007 introduced the .accdb format, and that same .accdb file format is still the current format in Access for Microsoft 365, Access 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016. The label “Access 2007–2016 file format” simply indicates that the file is an .accdb compatible with those versions; there is no newer, different file extension or “more current” format beyond .accdb.

To confirm or change what Access uses when creating new databases:

1. Open Access.
2. Select File > Options.
3. In Access Options, select General.
4. Under Creating databases, check Default file format for Blank Database and ensure it is set to Access 2007–2016 (this is the current .accdb format).
5. Close Access, reopen it, and create a new blank database. It will be created as an .accdb file in the current format.

There is no newer format name to select; using Access 2007–2016 (.accdb) already gives the latest file format supported by Microsoft 365 Access. Some newer features (for example, Large Number/BigInt support) can “stamp” the database to a higher internal version (such as Access 2016+), but the file type remains .accdb and is still shown as the 2007–2016 format in the options list.

References:

• Which Access file format should I use?
• Change the default file format
• Convert a database to the .accdb file format
• Set General user options in Access
• Using the Large Number data type