title LOCALDB_ERROR_CANNOT_ACCESS_INSTANCE_FOLDER | Microsoft Docs ms.custom ms.date 03/06/2017 ms.prod sql-server-2014 ms.reviewer ms.technology performance ms.topic reference ms.assetid c4288265-43f7-44fd-acab-ba64d04264d9 author stevestein ms.author sstein manager craigg LOCALDB_ERROR_CANNOT_ACCESS_INSTANCE_FOLDER Details Product Name SQL Server Event ID 261 Event Source SQL Server Local Database Runtime 12.0 Component Local Database Runtime API Message Text Cannot access Local Database instance folder: %%LOCALAPPDATA%%\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Local DB\Instances\<instance name>. Explanation An instance folder cannot be accessed. User Action