Can't compile the front end.

I can no longer run compile on the debug function.

You mean the commands aren't available to you?

What version of Access are you running (2013, 2016, 2019, O365)?
What is your build number?  Have you tried manually updating or reverting back to a prior build?
Have you tried decompiling, Compact and repair, Compile?

Your issue, as you describe it, can mean any number of things.  Your description of the problem conjurs up all kinds of visions of what the problem you are encountering looks like....
The Compile menu item is not on the ribbon?
The Compile menu item is disabled/greyed-out?
The Compile menu item is black in color (not grey) and you click it and nothing happens, even though you KNOW (not assume) that there is uncompiled code?  (A black-text "Compile" menu item on the ribbon would indicate the presence of uncompiled code.)

After code is run, the Compile menu item SHOULD be greyed-out as the code would NOT run until all uncompiled code is compiled.  If you CHANGE any code afterward, it should turn black-text again.

….so, what is it?

Respectfully ... please restate the question with more specific detail.

If you open the app with the Shift Key held down - to avoid any AutoExec / Code from running, then open the VBA Editor ... then >>Debug ... is the Compile option grayed out?  If not, what is going on ?
Is the db format MDE or ACCDE ?  If so, then of course, you would not even be able to open the VBA Editor.

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