Last Updated on February 28, 2022
QuickBooks is a leading account management software developed by Intuit® that helps small and mid-sized businesses manage their accounts. You can efficiently manage your bank account, credit cards, investments, and loans in one place. While performing online banking using QuickBooks, you might get some errors and glitches that can degrade the application’s performance. There are many variations of OL errors that a user can encounter. Every different error triggers a different issue in the application. Today, in this article, the error that we are going to examine is QuickBooks Error OL-221 that affects the connectivity of QuickBooks with the Internet.
For Immediate Help Resolving OL Errors in QuickBooks Call Helpline Number 1.855.738.2784
What Cause QuickBooks Error OL-221
Numerous reasons can cause OL errors in QuickBooks Online, where OL-221 is caused by the following reasons:
- Issues with your internet connection.
- Errors in the company file.
- Improper format of the imported file.
- Outdated version of QuickBooks Desktop.
- In case the bank account you are using is not active.
- Any issues with the QuickBooks Web Connect, which is required to establish a connection with your online banking.
Verify the Given Points before Troubleshooting
- If you have recently installed a new version of QuickBooks or you have recently updated the current version of your QuickBooks application, then you might need to verify your identity with your bank. For verification, login into your online banking from a browser and check for any notifications from the bank. If you did not receive any notification, then contact your bank directly for more information.
- Check the internet connectivity, open your internet browser, type www.google.com in the address bar, and press Enter. If you can access the website, then there are no issues with the internet, and if you get any error accessing the website, then contact your IT administrator for assistance.
- If you are using QuickBooks Online, make sure to access it using Internet Explorer 11 or later. Any previous versions of IE and other browsers are not supported by QuickBooks.
- Open QuickBooks and press F2 for the Product Information page, note down your product version, and compare it with the latest released version. In case if you are not using the latest version, then update the application first.
- Verify your online banking login credentials by logging into your bank account using the web browser. If you cannot log in, reset your login credentials or contact the bank for help.
- Try running QuickBooks using Classic Mode.
Solutions to Fix Error OL-221
Solution 1: Allow TLS 2.1 Security Protocol under IE Settings
Outdated security protocols, when used, can trigger issues connecting to the internet that ultimately results in QuickBooks error OL 221.
- Open Internet Explorer and Internet Options by clicking the Gear icon at the top-right corner.
- Under the Advanced tab, navigate to the Security options.
- Unmark USE TLS 1.0 option.
- Mark the checkbox for the USE TLS 1.2 option.
- Hit Apply and then OK.
- Now restart Windows and try to use QuickBooks.
Solution 2: Try using QuickBooks from a Test Company File
Testing the action with a new company file verifies whether the actual reason lies with the company file or with the online banking.
- Open QuickBooks and from under the File menu, click New Company and select Express Start.
- Now add the bank account facing trouble with this new company file.
- Download the banking transactions into this new account that we have created for testing purposes.
- In case if you are facing any issues using the test company file, then the problem is with your bank, and you should contact your bank for the resolution.
- Follow the next troubleshooting step if you are able to use QuickBooks using the Test Company file.
Solution 3: Resolve .QBO File Formatting Issues
QuickBooks only supports some pre-defined file formats to be imported into it and .QBO is one such file format. If you try to import a file that QuickBooks doesn’t recognize, you will fail to upload it in QuickBooks. Follow troubleshooting step 1 from our article on QuickBooks Error OL-222 for detailed instructions on how to change the format of the QuickBooks Online data file.
Solution 4: Disable all QuickBooks Online Service Accounts
Follow this step if you have set up multiple accounts with QuickBooks Online services
- Open Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks Online, and from the bottom of the window, checkmark the Include Inactive box.
- Now select the option to Deactivate the accounts and exit the QuickBooks company file.
- Open the company file and set up every account once again.
- Try using QuickBooks, and if the problem persists and you are still getting QuickBooks Error OL-221, follow the next troubleshooting step.
Solution 5: Get in Touch with your Banking Support
Every bank in the United States and Canada that supports QuickBooks online banking has a separate support team for QuickBooks-related errors. If you are still dealing with the same error after following all the troubleshooting steps, we suggest contacting your financial institution for further support. Make sure to gather your entire bank feed files before contacting your bank, as they will need it to resolve the error.
OL errors are generally caused by the faults in the application made by users and can be resolved quickly if the error arises because of misconfiguration in the application. In case if you are getting the QuickBooks error OL-221 because of the issues at your banking end, you should wait as such issues get resolved in a short time or contact your bank. If you need our help to rectify the OL-221 error, you can call our Number 1.855.738.2784 for better assistance.
Edward Martin is a Technical Content Writer for our leading Accounting firm. He has over 10 years of experience in QuickBooks and Xero. He has also worked with Sage, FreshBooks, and many other software platforms. Edward’s passion for clarity, accuracy, and innovation is evident in his writing. He is well versed in how to simplify complex technical concepts and turn them into easy-to-understand content for our readers.