Is Your QuickBooks Running Slow? Try These 7 Steps to Fix it

Last Updated on August 28, 2024

In today’s computing landscape, the performance of your accounting application plays a vital part in overall business management. You may have heard about “QuickBooks Running Slow” or experienced this annoying trouble that leaves you helpless and restricts several crucial online and offline tasks. A slow QuickBooks means lost productivity and time spent identifying the solutions. Certain factors trigger QuickBooks Desktop performance issues and push you to wonder, “Why is my QuickBooks Desktop Running Slow.” If your QuickBooks Desktop takes forever to open, this article will help get it back on track. Get along with us in exploring why QuickBooks is running slow and what you can do to settle this problem.

Is your QuickBooks Desktop Loading Extremely Slowly? Dial 1.855.738.2784 and speak with a Certified Expert for troubleshooting assistance.

Why QuickBooks Desktop Starts Running Slow?

Following are some of the usual reasons that impact the performance of the QuickBooks Desktop application:

1. Outdated QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Your computer system does not meet the minimum requirements to run QuickBooks Desktop.
3. Corrupt/damaged or deleted QBWUSER.INI file.
4. Corruption in the local hard disk or the storage device where the company file is saved.
5. Corrupt Windows operating system files or incomplete or partial QuickBooks installation.
6. If the company file is too large.
7. Data damage in the company file.

IMPORTANT: Follow the Windows-related troubleshooting instructions in this article if experiencing performance issues with other Windows applications. The slow performance of some other Windows applications indicates that the problem is more likely related to your computer’s hardware or software.

This is How to Improve QuickBooks Desktop Performance

Here are some beneficial tips to boost your QuickBooks application’s speed:

Solution 1: Update the QuickBooks Desktop Application

An outdated QuickBooks program may not run efficiently. Follow our article “How to Update QuickBooks Desktop to the Latest Released Version” for detailed and step-by-step instructions on installing the latest QuickBooks updates.

Solution 2: Rename QBWUSER.INI File

A corrupt QBWUSER.INI file disrupts QB’s efficiency and performance. Fix it by renaming and subsequently recreating the file as follows:

1. Open Windows File Manager by pressing the Windows + E keys on the keyboard.
2. Navigate to C:\ ProgramData\ Intuit\ QuickBooks folder.
3. Make sure Windows is set to Display Windows Hidden Files.

1. Locate and right-click the QBWUSER.INI file.
2. Select Rename and add .OLD at the end of the file name.
3. Save the file name and try to run QuickBooks Desktop once again.

If QuickBooks is still running slow, then follow the next troubleshooting step.

Solution 3: Verify Your System’s Configuration

Following is the minimum system requirement that needs to be fulfilled to run QuickBooks Desktop efficiently:

1. Core 2 Duo Intel processor 2.4 GHz minimum or any upgraded version.
2. 4 Gigabytes of RAM.
3. 5 Gigabytes of free disk space after installation.
4. Optical Drive or connectivity to the internet.
5. 1280 x 1024 Screen resolution.
6. The US version of Windows must be Windows 10, 8.1, or 7.
7. Installation on a server requires Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2, 2011, or 2008 R2 SP1.

Upgrade the system if necessary to ensure QuickBooks can run at its full potential. If QuickBooks keeps lagging even after the system requirements are fulfilled, implement the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 4: Repair Damaged or Corrupt QuickBooks Company File

A corrupt company file needs adequate repair for uninterrupted operations. So, implement the following steps to do the same:

1. Run QuickBooks Desktop as an administrator and go to the File tab.

   

2. Keep your cursor over the Utilities option and select QuickBooks Verify/Rebuild Data Utility from the drop-down menu.

Once the company file is repaired, retry running QuickBooks to check if the performance issues are resolved. If you continue to have poor QuickBooks performance, move to the next solution.

Solution 5: Verify Company File Size

Ensure your company file size adheres to the QB’s guidelines and limits. If they don’t, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to the QuickBooks company file folder and right-click the company file.
2. Select Properties and check the file size.
3. If you use QuickBooks Pro and the company file size is more than 150 MB, you need to use QuickBooks Condense Data Utility to reduce the file size.

1. The same applies to QuickBooks Enterprise; the file size must not exceed 1 GB.
2. To condense the company file, open QuickBooks and click the File tab.
3. Select Condense Data from under the Utilities section.
4. Put a checkmark next to the “Keep all transactions, but remove audit train info to date” option.
5. Click Next until the “Your company file has been successfully condensed” message appears.

   

6. Click Close and run QuickBooks once again. If QuickBooks is still loading slowly, follow the next step.

Solution 6: Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop

When QuickBooks doesn’t run as intended, you may need to uninstall and install it again. It’s possible the installation procedure corrupted some files, so a fresh installation can help fix a slow-running QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Download QuickBooks Tool Hub from the official Intuit website, or click HERE to download it.
2. Open the setup file from the downloads of your computer and follow the on-screen prompts to finish the installation.
3. Run QuickBooks Tool Hub from the shortcut icon on the desktop screen.
   

   

4. To reinstall the QuickBooks Desktop application on your Windows computer, you can use the QuickBooks Clean Install Tool from the Installation Issues tab.

Solution 7: Repair or Reinstall Windows Operating System

For detailed instructions on repairing damaged Windows installation, follow the article How to Repair a Windows Operating System Installation. If repairing Windows does not help, you must reinstall the Windows operating system. Contact your IT support for Windows re-installation.

If none of the troubleshooting steps help you rectify the “QuickBooks Running Slow” issue, then there might be chances that your computer’s hard drive has been corrupted or damaged. Contact your local IT manager or Support at 1.855.738.2784 for immediate help and assistance.

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Edward Martin

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.