QuickBooks Desktop Update Error: Find All the Fixes Here

Fix 1: Correct the Date & Time Settings

If you have the wrong time and date on your system, you may get update issues. We recommend you correct your system’s date and time through the detailed steps mentioned below:

1. Right-click the system clock on the desktop and tap Adjust Date/Time.
2. Click on Change date and time and set the current date and time.
3. Select OK twice.
4. Close and then access QuickBooks Desktop again.
5. Re-run the update for QuickBooks Desktop.

Fix 2: Look into the Internet Connection Settings

Update issues may stem from problems with your internet connection.

To assess the secure internet connection, open a web browser and visit a secure website, like your financial institution’s (FI) site. If you’re unable to access the banking or FI page, QuickBooks updates may be affected. Get in touch with your internet service provider (ISP) for assistance.

If the banking or FI’s site is accessible, follow these steps in QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Go to the Help menu and tap Internet Connection Setup.
2. Select “Use my computer’s Internet connection settings to establish a connection when this application accesses the Internet.”
3. Click Next.
4. Choose Advanced Connection Settings.
5. On the Advanced tab, go with “Restore Advanced Settings.”
6. Click OK.
7. Click Done.
8. Proceed to update QuickBooks Desktop again.

Consider the following:

• Disable download accelerators before downloading updates, as they may disrupt the process. Consult your ISP for guidance.
• For dial-up connections, ensure a minimum connection speed of 28.8 kilobits per second (Kb/s).
• If using America Online (AOL), log in with the primary login name, if possible, and ensure that Parental Controls settings are disabled. Refer to AOL’s online support for more details.

Fix 3: Open Firewall Ports for QB Programs And App

Security measures or firewall configurations can interrupt the update process. Ensure the setup of your internet security and personal firewall software is correct. Enable Ports 80 and 443 and grant access to the following files (detailed steps and file locations mentioned later:

• AutoBackupExe.exe
• Dbmlsync.exe
• DBManagerExe.exe
• FileManagement.exe
• FileMovementExe.exe
• IntuitSyncManager.exe
• QBCFMonitorService.exe
• QBDBMgr.exe
• QBDBMgrN.exe
• QBGDSPlugin.exe
• QBLaunch.exe
• QBServerUtilityMgr.exe
• QBW32.exe
• QuickBooksMessaging.exe

In the unlikely event that these ports are occupied by other processes, the QuickBooks Database server will utilize a fallback port, which is 56719.

Follow the instructions below to modify firewall ports and establish exceptions for QuickBooks:

1. Open the Start menu using the Windows logo on your keyboard.
2. Access “Windows Firewall” through the search area in the Start menu.
3. Click on Advanced Settings.
4. Right-click Inbound Rules and tap New Rule to create a new one.
5. Choose Port and proceed to the next step by clicking Next.
6. Select TCP.
7. Input the crucial ports for your particular QuickBooks Desktop version in the Specific local ports area.
8. After putting the port number in the field, click Next.
9. Click the Allow the Connection button and Next.
10. Mark all profiles as required, then select Next.
11. Create a rule and assign a name.
12. Click Finish.
13. Repeat the process for Outbound Rules, replacing Inbound with Outbound in Step 4.

Additionally, ensure there are Windows Firewall exceptions for QuickBooks programs:

1. Open the Start menu using the Windows logo on your keyboard.
2. Access “Windows Firewall” through the search area in the Start menu.
3. Click on Advanced Settings.
4. Right-click Inbound Rules and tap New Rule to create a new one.
5. Choose Program, then proceed to the next step by selecting Next.
6. Click This Program Path and tap Browse.
7. Select any executable file, then proceed with Next.
8. Click the Allow the Connection button and choose Next.
9. If prompted, select all profiles and click Next.
10. Create and assign a name for the latest rule.
11. Repeat the steps to add exceptions for QB programs in Outbound Rules.

Fix 4: Update the Multiple Instances of QB Desktop on the PC

Errors in updating QB may arise if multiple installations of QuickBooks Desktop with the same version and year are present on a single computer (e.g., QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 19.0 and QuickBooks Premier 2019).

In such cases, resolve the issue by downloading and manually installing updates for one or more versions of QuickBooks Desktop through the steps below:

1. Close currently open company files and exit the QuickBooks Desktop program.
2. Press the Windows logo to access the Start menu.
3. Type “QuickBooks Desktop” and right-click on the application’s icon in the search results.
4. Choose “Run as administrator” From the list of options on the screen after right-clicking on QB.
5. Once you reach the No Company Open screen, go to the Help menu.
6. Select “Update QuickBooks Desktop.“
7. Choose the Options button and hit “Mark All.”
8. Click Save to confirm your selections and switch to the Update Now tab.
9. Check the checkbox labelled “Reset Update.”
10. Click “Get Updates” when you are prepared.
11. After updating QuickBooks Desktop, exit and then reopen the application.
12. Select “Yes” to apply QB updates.
13. Once the QuickBooks update installation ends, restart your system.

You can also try installing the updates from the internet through the steps below:

1. Access the Downloads & Updates page of Intuit QB.
2. Choose the download link you need from the site.
3. Click ‘Get the latest updates.’
4. Click to run the executable file.

Fix 5: Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop

If you keep facing problems with a QuickBooks critical update, remove the application from your system and install it again. The reinstallation will help resolve the problems interrupting the latest updates. So, follow the steps below:

Prerequisites

1. Download the QB Desktop installer you use.
2. Keep the license number in hand. Find it on the original package or the purchase confirmation email when you buy it online.

Remove QB Desktop

1. Access the Start menu, find ‘Control Panel’, and click to open it.
2. Click Programs of Features > Uninstall a Program.
3. Choose the QB Desktop version to delete from the programs list.
4. Tap Uninstall/ Change > Remove > Next. Sign out and in as Windows admin of the uninstall option is not present.

Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop

1. Verify that your computer fulfills all crucial QuickBooks requirements.
2. Download the required QuickBooks Desktop version from official Intuit sources and save it in a convenient location, such as the desktop or downloads folder.
3. Have your product and license numbers readily available for reference.
4. Initiate the installation process by launching the QuickBooks.exe file.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions, agree to the license agreement, and proceed by clicking Next.
6. Enter your product and license numbers in the designated fields, then click Next.
7. Choose either Express Install or Custom and Network Install based on your specific requirements.
8. Conclude the installation by following the prompts to ensure a successful QuickBooks installation.

Fix 6: Update Windows

Updating Windows is another essential measure after updating QuickBooks. Follow the easy steps below to update your windows:

1. Tap the Windows logo on the keyboard or the desktop to access the Start menu.
2. Write “Check for updates” in the search and click Enter.
3. Look for the latest Windows updates and hit Install now.

Fix 7: Use Windows as Admin

Ensure you have admin rights on the Windows operating system if you face QuickBooks Desktop update errors. Here’s how you create a Windows user account and switch to Administrator type in Windows 11/10:

1. Open the Start menu, select Settings, and click on the Accounts option. Then, choose Family & Other Users (On some Windows versions, it may be labelled as Other Users).
2. Look for the Add Other User option, check the box next to it, and click the Add Account option.
3. Choose “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” and click on “Add a user without a Microsoft account” on the subsequent page.
4. Fill in a username, password, or password hint—or tap security questions—then click Next.
5. Modify a local user account into an administrator account by navigating to the Start menu > Settings > Accounts.
6. Under Family & Other Users, select the account owner’s name ( “Local Account” should be below the account name), and click on Change Account Type.
7. Choose Administrator under the Account Type tab and click OK.
8. Sign in with the help of the newly created administrator account.

Fix 8: Get Help of Quick Fix My Program

Use Quick Fix My Program, a highly effective utility within QuickBooks Tool Hub, to address application performance issues. It is user-friendly and involves minimal steps outlined below:

1. Visit the Intuit site and click the download link for QuickBooks Tool Hub.
2. Save the downloaded file in a location that is easily reachable, such as the desktop or downloads folder.
3. Once downloaded, open the QuickBooksToolHub.exe file by double-clicking on it.
   

   

4. Agree to the InstallShield instructions and the license agreement.
5. Complete the installation of QuickBooks Tool Hub and launch the application.
6. As you open QuickBooks Tool Hub, navigate to Program Problems.
7. Click on Quick Fix My Program.
   

   

8. Allow it to run until it detects and resolves the identified issues.

Fix 9: Meet Minimum System Requirements

Ensure you meet the minimum requirements required for your system to maintain compatibility with QuickBooks. These include compatible Windows/ Mac operating systems, browser support, RAM needs, etc.

Fix 10: Repair QuickBooks

You should use the Control Panel to repair the QuickBooks program and fix the issues when QuickBooks fails to reset the update. This repair process fixes all the components and files necessary to run QuickBooks. the following repair steps:

1. Reboot your computer to eliminate any potential interference from other programs during the repair process.
2. Access the Windows Start menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
3. Select Programs and Features, followed by the Uninstall a Program button.
4. Locate QuickBooks in the list of Programs and choose Uninstall/Change.
5. Click Continue or Next.
6. Choose Repair and then click Next.
7. Once the utility repairs QuickBooks, click Finish.
8. Proceed to update your QuickBooks to the latest release.

Fix 11: Run QB Install Diagnostic Tool

Take the help of QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool, a QB Tool Hub utility that helps resolve installation problems. The steps to run this excellent tool are as follows:

1. Open QuickBooks Tool Hub.
2. Select Installation Issues.
3. Click QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.
4. Run the tool, access QB Desktop, and then your data file.

Fix 12: Run Verify And Rebuild Data Utilities

Verify and Rebuild data utilities are ideal to help you get back to business. The Verify tool pinpoints any data issues in your company file, and the Rebuild tool automatically addresses them. Follow the steps outlined below:

Verify data:

1. Navigate to the File menu, then click Utilities, and select Verify Data.
2. If an error is detected, proceed to Rebuild your data.

Rebuild data:

1. Return to the File menu, then tap Utilities, and choose Rebuild Data.
2. Select OK if prompted to back up your company file.
3. After creating the backup, the Rebuild Data utility will run automatically.
4. Click OK when you receive the message indicating the completion of the rebuild.

Fix 13: End QuickBooks Update on Task Manager

When QB runs in the background, it’s identified as a process (QBW32.exe) in the Windows task manager. You can choose to turn off the preference using the instructions below and re-open the program. Here are the steps outlined for you to follow.

1. Right-click the task bar and choose Start Task Manager.
2. Move to the Processes tab and tap the Image Name tab.
3. Select the each QB processes one-by-one and click End Process.
4. Ensure only QB processes are ended and then close the Task Manager.

Fix 14: Run QuickBooks File Doctor

If you keep getting requests for updates, try the File Doctor tool from QuickBooks Tool Hub. It resolves issues with the file as well as the network issues. So, run it through the steps below:

1. Open QB Tool Hub.
2. Tap Company File Issues.
3. Select Run QuickBooks File Doctor for 20 minutes or so. Then, results will appear.
4. You can now open QB Desktop and the data file.

Fix 15: Clean Install QuickBooks

If you have a ‘QuickBooks software update waiting for you’ issue and it forces you to update even if you don’t want to, we recommend you clean install QuickBooks. It will help fix any issues causing trouble. The procedure of uninstalling and reinstalling is easy to follow. However, after uninstalling, you need to rename the existing installation folders manually through the steps below. Before doing so, we will first follow the steps to display hidden files:

1. Choose the folder icon on your Desktop or System Tray to open File Explorer.
2. Then, click on the View tab and choose Hidden Items.

After displaying hidden files, take the following steps:

1. Open the Windows Start menu and search for “File Explorer,” then access the File Explorer window.
2. Locate and launch the folder containing your QuickBooks company files, typically in your QuickBooks folder. The common locations include:
   • C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Users(current user)\AppData\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • For 64-bit versions: C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
3. Right-click the folder > choose Rename.
4. Add the word “old” at the end of the folder name, preventing QuickBooks from accessing it when you reinstall.
5. Now, reinstall QB.

If you encounter an access error message while attempting to rename the folder, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows Task Bar, then hit Task Manager.
2. Access the Processes tab.
3. Click on the Name column header to sort the list.
4. Choose the following processes (right-click) and end each one by selecting End Process: QBDBMgrN.exe, QBDBMgr.exe, QBCFMonitorService.exe, & Qbw32.exe.
5. Select Yes if you come across the message, “WARNING: Terminating a process can cause undesired results…”

Fix 16: Install a Digital Signature Certificate

You need to have the correct digital signature certificate for QB to verify and authenticate it. The steps you need to take for this solution are as follows:

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks.
2. Right-click on QBW32.exe and hit Properties.
3. Select Digital Signature, and make sure to choose Intuit in the signature list.
4. Click on Details.
5. Within the Digital Signature Details window, tap View Certificate.
6. In the Certificate window, access Install Certificate.
7. Continue selecting Next until Finish is displayed. Then, click Finish.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Open QuickBooks, then proceed to download the update again.

Fix 17: Turn-on the Microsoft .NET Framework

Ensure access to an administrator account to address the update issue. Follow the steps outlined below to eliminate the error:

1. Sign in to Windows using the Windows administrative account.
2. Access the Start menu, select the Control Panel, and click on Programs.
3. Choose to turn Windows features on or off.
4. Turn on .NET Framework 3.5.
5. Reboot your system.

Afterwards, proceed to reinstall the QuickBooks update:

1. Go to Help and access Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Click on Update Now, then hit Get Updates.
3. Close and reopen QuickBooks to reinstall the update.

Fix 18: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++

Remove Microsoft Visual C++, then proceed to reinstall Visual C++ for the years 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2017. After completing this process, proceed to update the program again.

Fix 19: Rename ND and TLG Files

The configuration files named Network Data and Transaction Log may get bloated over time. So, rename these files after cold rebooting (complete shutdown of the system) as they get re-created:

1. Open the directory where your company files are stored.
2. Locate files with.ND and .TLG extensions corresponding to your company file name (e.g., SQTCompany.qbw.nd and SQTCompany.qbw.tlg).
3. Right-click on each ND and TLG file, choose “Rename,” and add.OLD at the end (e.g., SQTCompany.qbw.nd.old and SQTCompany.qbw.tlg.old).
4. Restart QuickBooks.

All users must exit the application and switch to single-user mode before updating.