Why QuickBooks Desktop Keeps Crashing- Answers & Solutions

Last Updated on August 29, 2024

If your QuickBooks Desktop Keeps Crashing, you know how much you and your work suffer. This problem can be annoying and cause severe issues for the end user. However, there’s no need to stress as we provide a handy troubleshooting guide that incorporates every detail about why QuickBooks Desktop Keeps Crashing on Windows 10 and other versions, including its causes, signs, and troubleshooting methods.

A user might be working on the data file when QuickBooks suddenly crashes without warning. Such an issue can cause severe harm to data files, especially if they aren’t backed up. Therefore, this guide is here to help the users identify and eliminate this issue from the root so it doesn’t cause any hassle again.

Is your QuickBooks crashing when opening? Find practical solutions to this issue in this blog or dial +1.855.738.2784 to contact QuickBooks specialists. Our experts will provide in-depth assistance to help you resolve this issue in no time.

QuickBooks Desktop Keeps Crashing! What to Know?

When QuickBooks Desktop starts crashing on Windows 10/11 while working on the company file, you will also notice it freezing, hanging, or shutting down automatically. This issue can emerge for several reasons, such as corrupted files, incomplete or damaged installation, etc. However, despite the number of reasons triggering this issue, fixing it can become extremely challenging as the root causes are complex to identify.

Now, let’s find out what troubleshooting solutions to implement to fix a continuously crashing QuickBooks Desktop.

Reasons Why QuickBooks Desktop Crashes

If you’re wondering why QuickBooks 2024 Desktop keeps crashing after the update, here’s an in-depth list of reasons that trigger this problem:

Problems with QBWUSER.INI File

The QBW.INI file stores program initialization information to run QuickBooks. It determines how QB loads and starts. QuickBooks will either not start or terminate immediately when this file gets damaged or goes missing.

Hard-drive issues

The hard drive where your QB files are stored can go corrupt. If they do, you may face trouble opening or using QuickBooks.

Installation Interferences

Often, users don’t realize that QuickBooks Desktop is partially installed. Damaged program files can also cause issues running QuickBooks.

Issues with Windows OS

A damaged Windows operating system may cause your system and QuickBooks to crash.

Lengthy Company Name

Your company name may be too long, which can restrict QuickBooks from loading it and resulting in an immediate crash.

Now, we will move further to the next section and see how you can fix all these issues to get QuickBooks back on track.

How to Fix a Frequently Crashing QuickBooks Desktop

Here are the professional solutions to implement when QuickBooks keeps crashing on Windows 10/11:

Solution 1: Run Quick Fix My Program

The Quick Fix My Program tool from the tool hub will resolve program problems. So, run it and check if this helps resolve the issues due to which the QuickBooks desktop keeps crashing after the update:

Step 1: Get QuickBooks Tool Hub

The QuickBooks Tool Hub identifies and resolves common errors, providing optimal performance. For the best experience, we recommend utilizing Tool Hub on a Windows 10 64-bit system.

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. We suggest you download the latest version of the QuickBooks Tool Hub from HERE. Save this file in an easily accessible location, such as your Downloads folder or Windows desktop. If you have installed Tool Hub, check the version in the Home tab’s bottom-right corner. Alternatively, you can select “About” to view the version.
3. Open the downloaded file (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
4. Complete the installation with the on-screen instructions and accept the terms and conditions.
5. After installation, double-click the shortcut icon on your Windows desktop to launch the tool hub. If you can’t locate the icon, search Windows for “QuickBooks Tool Hub” and select it from the search results.

Step 2: Running the Quick Fix My Program Tool from the Tool Hub

The Quick Fix tool in Tool Hub will close any active background processes related to QuickBooks and quickly repair it.

1. In the QuickBooks Tool Hub, click “Program Problems.”
2. Tap “Quick Fix my Program.”
3. Open QuickBooks Desktop and your data file.

Check if QuickBooks is now working smoothly. If not, move to the next solution and repair issues in the QuickBooks installation.

Solution 2: Run the QB Install Diagnostic Tool

The QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool is an automated tool that identifies and resolves problems related to the Microsoft components utilized by the QuickBooks program.

1. Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub if it’s not already open.
2. Within the Tool Hub, go to the “Program Problems” section.
3. Choose “QuickBooks Program Diagnostic Tool” and allow it to run the diagnosis. It may require up to 20 minutes to complete.
4. Once the diagnostic tool has finished repairing the damage to the QuickBooks installation, restart your computer and relaunch QuickBooks.

Check if QuickBooks is still crashing after the installation has been repaired. If yes, check out the following solution and prompt QuickBooks to recreate crucial program files.

Solution 3: Rename QBWUSER.ini and EntitlementDataStore.ecml Files

If QuickBooks Desktop starts crashing due to a damaged or missing QBWUSER.ini file, you may resolve the issue by renaming these files. Please be aware that renaming these files will erase the list of previously opened company files, and you will need to reopen your company file manually. To rename these files, follow the steps below:

1. Open the folder where the QBWUSER.ini file is located. This path is typically: Users [Your user name] AppData Local Intuit QuickBooks [year].
2. If you can’t locate the folder, you must modify system settings to show hidden files and folders.
3. Right-click on the QBWUSER.ini file and choose “Rename.”
4. Add “.old” at the end of the file name, making it “QBWUSER.ini.old.”

   

5. Additionally, rename the “EntitlementDataStore.ecml” file similarly.
6. Reopen QuickBooks Desktop.

If the program successfully opens after renaming either the QBWUSER.ini or EntitlementDataStore.ecml files, try to open a sample company file to ensure the issue has been resolved. However, if your QuickBooks continues to crash, move to the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 4: Verify and Fix the Company File Damage

If you can successfully open a sample company file but encounter issues when trying to open your own company file, here are some troubleshooting steps to implement when QuickBooks Desktop Keeps Crashing Windows 11:

1. Copy your file to a different folder: Try copying your company file to a different location. It’s recommended to use a local folder, not a network location. Then, attempt to open the file from the new location. If you can open it, the problem may be related to folder damage or insufficient permissions.
2. Still unable to open your file: If you’re still unable to open your company file even after moving it to a different folder, it’s possible that the file itself is damaged. In such a case, consider restoring an earlier company file backup as a potential solution.
3. Unable to access the sample company file or QuickBooks won’t start: If you can’t open the sample company file or QuickBooks won’t start, this indicates a problem deep in the QuickBooks installation, and you will need to clean install QuickBooks to fix it.

These solutions are developed by experts to help diagnose and address issues when you have difficulty running QuickBooks. Once all are implemented, restart your system and run QuickBooks to check if the problem is resolved.

Finishing Up

We hope this detailed guide on why QuickBooks Desktop keeps crashing and how to get it back on track has helped you. However, if you still feel stuck and need expert help, our QB specialists are available at 1.855.738.2784 for immediate 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.