QuickBooks Migration Error 1009 | All You Need to Know

Last Updated on February 11, 2026

You can come across the QuickBooks migration error 1009 while trying to move your company file data from the QB Online website to the QB Desktop application. This error generally occurs when your QB Desktop app is outdated, or you have program problems with the QBDT app. It can also occur due to an outdated operating system on your PC, or the Firewall blocking your QB Desktop app. This can hamper your workflow and have a negative impact on your important accounting and bookkeeping processes. You can fix this issue by updating the QuickBooks Desktop app.

We will cover all the methods you need to know to troubleshoot the migration error 1009 in QuickBooks in this blog. First, let’s see why you are dealing with the 1009 error.

Are you dealing with issues while migrating from QuickBooks Online to Desktop? Feel free to contact our Accounting Helpline experts today at 1.855.738.2784 to resolve your problem in no time!

Potential Causes of the QuickBooks Desktop Migration Tool Error 1009

Listed below are the potential factors that can trigger the migration error 1009 in QuickBooks to appear on your screen:

1. An outdated QB Desktop application.
2. The Firewall is blocking the QB Desktop app.
3. An unstable internet connection.
4. Stored cache and cookies in the web browser.

These are the causes of the migration error 1009 in QB Desktop.

Methods to Resolve the Error Code 1009 in QuickBooks Desktop

Given below are the troubleshooting methods you can use to fix the QuickBooks migration error 1009:

Update the QB Desktop App

An outdated QB Desktop app can cause the migration error 1009 to appear on your screen. To resolve it, update your QB Desktop app with the steps given below:

1. Open the QuickBooks Desktop software.
2. Navigate to the Help menu.
3. Click on Update QuickBooks Desktop.
   
4. Then, select Update Now.
5. Click on the Get Updates option.
   
6. Close and reopen the QBDT app to install the updates.

This should resolve the QuickBooks migration error 1009 while moving your data.

Update Your Windows OS

If your Windows operating system is outdated, you might have trouble moving your company file data and can face the QuickBooks migration error 1009. To patch this issue, update your Windows with the steps given below:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for and open Settings.
3. Click on the Windows Update option.
4. Then, click on Check for updates.
5. Any available updates would be displayed to you.
6. Click on Download & Install.

You would now be able to move your company data from QB Online to QB Desktop error-free.

Clear QuickBooks Cache and Cookies

You can clear the stored QuickBooks cache and cookies from your web browser to resolve the migration error 1009. The steps to clear the Intuit cache and cookies from different web browsers are given below:

Google Chrome

1. Firstly, open your Google Chrome browser.
2. Then, select Customize and control Google Chrome.
3. Click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner to do that.
4. Press the Settings option.
5. Now, go to the Privacy and Security tab.
   
6. Click on Third-party cookies.
7. Select See all site data and permissions.
   
8. Go to the search bar.
9. The search bar would be located on the right of third-party cookies.
10. Type in Intuit.
11. Hit Enter.
12. Finally, choose the Remove All option.

Safari for Mac

1. Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
2. Select the Preferences option.
3. Now, go to the Privacy section.
4. Press Manage Website Data.
5. Then, proceed to type Intuit in the search box.
6. Hit Enter.
7. Select the Remove All button.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Mozilla Firefox application.
2. Click on the three lines.
3. At the top right corner.
4. Located below the Close (X) window option.
5. Press the Settings option.
6. Now, click on Privacy & Security.
   
7. Go to Cookies and Site Data.
8. Then, proceed to open the Manage Data window.
9. Now, navigate to the Search Websites bar.
10. Type Intuit.
11. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
12. Select the Remove All Shown option.
    
13. Click on Save Changes.

Microsoft Edge

1. Double-click on the Microsoft Edge browser icon.
2. This would open the browser.
3. Select the Settings and More option.
4. Located in the top-right corner.
5. You can also press Alt + F to open it.
6. Choose to press the Settings option.
7. Then, browse to the Privacy, search, and services tab.
   
8. Click on the Cookies option.
9. Select the See all cookies and site data option.
10. Go to the search bar and type Intuit.
11. Then, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
12. Select Remove all shown.
    
13. Finally, just click on Clear.

Opera Browser

1. Open the Opera browser.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines below the minimize option.
3. Press the Privacy and Security tab.
   
4. Select the Third-party cookies option.
5. Click on See all site data and permissions.
6. Go to the search bar.
7. Type in Intuit.
8. Press the bin beside the Intuit results you see.
9. Click on Delete.

Brave

1. Run the Brave browser.
2. Click on the menu in the top right.
3. Select Settings.
4. Then, go to the Additional Settings option.
5. Press Privacy and Security.
   
6. Select Site and shield settings.
7. Click on Cookies and site data.
8. Select View permissions and data stored across sites.
9. Go to the search bar.
10. Feed in Intuit.
11. Click on Remove All Shown.

This would resolve the issue you were dealing with.

Make Firewall Exclusions for the QB Desktop App

If your Windows Firewall is blocking the QB Desktop app from connecting to the internet, you can face the QuickBooks migration error 1009. To resolve this problem, make Firewall exceptions for the QB Desktop app using the steps given below:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for and open the Windows Firewall.
3. Click on Advanced Settings.
   
4. Right-click on Inbound Rules:
   • You’ll make Outbound Rules later.
5. Select the New Rule option.
   
6. Click on Port.
7. Hit Next.
8. Ensure that TCP is selected.
9. Go to the Specific Local Ports field.
   
10. Type in the port for your QB Desktop app:
    • QuickBooks Desktop 2020: 8019, XXXXX
    • QuickBooks Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX
    • QuickBooks Desktop 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382
    • QuickBooks Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377
11. Hit Next after entering the port number.
12. Select Allow the Connection.
13. Hit Next.
14. Ensure all profiles are marked if prompted.
15. Press Next.
16. Create a rule.
17. Name it something like QBPorts(year).
18. Press Finish.

Now, the QuickBooks error code 1009 should be fixed.

Use Quick Fix My Program

You can use the Quick Fix My Program tool from the QB Tool Hub to resolve program problems with the QB Desktop app with the steps given below:

1. Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub app.
   
2. Open the QB Tool Hub app.
3. Navigate to the Program Problems tab.
4. Click on Quick Fix My Program.
   
5. Let the tool run.

The tool would run and fix program problems with QB Desktop.

Use the QB Install Diagnostic Tool

The QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool can be used from the QB Tool Hub app to resolve the error code 1009 in QB Desktop with the steps given below:

1. Open the QB Tool Hub app.
2. Navigate to the Installation Issues tab.
3. Click on the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.
   
4. Let the tool run.
5. It can take up to 20 minutes to finish working.

The issue should now be resolved.

Clean Install the QB Desktop Application

If all else fails, and you’re still facing the QuickBooks Desktop migration error code 1009, you can clean install QB Desktop with the steps given below:

Uninstall QB Desktop

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for and open the Control Panel.
3. Click on Uninstall a Program.
   
4. Choose QuickBooks Desktop from the list of programs you see.
5. Select Uninstall/Change.
6. Press Remove.
7. Click on Next.

Rename the QB Installation Folders

1. Open the File Explorer on your PC.
2. Go to the folder containing your QB Company file.
3. It’s usually in one of these locations:
   • C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Users\(current user)\AppData\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • 64-bit version C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
4. Right-click on the folder.
5. Press Rename.
6. Add the word old at the end of the folder name.

Install QBDT Again

1. Open the QuickBooks.exe file.
2. Choose between these two options:
   • Express Install
   • Custom and Network Options
3. Click on Next.
4. Hit Install.

The issue would now be resolved.

QuickBooks Migration Error 1009 – A Quick View Table

In the table below is given a concise summary of this blog on the topic of the QuickBooks Desktop migration error code 1009:

Conclusion

You may encounter QuickBooks migration error 1009 while trying to move your company file data from the QB Online website to the QB Desktop application. This error generally occurs when your QB Desktop app is outdated or when there are issues with the QBDT app. It can also occur due to an outdated operating system on your PC, or the Firewall blocking your QB Desktop app. This can hamper your workflow and negatively impact your critical accounting and bookkeeping processes. We have covered the potential factors that can trigger migration error 1009 in QuickBooks to appear on your screen, along with the methods you need to know to troubleshoot this error, in this blog.

If you are still dealing with the same QuickBooks migration error, contact our Accounting Helpline experts at 1.855.738.2784 today, who can help resolve your issue at a moment’s notice!

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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.