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Easily Fixed QuickBooks Not Working After Windows Update 2023 Issue

Mark Jessie
QuickBooks Desktop
August 5, 2023

QuickBooks is a widely used accounting software that helps businesses manage their finances efficiently. However, sometimes users encounter issues where QuickBooks not working after Windows update. This problem can occur on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 systems in 2022 and 2023. In this blog, we will explore the possible causes and symptoms behind QuickBooks not working after Windows update, understand its impact on different Windows versions, and provide comprehensive solutions to help you get QuickBooks up and running smoothly again.


Understanding the Issue: QuickBooks Not Working After Windows Update


After performing a Windows update, some users may experience compatibility issues between the updated operating system and QuickBooks software. This can result in QuickBooks not launching, crashing, freezing, or displaying error messages, preventing users from accessing their financial data.


Impact on Windows 11 and Windows 10 in 2022 and 2023


QuickBooks not working after Windows update can affect users on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 systems in 2022 and 2023. Although QuickBooks strives to be compatible with various operating systems, the complexity of software and system updates can lead to compatibility issues that require timely resolution.


Now, let’s delve into the causes, symptoms, and 25 solutions to resolve the “QuickBooks not working after Windows update” issue on Windows 11, Windows 10, and beyond in 2022 and 2023.


Causes of QuickBooks Not Working After Windows Update


  1. Outdated QuickBooks Version: Using an outdated version of QuickBooks might lead to compatibility issues with the updated Windows OS.
  2. Corrupted QuickBooks Files: Files required for QuickBooks to function correctly may get corrupted during the Windows update process.
  3. Incompatible Windows Update: Certain Windows updates may not be compatible with specific QuickBooks versions or configurations.
  4. Third-Party Software Conflicts: Conflicts with third-party software installed on the system can interfere with QuickBooks’ functionality after an update.
  5. Missing Windows Updates: Failing to install all the necessary Windows updates can cause compatibility problems with QuickBooks.

Symptoms of QuickBooks Not Working After Windows Update


  1. QuickBooks Crashes: QuickBooks may crash immediately or after attempting to perform certain actions.
  2. Error Messages: Users may encounter error messages indicating a problem with the QuickBooks application.
  3. Freezing or Unresponsiveness: QuickBooks may become unresponsive or freeze, making it challenging to work with the software.
  4. Inability to Launch QuickBooks: Users may find it impossible to open QuickBooks after the Windows update.
  5. Data Access Issues: Users may be unable to access their financial data within QuickBooks.

Solutions to Resolve QuickBooks Not Working After Windows Update


Before attempting any solutions, it is crucial to back up your QuickBooks data to prevent data loss during the QuickBooks not working after Windows update troubleshooting process.


Solution 1: Update QuickBooks to the Latest Version


Ensure you are using the latest version of QuickBooks that is compatible with your Windows OS:


  1. Open QuickBooks and go to the “Help” menu.
  2. Select “Update QuickBooks” and then “Update Now.”
  3. Click “Get Updates” to start the update process.
  4. Restart QuickBooks after the update is complete.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 2: Check for Windows Updates


Make sure your Windows OS is up-to-date with the latest patches and fixes:


  1. Press “Windows + I” to open the Settings app.
  2. Select “Update & Security” and then “Windows Update.”
  3. Click “Check for updates” and wait for Windows to search for available updates.
  4. If updates are found, click “Download and install” to install them.
  5. Restart your computer after the updates are installed.
  6. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 3: Run QuickBooks Compatibility Mode


Running QuickBooks in compatibility mode can help resolve compatibility issues with the updated Windows OS:


  1. Right-click on the QuickBooks desktop shortcut and select “Properties.”
  2. Go to the “Compatibility” tab in the Properties window.
  3. Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for.”
  4. Select an earlier Windows version from the drop-down menu (e.g., Windows 10).
  5. Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
  6. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 4: Disable Compatibility Mode


If QuickBooks is already set to run in compatibility mode, try disabling it:


  1. Right-click on the QuickBooks desktop shortcut and select “Properties.”
  2. Go to the “Compatibility” tab in the Properties window.
  3. Uncheck the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for.”
  4. Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 5: Repair QuickBooks Installation


Repairing the QuickBooks installation can fix issues caused by corrupted files:


  1. Close QuickBooks and all other applications currently running on your computer.
  2. Press “Windows + I” to open the Settings app.
  3. Select “Apps” and then “Apps & features.”
  4. Locate “QuickBooks” in the list of installed apps and click on it.
  5. Click “Modify” or “Repair” and follow the on-screen instructions to repair the installation.
  6. Restart your computer after the repair process is complete.
  7. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 6: Create a New Windows User Account


Creating a new Windows user account can help determine if the issue is related to your user profile:


  1. Press “Windows + I” to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on “Accounts” and select “Family & other users” from the left sidebar.
  3. Under “Other users,” click “Add someone else to this PC.”
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new user account.
  5. Log in to the new user account and try launching QuickBooks.
  6. If QuickBooks works in the new user account, it indicates a problem with your original user profile.
  7. Consider transferring your data and settings to the new user account.

Solution 7: Disable Antivirus and Firewall


Temporary disabling antivirus and firewall software can help identify if they are causing conflicts with QuickBooks:


  1. Locate the antivirus and firewall software running on your computer.
  2. Disable real-time protection or any active scanning features temporarily.
  3. Remember to re-enable the antivirus and firewall after testing QuickBooks.
  4. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.
  5. If QuickBooks works without the antivirus or firewall, consider adding QuickBooks as an exception in the software settings.

Solution 8: Run QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool


The QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool can fix installation-related issues:


  1. Download and install the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the official Intuit website.
  2. Close QuickBooks and all other applications currently running on your computer.
  3. Open the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool and run the scan.
  4. Restart your computer after the scan is complete.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 9: Check QuickBooks Hosting Settings


Incorrect hosting settings can cause QuickBooks not to work properly after a Windows update:


  1. Open QuickBooks and go to the “File” menu.
  2. Select “Utilities” and then “Host Multi-User Access.”
  3. Ensure that “Stop Hosting Multi-User Access” is selected.
  4. Restart QuickBooks after making the changes.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 10: Repair Microsoft .NET Framework


Repairing the Microsoft .NET Framework can resolve issues related to framework compatibility:


  1. Press “Windows + S” and search for “Control Panel.”
  2. Select “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
  3. Locate “Microsoft .NET Framework” in the list of installed programs.
  4. Right-click on it and select “Change” or “Repair.”
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the .NET Framework.
  6. Restart your computer after the repair process is complete.
  7. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 11: Check System Resources


Insufficient system resources can lead to QuickBooks not working properly after a Windows update:


  1. Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open the Task Manager.
  2. Go to the “Performance” tab and check the CPU, memory, and disk usage.
  3. Close any unnecessary applications consuming excessive resources.
  4. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 12: Create a Backup and Restore Company File


If QuickBooks is still not working after the Windows update, you can try creating a backup of your company file and then restoring it:


  1. Open QuickBooks and go to the “File” menu.
  2. Select “Create Backup” and follow the on-screen instructions to create a backup.
  3. Save the backup file to a safe location.
  4. Now, open QuickBooks and go to the “File” menu again.
  5. Select “Open or Restore Company” and then “Restore a backup copy.”
  6. Click “Next” and choose “Local Backup.”
  7. Browse to the location where you saved the backup file.
  8. Select the backup file and click “Open.”
  9. Choose a location to restore the file (preferably a different directory from the original).
  10. Click “Save” to restore the backup.
  11. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 13: Disable Add-ins


Add-ins can sometimes cause issues with QuickBooks after a Windows update. Try disabling them:


  1. Open QuickBooks and go to the “Edit” menu.
  2. Select “Preferences” and then “Integrated Applications.”
  3. Click on the “Company Preferences” tab.
  4. Uncheck the boxes next to any third-party add-ins.
  5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
  6. Restart QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 14: Repair Microsoft Office


If you have Microsoft Office installed on your computer, repairing it can help resolve issues with QuickBooks:


  1. Press “Windows + S” and search for “Control Panel.”
  2. Select “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
  3. Locate “Microsoft Office” in the list of installed programs.
  4. Right-click on it and select “Change” or “Repair.”
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair Microsoft Office.
  6. Restart your computer after the repair process is complete.
  7. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 15: Check QuickBooks Services


Ensure that all QuickBooks-related services are running:


  1. Press “Windows + R” to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “services.msc” (without quotes) in the Run dialog box and click “OK.”
  3. In the Services window, locate and check the status of the following services:

    • QuickBooksDBXX (XX represents the version of QuickBooks, e.g., QuickBooksDB28 for QuickBooks 2018)
    • QuickBooksDBXX (XX represents the version of QuickBooks, e.g., QuickBooksDB28 for QuickBooks 2018) Agent
    • QuickBooksXX (XX represents the version of QuickBooks, e.g., QuickBooks28 for QuickBooks 2018) Database Server Manager

  4. If any of these services are not running, right-click on them and select “Start.”
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 16: Use QuickBooks Component Repair Tool


The QuickBooks Component Repair Tool can fix issues with components required for QuickBooks to run:


  1. Download and install the QuickBooks Component Repair Tool from the official Intuit website.
  2. Close QuickBooks and all other applications currently running on your computer.
  3. Open the QuickBooks Component Repair Tool and run the scan.
  4. Restart your computer after the scan is complete.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 17: Check QuickBooks Permissions


Ensure that QuickBooks has the necessary permissions to run and access necessary files:


  1. Locate the QuickBooks executable file (usually located in “C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks”).
  2. Right-click on the executable file and select “Properties.”
  3. Go to the “Security” tab in the Properties window.
  4. Click “Edit” and check if “Users” or your user account has “Full control.”
  5. If not, click “Add” and add “Users” or your user account with “Full control” permissions.
  6. Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
  7. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 18: Check QuickBooks Compatibility with Windows Update


Sometimes, a specific Windows update may cause compatibility issues with QuickBooks. Check if Intuit has released any updates or patches to address the compatibility problem:


  1. Visit the official Intuit website and search for QuickBooks updates or patches.
  2. Download and install any available updates that specifically address compatibility issues with the latest Windows update.
  3. Restart your computer after the updates are installed.
  4. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 19: Check for System File Corruption


System file corruption can lead to issues with QuickBooks. Use the System File Checker tool to scan for and repair corrupted system files:


  1. Press “Windows + X” and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
  2. Type “sfc /scannow” (without quotes) and press “Enter.”
  3. Wait for the scan to complete (this may take some time).
  4. Restart your computer after the scan is finished.
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 20: Check for Disk Errors


Disk errors can cause problems with QuickBooks. Use the Check Disk utility to scan and fix disk errors:


  1. Press “Windows + X” and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
  2. Type “chkdsk /f” (without quotes) and press “Enter.”
  3. Type “Y” and press “Enter” to schedule the disk check for the next system restart.
  4. Restart your computer to begin the disk check.
  5. Wait for the disk check to complete (this may take some time).
  6. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 21: Check Virtual Memory Settings


Adjusting virtual memory settings can help improve system performance and resolve QuickBooks issues:


  1. Press “Windows + Pause Break” to open the System window.
  2. Click “Advanced system settings” from the left sidebar.
  3. In the System Properties window, go to the “Advanced” tab.
  4. Under the “Performance” section, click “Settings.”
  5. Go to the “Advanced” tab in the Performance Options window.
  6. Click “Change” under the Virtual Memory section.
  7. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.”
  8. Select “Custom size” and set the Initial and Maximum size values based on your system’s specifications (consult online resources for recommended values).
  9. Click “Set” and then “OK” to save the changes.
  10. Restart your computer to apply the new virtual memory settings.
  11. Try launching QuickBooks to see QuickBooks not working after Windows update issue fixed or not.

Solution 22: Run Quick Fix My Program from the Control Panel


The Quick Fix My Program tool can resolve issues with QuickBooks:


  1. Press “Windows + S” and search for “Control Panel.”
  2. Select “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
  3. Locate “QuickBooks” in the list of installed programs.
  4. Right-click on it and select “Quick Fix My Program.”
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to let the tool fix any issues.
  6. Restart your computer after the repair process is complete.
  7. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 23: Use the QuickBooks Refresher Tool


The QuickBooks Refresher Tool can refresh QuickBooks processes and resolve certain issues:


  1. Download and install the QuickBooks Refresher Tool from a reputable website.
  2. Close QuickBooks and all other applications currently running on your computer.
  3. Open the QuickBooks Refresher Tool and click “Refresh QuickBooks.”
  4. Wait for the tool to refresh QuickBooks processes (this may take a few minutes).
  5. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 24: Check Third-Party Add-ins and Plugins


Some third-party add-ins or plugins may not be compatible with the updated Windows OS. Check for updates or disable them temporarily:


  1. Open QuickBooks and go to the “Edit” menu.
  2. Select “Preferences” and then “Integrated Applications.”
  3. Click on the “Company Preferences” tab.
  4. Uncheck the boxes next to any third-party add-ins or plugins.
  5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
  6. Try launching QuickBooks to see if it is working properly after the Windows update.

Solution 25: Contact QuickBooks Support


If none of the solutions provided above resolve the issue of QuickBooks not working after Windows update on Windows 11, Windows 10, or beyond in 2022 and 2023, it’s time to seek help from QuickBooks support. Quick4support team can provide specialized assistance and further troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.


Conclusion


Encountering issues with QuickBooks not working after Windows update can be frustrating, but with the multiple solutions provided in this blog, you have a comprehensive guide to troubleshoot and resolve the problem. Remember to back up your data before attempting any major changes to your system, and follow the solutions carefully to ensure a smooth resolution. By addressing the causes and symptoms of QuickBooks not working after Windows update, you can continue using the software as an effective tool to manage your business finances efficiently.