For the daily QuickBooks users, one of the most annoying issues is the QuickBooks Desktop won’t open error. While working on the software, if it suddenly crashes, stops working, or won’t even open, it can significantly hamper your workflow and overall productivity. This issue could be a result of an outdated operating system, a corrupt hard disk, or a damaged QBWUSER.INI file.
However, if you’re also a daily user facing this problem on QuickBooks, just don’t worry! This solution guide will help you quickly fix this issue. In this post, we have covered all the possible causes, notable signs of catching this issue, and effective troubleshooting strategies to get rid of the problem.
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What Does the QuickBooks Desktop Won’t Open Error Mean?
While QuickBooks is an excellent program, users can still face technical errors while using it. One such common error is the QuickBooks Desktop won’t open, which appears when a user tries to open the software. At such times, the error message shows up on their computer screen, stating, “We’re sorry, but QuickBooks can’t open your company file.“
In addition, the QuickBooks software also stops working, might get stuck on the loading screen, or does not respond at all. After multiple attempts, if your QuickBooks Desktop still fails to start or open, you must immediately perform the basic troubleshooting to fix it, which we will discuss in this post.
Why My QuickBooks Desktop Won’t Open?
When opening QuickBooks Desktop software, users often face technical glitches and errors. At such times, they wonder why my QuickBooks Desktop won’t open. It might be due to the reasons given below:
1. Long Company File Name
If your QuickBooks company file name is too long, it may trigger the QuickBooks Desktop, preventing it from opening or running. It’s because the long file name leads to sync errors, which further impact the software.
2. Corrupt QBWUSER.INI File
As discussed above, the damaged, missing, or corrupt QBWUSER.INI file is again a notable cause of the QuickBooks doesn’t start error. This corrupt or damaged user file can crash your QuickBooks software when you try to open or run it.
3. Damaged Hard Drive
The damaged hard drive containing the required QuickBooks company files can lead to frequent system crashes. In addition, when users try to open or run the QuickBooks Desktop, they might face unexpected freezing of system, which makes users look for why my QuickBooks Desktop won’t open.
4. Incomplete QuickBooks Installation
Sometimes, users may fail to successfully install the QuickBooks Desktop on their systems, leading to incomplete installation and corrupt installation files. This issue further affect the company file leading to the QuickBooks doesn’t start error.
5. Using QuickBooks on an Outdated Windows OS
Make sure you’re running your QuickBooks software on an updated Windows Operating System, else an outdated system can trigger compatibility issues. The incompatibility between QuickBooks and Windows OS won’t let users open or run the QuickBooks Desktop software.
How to Identify that QuickBooks Desktop Won’t Open?
Users can significantly encounter a few signs before the occurrence of the QuickBooks Desktop won’t open error. Have a look at the below-given signs that can help you identify the issue, ensuring what to do next:
- Unexpected freezing of the QuickBooks Desktop software while you try to open or run it.
- The slow or no response from the QuickBooks software even after multiple attempts.
- Your keyboard tabs and mouse clicks may stop responding while opening the software.
- One of the obvious signs of the issue is the error message on the screen regarding QuickBooks desktop won’t open after the update.
- Sluggish or poor performance of QuickBooks software after an update.
Resolving the QuickBooks Online Desktop App Won’t Open Error
You must try the troubleshooting methods given below while facing the QuickBooks online desktop app won’t open error. Ensure carefully performing the given stepwise methods for effective results:
Resolution 1 – Fix Company File Problems Using the File Doctor Tool
Apparently, the corrupt or damaged QBWUSER.INI file can prevent your QuickBooks software from opening or running. But don’t worry! This problem can be easily addressed with the help of the QuickBooks File Doctor Tool. To access this tool, you must first install the QuickBooks Tool Hub. All the prompts to perform this method are given below:
- You need to first ensure that no other windows applications and their related tabs are running on the system. If any, simply close them, and move to the next step.
- Next, you need to visit the official QuickBooks website, from where you need to download the set-up or installation file of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
- Once you download the QuickBooksToolHub.exe installation file, save it on your computer’s local desktop location, from where you can easily access it.
- Afterward, close all the tabs, and double-click the icon of the installation file. By this, the file will open on your computer screen.
- Within this installation file, some on-screen prompts are available, that you must carefully perform to smoothly proceed with the installation of QuickBooks Tool Hub.
- Now, click the Next tab, and a license agreement will appear on your screen. Here, you must carefully read and agree to all the given terms & conditions.
- Once you perform the above steps, click the Install button, and begin the installation of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
- This installation may take a while, and so you must wait accordingly, ensuring not to close any open tab or window.
- After completing the installation, choose the Finish button, and now you can close all the running tabs and windows.
- Following this, open the QuickBooks Tool Hub and move to the left-hand side panel.
- From here, you must click the Company File Issues tab to open. Within this tab, the QuickBooks File Doctor tool is available.
- Now, click this tool to run. By this, you will be asked to enter the admin credentials and then upload the damaged or corrupt QBWUSER.INI file, which could be the root cause of the QuickBooks online desktop app won’t open error.
- After uploading the file, let the File Doctor tool scan and repair the respective issues within the file.
- Once the repairing process is over, click the Finish tab and close all the open tabs and running windows.
Resolution 2 – Access the Quick Fix My Program Tool
Maybe the problem is the QuickBooks Desktop program itself. To fix it, you must access the Quick Fix My Program tool, which is available within the QuickBooks Tool Hub. You must first perform the steps discussed in the above method to install the Tool Hub and then continue running the Quick Fix My Program Tool. Now, carefully use the prompts below:
- Once you successfully install the QuickBooks Tool Hub, now move to the left-hand side panel.
- Within this panel, you will find the Program Problems tab. Click the same, and from here, you can access the Quick Fix My Program tool.
- Next, let the tool run and scan the entire QuickBooks program through all its files.
- The tool will find the issue within the program and repair it accordingly. This complete process will take a few minutes.
- After the repair process, click the Finish button to ensure the QuickBooks program is successfully repaired.
- Finally, restart your system, and again attempt to run the QuickBooks software. If you still encounter a message stating, QuickBooks won’t open after update, let the next resolution help you out.
Resolution 3 – Terminate the QBW32.exe-related Processes
Sometimes, running QBW32.exe processes in the Windows background could lead to disturbances when users try to open or run QuickBooks software. We suggest you close these processes with this method. For this:
- Firstly, you must go to the Windows taskbar on your computer screen and then select the Start Task Manager tab.
- Following this, the Task Manager tab will open on your screen. Within this tab, you must click the Processes tab.
- Afterward, hit the header to continue sorting the processes that you need to terminate for a while.
- Next, start looking for the QBW32.exe process. Once you find the same, hit the End Process alternative.
- By this, the selected process will be successfully terminated. Once you perform this entire method, restart your computer system, and then again try to run or open your QuickBooks Desktop software.
- In case you again encounter a message related to the QuickBooks online desktop app won’t open error, don’t panic, and immediately perform the next troubleshooting strategy.
Resolution 4 – Fix the Corrupt QuickBooks Desktop Installation
Often, users meet the QuickBooks doesn’t start issue after updating the software. Maybe it’s due to the corrupt or incomplete QuickBooks installation. To fix it, users must reinstall QuickBooks software. Here’s how to do so:
- In the beginning, you must create a backup file of your QuickBooks company data file, and then proceed for further steps. This backup file will ensure your QuickBooks company data’s safety during the reinstallation.
- Next, restart your computer system, and then move to the Windows Start menu. You can directly open this menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
- By this, you will immediately get the Start menu on your computer screen. Within this menu, you must opt for the Control Panel tab.
- Following this, within the Control Panel tab, proceed to opt for the Programs and Features tab.
- Afterward, click the Programs option, and here you will get a list of all the application programs installed on your computer system.
- Now, your next step is to search for the QuickBooks program from the given list. After locating the program, right-click the same, and choose the Uninstall/Change alternative.
- Done till here? After this, you must click the Continue option, and then hit the Next button. Once done, now choose the Repair option.
- By this, the repairing process will begin. Here, again you need to click the Next button, and then choose the Finish button once the repairing process ends.
- Following this, ensure installing the latest version of the QuickBooks Desktop software. Right after this, restart your computer, and then again try to run the QuickBooks program. Unfortunately, if the status is still the same, and you again catch the same QuickBooks won’t open after update error message, perform another troubleshooting method.
Resolution 5 – Try Suppressing the QuickBooks Desktop Application
Perhaps issues with your QuickBooks company file are causing the QuickBooks desktop to start an error. To tackle such situations, suppressing the QuickBooks Desktop application could be one of the troubleshooting approaches:
- Begin this troubleshooting method by first opening your QuickBooks Desktop software as an admin.
- Next, simultaneously open the No Company Open window. You can do this by pressing and holding the CTRL button on your keyboard.
- Afterward, right-click the QuickBooks icon, and then from the drop-down menu, choose the Run as Administrator alternative.
- Here, you must wait for the No Company File to open the window and then continue releasing the CTRL key from your keyboard.
- Now, select the respective QuickBooks company file. Right after this, click the open button, and that’s all.
- Finally, retry to run the QuickBooks Desktop software. In case, the error still persists, you must try running the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.
Resolution 6 – Fix the Error by Running the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
There’s also a significant contribution of the damaged Microsoft components to the QuickBooks Desktop won’t open error. It’s because the Microsoft components are crucial to ensure the consistent running of QuickBooks software. However, we can fix this issue by running the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool. Have a look at the prompts given below:
- As discussed in the above methods, you first need to download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub from the official Intuit website.
- After the successful installation of QuickBooks Tool Hub on your computer, now you need to look for the Program Diagnostic tool.
- Here, move to the Program Problems tab and then click the same. Inside this tab, you can access and run the QuickBooks Program Diagnostic Tool.
- Now, let this tool run, which will take around 20 minutes. Once the tool has finished repairing the Microsoft components, hit the Finish button.
- Finally, you must restart your computer system, and then again try to open or run the QuickBooks Desktop software.
Resolution 7 – Continue Renaming the QBWUSER.INI File
If your QBWUSER.ini file is corrupt or missing, you must try renaming the QBWUSER.ini file. For this, you must use the prompts given below, and fix the respective issues:
- Start this method by first following the given location path, which is Location:\Users[Your Username]\App Data\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks[year].
- Within this folder, you must search for the QBWUSER.INI file. In case you’re unable to find this file, you must move to the Folder and Search options, which is available under the Organize tab.
- Now, move to the View tab, and then choose the Show hidden files, folders, or folders alternative.
- Once you get the QBWUSER.INI file, right-click the file name and opt for the Rename option.
- Next, change the name of the file and continue adding.OLD extension as a suffix at the end of the file name.
- Finally, select the Enter button and confirm the new file name to fix the respective issues.
Resolution 8 – Try to Open QuickBooks Software by Creating a New User Account
There’s another way to deal with the situation where QuickBooks won’t open after update. Sometimes, a damaged Windows user account can also be a reason QuickBooks stops working, thus with this solution, we will create a new Windows user account and check if this resolves the issue.
- Initially, you must press the Windows button on your keyboard, and then it will bring the Start menu to your screen.
- From here, you must open the Control Panel tab. Within this tab, you will see a number of settings, including the system and security, network and internet, and programs.
- Afterward, you need to select the User Accounts tab by double-clicking the same.
- Next, click the Manage another Account option, which will bring a new window to the Manage Accounts section.
- Now, you need to add a new user to your local PC. For this, simply choose the Add a new user in PC settings alternative.
- Following this, you will be redirected to the window, from where you can add a new Windows user to your local system.
- Finally, try to run QuickBooks using your new Windows admin user and verify that the resolved QuickBooks won’t open the error.
The Bottom Line!
That’s all about the QuickBooks Desktop won’t open error in a nutshell. We would like to end this discussion on why QuickBooks Desktop won’t open and what to do to fix it instantly. We hope the information discussed in the blog is relevant to your searched queries like “Why won’t my QuickBooks open” and “My QuickBooks won’t open” and will help you overcome any problem that keeps you from opening the QuickBooks Desktop. However, if none of these solutions works out for you to fix the issue, you can seek assistance from our experts by dialing the +1-866-500-0076.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the common QuickBooks errors is the QuickBooks won’t open, which arrives to the users when they try to open or run the software. Along with this, the error message shows up on their computer screen, stating “We’re sorry, but QuickBooks can’t open your company file.” Also, a user may notice that the QuickBooks software stops working, might stuck on loading screen, or not responding at all.
Have a look at some of the significant causes below to learn why QuickBooks Desktop won’t open:
1. Long Company File Name
2. Corrupt QBWUSER.INI File
3. Damaged Hard Drive
4. Incomplete QuickBooks Installation
5. Using QuickBooks on an Outdated Windows OS
To continue working on your QuickBooks Desktop without any runtime errors, such as QuickBooks not starting, follow the below tips:
• Ensure the QuickBooks company file is the correct size and name.
• Keep your Windows operating system updated to avoid compatibility issues with the QuickBooks Desktop software.
• Your internet must be running at a good speed with a strong network.
• The QuickBooks installation on your system must be correctly done.
Yes, a single update can fix multiple issues, such as QuickBooks won’t open issue. With every update, users can access improvised features and better troubleshooting strategies to ensure a consistent running of their QuickBooks software.
Don’t worry! You can reach out to the QuickBooks professionals at +1-866-500-0076, and ask for further assistance or information related to your QuickBooks Desktop program.