# Can’t Open QuickBooks Company file [Effective Solutions]
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<p><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Q</span>uickBooks offers features for accessing company files from another computer. When a user really tries to access the company file and is unable to do so, they encounter an error message like <b>can’t open QuickBooks company file.</b> It might be due to misconfigured hosting settings on the server computer or due to any other technical glitch. Furthermore, we will briefly discuss all the possible reasons that can prevent users from accessing QuickBooks company files, along with their solutions. You must stick to the guide to solve the error in no time.</p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="as0jl78" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"></p><div style="display: flex;"><blockquote class="CSmd8" id="2870b79" indentation="0" paragraphid="k6zb7436" textstyle="[object Object]"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><em>If you tried but failed to resolve it and need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experts are experienced and will immediately provide you with a solution. To contact us, give a ring to 1.855.738.2784.</em></span></blockquote></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="sim0m292" textstyle="null"></p><h2 class="ZGkpO cpe4b" id="8ufbg81" level="2" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Root Causes Behind Can’t Open QuickBooks Company File</span></h2><div><ol class="B0WAK" id="xum6d83" indentation="0" offset="0" start="1"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="i7oo684"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="5j6kf85" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">The company file was damaged when it was last used.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="co2qk87"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="ea69c88" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Due to a corrupt hard drive file storage.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="yqcbw90"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="3b1et91" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">The location and extension of the file are creating problems.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="485fy93"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="9byp094" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Conflict in *QBW.tlg file.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="soo9096"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="n1a7g97" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Trying to open company files with outdated QuickBooks.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="epl1199"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="zzfhy100" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Issue with Reports in the file.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="1zoo71752"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="vkih7103" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}">This could be a symptom of a <a class="_0cERw O-6HH" data-hook="web-link" href="https://blog.accountinghelpline.com/quickbooks-desktop-issues/quickbooks-unrecoverable-error/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><u>QuickBooks unrecoverable error</u></span></a>.</p></li></ol></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="jzagv1512" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"></p><h2 class="ZGkpO cpe4b" id="11zgw107" level="2" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Easy Solutions to Fix "Can’t open QuickBooks Company File”</span></h2><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="2oflk109" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">You have been given three easy solutions that you can use to resolve this error. Let me take you through them thoroughly:</span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="c5tx61019" textstyle="null"></p><h3 class="C-ycP cpe4b" id="5du05111" level="3" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Solution 1: Updating QuickBooks and checking the file type</span></h3><div><ol class="B0WAK" id="j1q14113" indentation="0" offset="0" start="1"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="f8jsr114"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="new4x115" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">First, upgrade QuickBooks Desktop to the latest version.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="podlu117"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="55l18118" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">The file you want to open must be a company file (.QBW), not a backup (QBB) or portable file (QBM).</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="h2q9i120"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="1s7ar121" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Ensure the file is not compressed or encrypted:</span></p><div><ul class="WvBGd" id="vh9yq123" indentation="0" offset="0"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="anjhv124"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="jt8wl125" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">When you right-click on the company file, select <span style="font-weight: 700;">properties</span>.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="9p3yz129"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="0uivm130" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Click <span style="font-weight: 700;">Advanced</span>.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="nrdyg134"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="f6slm135" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Compress and Encrypt</span> checkboxes should be clear.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="u6799138"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="yxv3p139" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Click <span style="font-weight: 700;">OK</span>.</span></p></li></ul></div></li></ol></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="v3nc81177" textstyle="null"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration-line: inherit;">Solution 2: Don’t save the desktop when you close QuickBooks</span></h3><div><ol class="B0WAK" id="34xl7145" indentation="0" offset="0" start="1"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="lqb6g146"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="ege0g147" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Open QuickBooks Desktop.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="kwvzd149"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="q4w08150" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Choose the company file from the <span style="font-weight: 700;">No Company Open</span> option. </span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="kgw1b154"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="avn79155" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">From the keyboard, press <span style="font-weight: 700;">ALT</span>, hold it, and select Open; don’t press ALT until the file is opened. If you can sign in using QuickBooks, leave the ALT key and enter the password. Again, press and hold ALT and click <span style="font-weight: 700;">OK</span>. </span></p></li></ol></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="4fw05161" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">While closing preferences, go and turn off the Save the Desktop option only if your company is open. </span></p><div><ol class="B0WAK" id="zoiuc163" indentation="0" offset="0" start="1"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="xkziv164"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="hl9sc165" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Move ahead to the <span style="font-weight: 700;">Edit </span>option and click <span style="font-weight: 700;">Preferences</span>.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="6k7yh171"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="021k1172" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span data-hook="background-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Choose <span style="font-weight: 700;">Desktop View.</span></span></span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="akdhq175"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="kudr2176" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Find and click the<span style="font-weight: 700;"> Don't save the Desktop</span> option, and then click <span style="font-weight: 700;">OK</span>.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="v5e2s182"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="05hbe183" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Close your QuickBooks, reopen it, and launch the company file.</span></p></li></ol></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="13qho1344" textstyle="null"></p><h3 class="C-ycP cpe4b" id="7ptsn185" level="3" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Solution 3: Turn off hosting on your workstations</span></h3><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="575ev187" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Follow the steps below to turn off hosting on your workstations:</span></p><div><ol class="B0WAK" id="wqryn189" indentation="0" offset="0" start="1"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="6x23o190"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="n3y7s191" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Launch QuickBooks on any of the workstations.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="baig4193"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="irsny194" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Move to the <span style="font-weight: 700;">File </span>and select <span style="font-weight: 700;">Utilities</span>.</span></p><div><ul class="WvBGd" id="q6zpm200" indentation="0" offset="0"><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="xk892201"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="jpllt202" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">If the <span style="font-weight: 700;">Host to multi-user</span> option is visible, jump to the next step because this workstation has no problem.</span></p></li><li class="_4akLT" dir="auto" id="rsvhg206"><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="0j23z207" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">If the <span style="font-weight: 700;">Stop Hosting Multi-User Access</span> appears, click on it.</span></p></li></ul></div></li></ol></div><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="cjh33211" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">3. All the steps should be repeated for all the workstations.</span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="1h6af1502" textstyle="null"></p><h2 class="ZGkpO cpe4b" id="ljp50213" level="2" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">Conclusion</span></h2><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="rxuyv215" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">In summary, we can say that you <span style="font-weight: 700;">can’t open QuickBooks company files</span>, which is another possible error that you might encounter when trying to access the company file from another computer for several reasons. The above section has already mentioned some of the root causes and their solutions. We suggest that you first review these solutions, and if the error persists, contact our professionals.</span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="ysjzk1963" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="zy3zi2042" style="text-align: center;" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"CENTER"}"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>You May Also Read: <a href="https://hackmd.io/@markwilliam8506/quickbooks-desktop-has-reached-the-expiration-date-complete-solutions">How to fix QuickBooks Desktop Has Reached the Expiration Date?</a></b></span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="d1cbf2121" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"></p><h2 class="ZGkpO cpe4b" id="9tfd71722" level="2" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">FAQs</span></h2><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="7rgm91724" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span data-hook="background-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">What is a QuickBooks company file?</span></span></span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="0m9j11726" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">It is a QuickBooks desktop file that contains all the essential data, such as financial information about the business. Its default location is C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files.</span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="kyewl1728" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="6zgkz1729" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span data-hook="background-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">How do you install QuickBooks Desktop?</span></span></span></p><p class="KnDu2 M7o9n" id="qrm4g1731" textstyle="{"textAlignment":"AUTO"}"><span data-hook="foreground-color" style="text-decoration: inherit;">To easily install the QuickBooks software, visit its official Intuit website. You may need a product key or a license number to get access.</span></p>
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