How to Resolve QuickBooks can’t Find Company File issue?

Step 1: Update QuickBooks

If you haven’t already, update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release.

Step 2: Check the file you’re opening

There are a lot of file types in QuickBooks Desktop. You need to open a company file (QBW) with a .qbw extension at the end of the filename.

You can't open other file types, like backups (QBB) and portable files (QBM), the same way.

Step 3: Figure out what's causing the issue

Let's figure out if your company file or QuickBooks program itself is causing the issue.

Open the Windows Start menu.

Type “File Explorer” into the search and open File Explorer.

Search for and find the QuickBooks.exe file. It’s usually in your QuickBooks folder.

Hold down CTRL on your keyboard and double-click QuickBooks.exe. Don’t let go of CTRL until QuickBooks opens.

After QuickBooks opens, open your company file. If you can't, try a second test. Open QuickBooks but don't open your company file. Instead, select Open a sample file.

If QuickBooks or the sample file don't open, or you see an error, the program is causing the issue. It's probably not your company file. Here's how to fix QuickBooks if it doesn’t open.

If the sample file opens normally, move on to Step 4.

Step 4: Turn off hosting on your workstations

If your company file isn't hosted on a network and you don't use Multi-User mode, you can skip this step.

The Host Multi-User Access option should be turned off on your workstations. These are the computers connected to your network that don’t host your company files. Your server computer should be the only one hosting.

Open QuickBooks on one of your workstations.

Don't open your company file. Instead, select the File menu and hover over Utilities.

If you see the "Host Multi-User Access" option, don’t select it. Move on to the next workstation. This one isn’t causing the problem.

If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access is an option, select it.

Repeat these steps on all of your workstations.

After you check your workstations, move on to your server computer. This is the computer that normally hosts your company files.

Open QuickBooks on your server computer.

Open the File menu and hover over Utilities.

If Host Multi-User Access is an option, select it.

Toggle the setting. Repeat the process and select Stop Hosting Multi-User Access. This resets Multi-user Mode.

Repeat the process one more time and select Host Multi-User Access.

When you’re done, move on to Step 5.

Step 5: Move your company file

Your company file’s location may be causing issues. Move it to your Windows desktop and open it from there.

Open the Windows Start menu.

Type “File Explorer” into the search and open File Explorer.

Search for and find the folder with your company file. It’s usually in your QuickBooks folder. It looks like this: [Your company name].qbw.

Right-click your company file and select Copy.

Right-click anywhere on your Windows desktop and select Paste.

Right-click the copied company file and select Rename. Give the file a name that's easy to identify, or add the word “Test."

Open QuickBooks Pro Cloud. Then go to the File menu and select Open or restore company.

Select the company file you copied to your desktop and select Open.

If you can open the copied company file, the file location is the issue.

Move the copied company file from your Windows desktop back to the original folder. Use this as your main company file from now on.

Find the original company file you copied. Right-click it and select Rename. Add the word “old” to the name so you know not to use it anymore.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Bruce