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How to Backup QuickBooks Online Data: An Exhaustive Guide

how to backup quickbooks online data

Ensuring adequate data security is crucial for QuickBooks Online (QBO) users. Fortunately, Intuit enables automatic backup of QBO data on its server. Nevertheless, you might need to manually backup QuickBooks Online data to ensure greater control over your data. In this guide, we will explore the steps to create backups for QBO data. Moreover, we will look at various tips to enhance QBO data security for your Enterprise.

There are actually multiple ways to backup QBO data. If you are using the QBO Advanced Company version, you can ensure automatic data backups & one-time manual backups. Moreover, you can utilize Rewind (a third-party app) to back up your business data. Another option is to perform a basic backup by exporting your data to Excel.

Alright, then, let’s dive into the article to discover various processes that will enable you to ensure a complete backup of QB Online data.

If you want immediate assistance when creating and saving backup QuickBooks Online data, dial +1-(855)-955-1942 to contact a QB professional.

Understanding Different Ways to Backup QB Online Data

Here are the points that explain how you can create & save backup QBO data:

  • Using the QBO Advanced Company Plan: This is the only QBO plan that allows automatic & manual data backups. Moreover, it enables one-click restores for your business data.
  • Subscribing to the Rewind App: Intuit has recommended the Rewind app to create automatic backups & restores for QBO data.
  • Manually Exporting Your Data: As a basic backup option, you can export certain lists, reports, & transactions from QBO to Excel.

Now that you have a good grasp of various methods that you can use to backup QBO data, let’s scroll down to the next section to discover how to actually implement them.

Utilize 3 Proven Strategies to Backup QuickBooks Online Data

Here are the three methods you can implement to easily backup QBO data. Ensure that you utilize the steps detailed below in the correct order.

1. Backup & Restore Your QB Online Advanced Company Data

The QBO Advanced Company version allows you to backup your data using the Online Backup and Restore App. Before using this app, it is essential to understand what it can backup & what it can’t. The following points will enable you to comprehend this better:

A. Data That You Can Backup

Transaction DataList DataOther Data
Invoices
Estimates
Sales 
Receipts
Payments
Deposits
Bills and bill payments
Credit memos
Vendor credits
Journal entries
Purchases and purchase orders
Refund receipts
Time activities
Transfers
Accounts
Budgets
Classes
Currencies
Customers
Departments
Employees (except their SSN) 
Items
Payment methods
Tax agencies
Tax codes and tax rates
Terms
Vendors (except the Tax fields)
Attachments
Company Info
Entitlements
Exchange rates 
Preferences
Intuit Payroll info backs up as journal entries
Inventory shrinkage and adjustments back up as journal entries

B. Data That You Cannot Backup

You won’t be able to backup the following data:

  • Types of customers & price rules.
  • Recurring transactions.
  • Bank feeds and their connection to bank rules & different transactions.
  • QB Online Payments information.
  • Reconciliation reports.
  • Entries in the Audit Log section.
  • Custom form templates.
  • Custom reports.
  • Account-based & item-based billable expenses.

Now, let’s navigate to the following point to understand how to automatically backup your QBO data.

C. Activate Automatic Backup of QB Online Data

Here are the points that will help you enable automatic backup of QBO data:

  • Open Settings and choose Back up company.

Note: You may need to sign in with your Intuit account and tap Authorize to continue.

  • Locate the company with the automatic backup you want to disable.
  • Click the Action dropdown menu, then choose Turn on backup.

It is also possible to switch off the automatic data backup feature. Let’s explore the next point to understand it better.

D. Switch Off the QBO Automatic Backup Facility

You can easily turn off the automatic data backup facility in QBO Advanced Company by following these points:

  • Open Settings and click Back up company.

Note: You may be prompted to sign in with your Intuit account and click Authorize to proceed.

  • Locate the company with the automatic backup you want to switch off.
  • Open the Action dropdown menu and choose Turn off backup.

Sometimes, you might be working on a specific project & want to save the backup data at once. In such cases, you can perform manual backups as detailed below.

E. Manually Backup Your QBO Data

Here are the points that explain how you can manually backup the QB Online data:

  • Open Settings & click Back up company.

Note: You may need to sign in with your Intuit account and choose Authorize to continue.

  • Select Add Company. After that, you should pick the company you want to back up from the Search for a company dropdown menu.
  • Click Next, then select Connect.

Note: If you need to back up multiple companies, repeat the previous steps for each one.

  • Locate the company you want to back up.
  • Open the Action dropdown menu and choose Run full backup.

It is also possible to save your backup data to the Google Drive account. Let’s scroll down to the following point to learn how to do that.

F. Save the QBO Backup Data to Google Drive

Here’s how you can save the QB Online backup data to Google Drive:

  • Open Settings, and after that, you must click Back up company.

Note: You may need to sign in with your Intuit account and select Authorize to proceed.

  • Go to the User menu.

Google Drive

  • Choose where you want to save your backup data and tap Link Google Drive.
  • Follow the prompts to grant QuickBooks permission to create backups.

Note: It may take 10 minutes or longer for the backup file to appear in Google Drive. Also, data stored using personal cloud archives cannot currently be restored through the Online Backup and Restore feature.

Sometimes, you might need to restore the QBO backup data for different projects. Let’s jump to the following point to discover how you can do that.

G. Restore Your QB Online Backup Data

Whenever you restore the QBO backup data, you can restore everything except the following:

  • Budgets and inventory history & inventory adjustments.
  • Tax rates that are linked with expense accounts. These are generally restored in your liability accounts.
  • Backup data associated with the personal cloud archive feature.

To successfully restore the QBO backup data, you can follow the steps listed below:

  • Go to Settings and choose Back up company.

Note: You may need to sign in with your Intuit account and click Authorize to continue.

  • Locate the company you want to restore. After that, open the Action dropdown menu and select Restore.
  • In the Date field, choose the backup date from which you want to restore.
  • Use the Time dropdown menu to pick the specific backup time.
  • Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Finally, select Start Restore to begin the process.

You can also utilize the Rewind app to backup & restore the QBO data. Let’s learn more about it in the next point.

2. Use the Rewind App to Backup & Restore Your QBO Data

Intuit has recommended the Rewind app to backup and restore the QB Online data. This app seamlessly integrates with QBO, and it creates continuous backups for each entry. Moreover, you can easily restore your data as and when needed. The best thing about this app is that it is suitable for small-scale businesses & large firms alike. Furthermore, you get a free 7-day trial with each subscription plan. 

Rewind app

Sometimes, you may want to save the backup QBO data on your computer. In such cases, you can export the QBO data to Excel. Let’s navigate to the following point to discover how you can do that.

3. Export Your QBO Data to Excel

Exporting the QBO data to Excel is a basic backup option. In other words, you can export the QBO data to Excel to keep an additional copy of the data on the computer. This allows you to transfer the Excel data to various apps, and you may also share it with other clients. However, you must remember that exporting data to Excel is not a substitute for a full data backup service. Here’s how you can export QBO reports and lists to Excel:

  • Go to Settings and, under the TOOLS column, choose Export data.

Export Your QBO Data to Excel

  • In the Reports tab, select the date range from the Pre-selected date ranges dropdown.
  • Use the switches on the Reports and Lists tabs to add or remove items as needed.
  • Click Export to Excel and select OK to confirm the export process.

Once completed, you’ll receive a confirmation that the data has been successfully exported. You can easily share the Excel data with different clients & business associates.

Crucial Tips to Help You Create Backups For Your QBO Data

You can implement these tips when creating backups for the QB Online data:

  • Use a Secure Connection: Always back up data over a secure, encrypted internet connection to avoid the risk of data breaches.
  • Sign In with Intuit Account: You may need to sign in with your Intuit account and authorize actions before creating backups.
  • Check Backup Settings: Confirm that the correct company file and data range are selected before proceeding with the backup process.
  • Choose Reliable Storage: Store backups in a secure and accessible location like Google Drive or a trusted cloud service with proper encryption.
  • Avoid Interruptions: Ensure your internet connection is stable, and avoid closing the browser or logging out during the backup process.
  • Confirm Backup Completion: Wait for the confirmation message to ensure the backup is successfully completed and available.
  • Regularly Schedule Backups: Set up automatic backups or create them periodically to avoid data loss in case of unexpected issues.

Winding Up

In this detailed blog, we showed you how you can easily backup QuickBooks Online data. Hopefully, you can now create & save data backups in QB Online without facing any issues. If, however, you want further information or have a query, you can contact a QB professional for real-time help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create & save backups for the QB Online data?

Here are three different ways to create and save a backup copy of the QBO data:
1. Using the QB Online Advanced Company Plan: The QuickBooks Online Backup & Restore (Advanced Plan) allows automatic and manual backups with easy data restoration.
2. Exporting Data to Excel: Use the Export Data option in Settings to save reports and lists as Excel files for local or cloud storage.
3. Utilize the Rewind App: You can use the Rewind app to save the backup copy of the QBO data in real time.

Can I create and save backup data in QuickBooks Desktop? 

Yes, you can effortlessly create the backup data in QB Desktop. It is possible to ensure automatic & manual data backups in the QB Desktop application. 

Does QuickBooks Online automatically back up my data?

Yes, QuickBooks Online automatically saves your data on Intuit’s cloud servers. However, automatic backups and restores are only available for QBO Advanced users.

Are third-party apps safe for backing up QuickBooks Online data?

Yes, reputable third-party apps like Rewind are safe and provide automated, real-time backups with advanced restore options. Make sure to use only trusted, Intuit-approved apps.

Robert Downe SEO Editor
Robert is an accounting professional, well versed in many accounting software. He has established himself as a QuickBooks expert over the past ten years. Robert finds great joy in assisting businesses and accountants all over the country so that they can manage their finances seamlessly. He does so individually and through his blogs.

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