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QuickBooks Has Stopped Working? Here is What To Do!

QuickBooks Not Responding When Opening Company File

QuickBooks is a well-known accounting software among budding and established businesses. This is because of its advanced features and user-friendly interface. However, like any other application, QB is also prone to several technical issues and errors. One such consistent issue that users have been reporting for years is an error message that reads, ‘QuickBooks Has Stopped Working‘. This error message usually appears when the computer you have installed QuickBooks on does not meet the minimum system requirements. However, several other significant reasons can’t be ignored, and thus, we have curated this guide, discussing all such reasons along with their instant solutions. So keep reading this guide on ‘Error QuickBooks has stopped working’ and get back to your regular business operations in no time.

QuickBooks has stopped working Error Message

Critical Reasons ‘Why QuickBooks Suddenly Stops Working?’

When you find that QuickBooks has stopped working while opening on Windows 10, there can be two scenarios. First, an error notification will pop up like- QuickBooks has stopped working.” A problem has caused QuickBooks to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program & notify you if a solution is available. Or “A problem caused the program to stop working correctly QuickBooks. “Second, you might not even get notified about the issue, and QB will become non-responsive while opening, or it opens and then closes without any warning. Therefore, your next step is to find the exact reason(s) behind it. The following are the major factors why your QuickBooks is not responding:

  • The name of your company file may be too long, and thus, it is causing the application to lag, and hence, QuickBooks is not opening.
  • Your QuickBooks Desktop installation or program files might be damaged, which is why your so QuickBooks Not Working.
  • If the system hard drive where QuickBooks is saved is damaged or corrupted or has bad sectors in it.
  • If you find your QuickBooks is not responding, then it could be a result of a damaged Windows OS
  • If there is severe data damage or corruption in the company file.
  • QBWUSER.INI or EntitlementDataStore.ecml, if any of these files are damaged, you get to face the same issue.
  • If your system does not have the minimum hardware and software configuration to run QuickBooks Desktop.
  • In case a the third-party application integrated with QB is preventing the software from running smoothly on the system.

So, there were all those reasons why your QuickBooks Not Responding When Opening Company File. Let’s move on to the next section of this article and verify if your system meets the minimum requirements for QuickBooks.

Verify the System Requirements if the QuickBooks Not Opening

Ensuring your system is fully equipped to run QuickBooks is important for smooth performance. Check out the minimum system hardware and software requirements you must have to run the latest version of QuickBooks Desktop (QuickBooks Pro or Premier 2024 and Enterprise 24.0).

Note: As Microsoft has ended support for Windows 8.1 after Jan 10, 2023, using it to run QuickBooks is not recommended.

Requirements for QuickBooks for Windows Users

  • QuickBooks Desktop 2023 needs a 64-bit Windows operating system and will not run on 32-bit.
  • QB Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Accountant, Premier Plus, and Enterprise require an internet connection once every 14 days to sync license data. By default, QuickBooks Desktop uses the default browser on the system.
  • 2.4 GHz processor
  • 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended RAM for Workstations (If you are using QB in Multi-user mode)
  • RAM for Server

    • 1-5 Users: 8 GB
    • 10 Users: 12 GB
    • 15 Users: 16 GB
    • 20+ users: 20+ GB

  • The system needs 2.5 GB of disk space (additional required for data files). Also, 60 MB for Microsoft .NET 4.8 Framework, which comes with the installation files.
  • Intuit Data Protect in QuickBooks Connected Services needs a minimum of 4.0 GB RAM. Moreover, it requires twice the size of the biggest file set to back up, plus twice the size to restore or 100 MB.

Requirements for QuickBooks for Mac Users

  • Intel Core 2 Duo or higher processor when setting up a multi-user server.
  • An active and stable internet connection.
  • Intel or Apple CPU hardware supported system.
  • iOS 12.0 or later for iPhone-related features.
  • 2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM recommended).
  • At least Mac OS X v12.0 (Monterey) operating system.
  • 250 MB of free storage.

If your system is missing any of these requirements to run QuickBooks, you will need to upgrade. If you find QuickBooks Not Responding When Opening Company File striking even after the upgrade, follow the next section for instant troubleshooting solutions.

How to Eliminate QuickBooks Has Stopped Working Error Message?

If you have been looking for the top troubleshooting solution to fix the issues due to which QuickBooks Desktop is unresponsive for a long time, continue reading below. Integrating one or more methods or even a single method will eliminate the issue in the application.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before proceeding with the troubleshooting solutions, ensure that the name of the company file is under 65 characters.

Solution 1: Restarting the System

The first question that comes to your mind is what to do if QuickBooks is frozen. The answer, sometimes, lies in a very simple step i.e., restarting the system. If you encounter the ‘QuickBooks not responding’ issue, you must reboot the system. Start by closing all the running applications, rebooting the system, and lastly, trying to open the QuickBooks software.

If restarting the system doesn’t help you remove the QuickBooks Not Working message, try the next solution to update the application to the latest release.

Solution 2: Installing the Latest QuickBooks Program Updates

You must follow the steps below to update the QB program and get rid of the QuickBooks has stopped working error message. QB automatically downloads recent updates whenever they are launched by Intuit. You will see the update option available on the status bar as the updates are downloaded. You will find the status bar in the top right corner. To install the updates, you need to close the application and leave the system switched on. But, if you want to install them manually, then:

  • Start by clicking the Update available option.
  • Now, choose Install Now.
  • Then, waiting until the updates are installed in the application would be best.
  • Then, end the process by launching the QB program again.

Alternative option:

You can also use the option to download and install the updates manually.

  • First, open the QB program and move to the Help tab.
  • Proceed to select the Update QuickBooks Desktop option from the Help tab.
  • Choose Update Now and then hit the Get Updates option.
  • Further, close QB, and when you re-launch it, choose Yes in the confirmation box to Install the updates.

If updating the application doesn’t help you with the ‘QuickBooks quits unexpectedly’ issue, try the next solution.

Solution 3: Disabling the Third-Party Add-Ons

If you find that QuickBooks not responding when opening, it might be because of third-party integrations and add-ons with the QB application. Moreover, the anti-virus application on the Windows OS can also be the reason behind QB’s unresponsiveness. Therefore, temporarily deactivating any add-ons, integrations, and anti-virus applications may assist you in resolving the error message. If not, try the next resolution and run the Quick Fix My Program tool.

Solution 4: Use the Quick Fix My Program under QB Tool Hub

At first, the QuickFix My Program tool shuts down any running background processes and then runs a quick repair on the QB program. Therefore, follow the steps below to resolve the ‘QuickBooks has stopped working’ error. However, before you move ahead to run the Quick Fix My Program tool, it must be remembered that you can utilize this tool on the condition that QB Tool Hub is installed on the system. So, this specific troubleshooting section is divided into two steps. In the first step, we’ll learn how to install Tool Hub on the system. In the second step, we’ll learn how to run the Quick Fix My Program tool using Tool Hub.

Step 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub

You can resolve several issues, such as the ‘QuickBooks is not responding’ issue, network issues, company file issues, etc, with the help of QuickBooks Tool Hub. You must use Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit, to get the best results.

Note: If Tool Hub is already installed on the system, know which version you have. Go to the Home tab, the version will be displayed at the bottom right. Else, click on About to see the current version.

  • Open the downloaded file (QuickBooksToolHub.exe) and install it by following the instructions on your screen. Proceed further and agree to the terms and conditions.
  • When the installation is completed, an icon will display on your Windows desktop. Double-click to open the tool hub. (If you don’t find the Tool Hub icon, you can open the program by searching in the Windows search bar.)

Step 2: Run the Quick Fix My Program

As discussed above, the Quick Fix My Program tool will shut down any open background processes that QuickBooks may be using. Further, to resolve the ‘QuickBooks not working after login’ issue, it will run a quick repair on QuickBooks to help fix program problems. Follow the steps below for the same.

  • Open QuickBooks Tool Hub and select Program Problems.

Open QuickBooks Tool Hub

  • Select Quick Fix My Program from there and wait for the scan to complete.
  • Once done, open the QuickBooks Desktop application and then the company file.

Solution 5: Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the QB Tool Hub

The QuickBooks Program Diagnostic Tool automatically diagnoses and fixes issues with Microsoft components that the QB program uses. Therefore, running this essential utility may help remove the ‘QuickBooks Not Working’ message, which automatically pops up while trying to access your company file. Follow the steps below for the same.

Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the QB Tool Hub

  • Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
  • Now, Select Program Problems from Tool Hub.
  • Then, Click on QuickBooks Diagnostic Tool. Let the tool run. It may take at least 20 minutes to finish the repair procedure
  • Once the tool finishes, restart the system and launch the QuickBooks Application again.

If you are getting QuickBooks Error 6094, here is a dedicated blog to get the solutions to this error.

If running the Program Diagnostic tool doesn’t help you get through the ‘QuickBooks not responding’ issue, try the next solution below.

Solution 6: End the QuickBooks Processes

If QuickBooks is not responding to your commands, try to end the processes running in the background manually and then reopen QuickBooks.

  • Firstly, you should hold the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys together to launch the Task Manager.
  • After closing the QB program, right-click on the taskbar and choose the Task Manager option.
  • Then, proceed to choose the Details tab.
  • Now you should find the QB background processes:

    • QBW32.exe or QBW.exe
    • QBCFMonitorService.exe
    • qbupdate.exe
    • QBDBMgr.exe or QBDBMgrN.exe
    • QBMapi32.exe

  • Afterward, finding these processes, right-click on each and choose the option to End Task.
  • Further, Right-click the QB shortcut to choose the Run as Administrator option.

Solution 7: Changing the Names of QBWUSER.ini and EntitlementDataStore.ecmlIf Files

If QuickBooks Not Responding After Login, it might be due to a damaged or missing QBWUSER.ini or entitlementdatastore. ecml file. Therefore, changing the name of one or both files might resolve this issue.

Note: Once you rename the QBWUSER.INI file, it erases the list of all the company files that you opened earlier. Thus, you would have to open it manually again.

  • Firstly, click on the Windows icon.
  • Then, simultaneously press the Windows + E key to open Windows File Manager.
  • Then, go to the QuickBooks folder that is located in the C drive: Users[Your user name]AppDataLocalIntuitQuickBooks [year].
  • Now, search and right-click on the QBWUSER.ini file and click on the Rename option.

Select QBWUSER.ini-file-and-Click-on-the-Rename-Option

  • Further, type .OLD at the end of the file name and save it.
  • Now, select the folder containing the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file.
  • Further, follow this path to locate the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file, ‘C:\ProgramData\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8.‘
  • Lastly, follow the same steps for modifying the name as performed for the QBWUSER.ini file and recheck if the issue is resolved.

If you find your QuickBooks not responding even after renaming these crucial files, follow the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 8: Copy the Original Company File to Another Location

After performing the troubleshooting solution above, you must try to launch the sample company file to check if that also triggers the QuickBooks Not Responding After Login error. For this, press and hold the Control key, run QuickBooks, and select any sample company file on the No Company Open window.
However, if you can open the sample file but not the original company file, then change the location or folder of the file. Follow the steps below to move your company file to a new location quickly.

  • Start by going to the folder where the company file is saved.
  • Right-click the file with the .QBW extension.
  • Then, under the drop-down list, click the option to Copy.
  • Furthermore, create a new folder in the C: Drive or the desktop.
  • Name the folder QBTest and open it in the next step.
  • After opening the folder, right-click and choose the option to Paste the original company file.
  • Now, press and hold the Control key and launch the QB program.
  • The above action will open the No Company Open window on the screen.
  • Afterward, click Open or restore an existing company option.
  • Lastly, browse and select the company file in from the QBTest folder and see if this fixes the issue due to which QuickBooks not responding.

With these instructions, if you were able to get rid of the issue, then the company file is not the issue and indicates that the folder where the file was initially saved is damaged, and you will need to use the new folder to keep the company file.

If you find that your QuickBooks quits unexpectedly even after moving the company file to a different location, follow the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 9: Creating a New WindowsOS User

As already discussed, incorrect folder permissions might interfere with the QB operations on the system. In that case, you must create a new user and give it admin privileges to run the QB application.

Step 1: Creating a New Windows User with Admin Rights

  • Initially, choose the Windows Start menu.
  • Then, click the Setting icon in the Control Panel.
  • Now, choose the Accounts option and click Family & Other Users.
  • Note: You may see the Other Users option in some Windows OS versions.
  • Further, click the Add Accounts option next to Add Other users.
  • Procced to click on the option saying- I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
  • When the next window appears, click the option to Add a user without a Microsoft account.
  • In the end, enter a new username and password and a password hint. You can also select a security question. Then select Next.

Step 2: Grant Admin Rights to QB Software

  • First, go back to the Control Panel in the Start menu.
  • Then, navigate to the User Accounts option.
  • Proceed to look for the e QBDataServiceUserXX service for your QB Desktop version. For instance, in QB Desktop 2020, search for QBDataServiceUser30. This number drops for every version.
  • Then, further choose Change the Account Type and click the Administrator option.
  • Afterward, choose Apply.

If you find your QuickBooks suddenly stops working after having the required admin rights, follow the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 10: Rectify Data Damage with Verify and Rebuild Tool

Data damage in the QB company file may might provoke an error message. To fix it, you must run the Verify and Rebuild utility. Both utilities are integrated with QuickBooks and fix the data damage in minutes. The Verify tool finds the damage in the company file, and then the Rebuild tool repairs it.

1st Step: Verifying the Company Data

  • Firstly, move to Window and click Close All.
  • Then, proceed to the File tab and select Utilities.
  • Further, choose Verify Data and let the Verify Data utility diagnose the company file for any data damage. After that, you will see any of the options mentioned below:

    • QuickBooks detected no problems with your data—,’ Which means the data is not corrupted or damaged; thus, you do not need to do anything.
    • If you see an error message, look for troubleshooting methods from other sources on our website.

  • ‘The data has lost integrity‘ means the damage is found in the data file. Therefore, you must run the Rebuild tool to repair the damage in the QuickBooks company file.

2nd Step: Rebuilding the company Data

  • First, begin by clicking on the File tab in QB.
  • Now, choose the Utilities option under the the File tab and proceed to select Rebuild Data.
  • Now, it must be remembered that QB will ask you to create a backup of the data before using the Rebuild tool.
  • Click OK to confirm backup, as it is necessary before rebuilding the damaged company file.
  • Further, click OK once you choose the location to save the backup. All things considered, ensure you don’t replace the existing company file backup with the new one. Therefore, while creating the new company file backup, consider entering a new name in the File name and hit Save.
  • Further, start the Rebuild tool, and once the process is over, choose the OK option.
  • Once again, choose the File tab and click the Utilities option.
  • Then, run the Verify data tool again to double-check the company file for any additional damages.
  • At this point, if the
  • Verify tool finds more damage, you must fix it manually. You can search for errors (s) on our website and find ways to rectify them.
  • The error you are searching for cannot be found. Proceed to restore the recent backup. Choose the Open or Restore Company option in the File tab to restore the backup.

Note: Do not replace the existing company file with the restored one. It is because you’ll need to enter info into your company file again since the backup was created.

If the Verify and Rebuild utility doesn’t help you fix the ‘QuickBooks Desktop has stopped working’ issue, try the next solution below.

Solution 11: Scan and Repair Bad Sectors on Hard-Disk

Another reason QuickBooks is not responding is the corrupt or badly fragmented hard disk on which QB is installed. To fix this root cause, you can try scanning and repairing the bad sectors on Hard-Disk.

Windows C Drive Properties

  • Right-click the C drive and select Properties.
  • Go to the Tools menu and click on Check Now.

Windows C drive Check Now

  • Make sure to mark the Automatically fixed file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sector options.
  • Click on Start and wait until Windows completes the scan and repair process.

If repairing the hard drive does not help fix your QuickBooks program, follow the next solution.

Solution 12: Reinstall QuickBooks using the Clean Install Tool

You might often receive a QuickBooks Has Stopped Working error notification due to damaged program files. In such cases, you must run a basic reinstall when the same issue affects more than one of your company files. However, if that doesn’t work, you must perform a clean installation using the QuickBooks Clean install tool. It resolves issues restricting you from opening the company file, display and template problems, and other situations where you are unable to run QuickBooks. It replaces the QuickBooks system files on the system. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about your accounting data as a clean install won’t affect it since your company file and everything it holds aren’t involved. A clean installation is a process where every QuickBooks file is freshly created to ensure no bugs in the previous installation affect the new installation. Also, as the process does not pose any risk to the company data, you can proceed without hesitation.

Additional Solutions to Try When QuickBooks Keeps Stopping After the Windows 10 Update

If none of the solutions above helped get your QuickBooks running back smoothly, try the following additional solutions.

  • If you find that other than QuickBooks other programs have also stopped working, you must immediately replace your hard drive as this indicates corruption in it.

Windows Firewall Settings

  • You can also try running the SFC/Scannow utility on Windows to detect and repair any possible corruption in the operating system.
  • If you have set QuickBooks to open all previously open windows on start, this could lead it to crash. In this situation try suppressing QuickBooks by launching it while holding down the Ctrl key.
  • You must also remove any third-party applications integrated with QuickBooks to check if they are causing the issue.

Wrapping Up!!!

You might have successfully overcome the QuickBooks has stopped working message by going through and implementing the troubleshooting solutions in this article. Remember you need to be patient while addressing this issue, as it might take time to implement every solution in this article fix it. However, if you encounter the QuickBooks not working error while handling a crucial project and don’t have time to perform the solutions above manually, do not panic!! Our proficient team of experts is here for you round the clock. You can contact us at +1-(855)-955-1942 immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: How do you manually repair QuickBooks installation issues on  Windows?

Ans: You might want to manually repair the installation when you find that your QuickBooks has stopped working. Here are some quick instructions to get the repair done.
1. First, navigate to the Windows Control Panel from the Start menu.
2. Then, click the Programs and Features option.
3. Now, from the list of installed software on the system, look for QuickBooks
4. If you find QB, proceed further and right-click on it.
5. Now, after right-clicking the QB program, choose the option to Repair.
6. Finally, follow the instructions to complete the repair procedure.

Question 2: Why do I face QuickBooks has stopped working issue?

Ans: You might find your QuickBooks has stopped working when you have some issues in your company file, QBWUSER.INI file, hard drive, or QB installation file. You might also face the same consequences when your operating system is damaged.

Question 3: What should I do if QuickBooks has stopped working?

 Ans:  If your QuickBooks has stopped working, try fixing it by using the Quick Fix My Program, running the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool, and renaming the QBWUSER.ini file. You can also try other solutions given in the article above.

Question 4: How to download Clean Install Tool to rectify QuickBooks not responding issue?

Ans: To download and run the clean install tool, first download the QB Tool Hub. Then, open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. After installation, when you open the QB Tool Hub, then under the Installation Issue, you will find the Clean Install Tool. You then just need to select your QB version, and the Clean Install Tool will run and rectify the issue.

 

Lisa Newman Administrator
Lisa Newman is an accomplished author at Data Service Solutions, specializing in technical and QuickBooks content. With a passion for simplifying complex concepts, Lisa’s expertise lies in creating insightful and user-friendly guides. Her dedication to demystifying data services and QuickBooks has made her a valuable resource in the tech and financial sectors.

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