Convert QuickBooks File to an Older Version in 3 Easy Steps

While attempting to convert your QuickBooks company file version 2023 to 2019 or to any other version, you might fail. This is because Intuit does not provide any services or features to convert QuickBooks file to an older version.

However, for any emergency or other technical reasons, if you are still wondering how to open a company file in a prior version of QuickBooks, this guide will help. In this article, we will explore all possible ways to open your company file using a previous version of QB Desktop.

Following this blog will help you easily downgrade your QB company file to a prior version. However, if you face issues while doing so or looking for some instant help, you must reach out to experts. Dial +1 833-802-0002 and connect with ProAdvisors now!

Instances When You  Need to Convert Company File to an Older Version

Either to make some changes to prior payroll data or to continue with the older version of your company file, there can be various instances when you might want to downgrade or convert the data file: 

• You might be migrating QuickBooks from one computer to another, where an older version of QuickBooks is installed.
• You might need to sign in to the older version of the company file to change some of your transactions, customer vendors, or any other payroll data.
• For technical reasons or to fix some discrepancies. 

Does Intuit Offer any Services to Downgrade Company File?

No, Intuit does not offer any services or ways to open your company file in an older version of QuickBooks Desktop.

With the Intuit services, you can easily upgrade your company file version to a higher one. However, the option to downgrade to an older version is not available.

Fortunately, as a workaround, there are third-party applications that will help you revert your current version of the company file to the previous one. To do this, simply visit the QBDT App Center and explore the different conversion apps available there.

Besides this, you can also get help from third-party downgrading services to open the older version of QuickBooks company files quickly. But before that, you need to prepare the file and download or purchase the older version of QuickBooks Desktop, which we will discuss in the next section of this blog. 

Prepare QuickBooks and Company File Before Downgrading 

Before using any third-party application or service to downgrade QB, you must ensure the security and protection of your company data.

Additionally, it is also necessary to have an older version of QuickBooks with its subscription to maintain compatibility with the company file. So, let’s move on to the section below and do the necessary preparation to downgrade smoothly:

Install both versions of QuickBooks Desktop

First and foremost, you must choose an older version of QuickBooks to which you want to switch and then install it with the current versions of QB.

Moreover, check if the version you installed or are using is not outdated or discontinued.

Create a backup of your company file

To open your company file in an older version, back up your company data and save it to a location where both QB versions can easily access it.

This also ensures that you can restore the company file version whenever needed.

Purchase or install the older QuickBooks Desktop version

Once you get the older version of QuickBooks, ensure that your product license of that prior version is active. If not, you must purchase the product license or get a trial version to activate the program. 

Let’s activate your older version of QuickBooks Desktop:

• Launch QuickBooks Desktop of an older version.
• Go to the Help tab and click on Manage My License.
• Now, type the correct License and Product number and activate your program.

Effects of downgrading your QB company file

If your prior QuickBooks subscription was less expensive and you want to downgrade your current version to a prior one, don’t worry; you can get the previous one back. However, you might lose some of the advanced features and some data.

Here’s what kind of features and data you can lose when downgrading:

1. Third-party apps: Using the third-party integrated application offers various benefits and helps automate and ease various tasks. However, you cannot take such benefits when downgrading the version of QB or the company file.
2. Recurring transactions:  While using the downgraded version of QuickBooks, you cannot use recurring transactions, which is one of the advanced features.
3. Multi-currency: This feature helps you expand your business with foreign clients while easily getting paid and receiving in their home currencies. However, the feature will not be available when using the previous version of QuickBooks. 
4. Inventory tracking: Keep in mind that you won’t be able to track your inventories in the downgraded version.

Additionally, when opening your company file in an older version, some of the transaction types might also get deleted. So, before you convert to a prior version, keep the above things in mind and then move to the next section for downgrading. 

Methods for Downgrading the Company File to an Older QBDT Version

There are two main ways to open your company file with an older version of QuickBooks: restoring the backed-up company file or creating or manually entering all of your data in a different file. 

Below, we have mentioned both of these ways with an additional one; let’s discover them one by one:

Restore an earlier backup of the company file

As you have already created a backup of your QB company file, you can restore that version in the previous version of QuickBooks you installed.

To do so, you need to launch the older version of QuickBooks Desktop and then follow the steps mentioned below:

• Go to the File tab at the top.
• Choose Open or Restore Company.
• Click on Restore a backup copy and then hit Next.
• Further, select Local Backup and then click Next.
• Now, look for the backup company file on your computer. The file would be named [Your company name].qbb.
• Choose the folder where you want to save the restored version, and then click Open.

Note: Keep in mind that saving the backup file in the same folder as the existing one may overwrite your data.   To avoid this, rename your existing company file or save the backup in a different folder.

• Once done, click Save.

Manually re-enter the transactions you have entered in the upgraded version

In case you forgot to back up your company data and didn’t have any option, you can manually enter your transactions by creating a new file and opening it with the prior version of QuickBooks. 

Entering the transactions manually will also ensure that your data is protected and not deleted when opening in an older QB version.

Hire a third-party downgrading service

If the above option doesn’t suit you well or you want help from ProAdvisors, you can reach out to us and let us perform the QuickBooks company file conversion for you. 

Summary

Although the process of upgrading your QuickBooks Desktop is irreversible, you can still convert QuickBooks file to an older version by restoring the company file backup or considering third-party downgrading services. To enjoy these third-party services and get your company file converted, you must reach out to us by dialing +1 833-802-0002 and connecting with our QB ProAdvisors instantly.

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