Guided Resolutions for the QuickBooks Not Updating Issue

QuickBooks is an accounting and bookkeeping software that many businesses use for their important work processes. As with any other software, QuickBooks also gets regular updates and revisions. It’s important to update QB Desktop from time to time for added security, bug fixes, and improved user experience.

However, you can encounter the issue of QuickBooks not updating while doing the same. This can occur due to program problems with the QB Desktop app. It can hamper your workflow and important business processes. You can resolve it using the Quick Fix My Program tool from the QB Tool Hub. We’ll cover the guided methods you need to resolve it in this blog. First, let’s cover why you are unable to update QuickBooks Desktop.

QuickBooks Not Updating – A Quick View Table

In the table below is given a concise summary of this blog on the topic of dealing with the problem of QB Desktop not updating:

Description	QuickBooks not updating is an issue that many users face, and are unable to update their QB Desktop application. This can hamper their workflow and important business processes.
Its causes	Program problems with the QBDT app, installation issues with the QB software, incorrect date and time settings on your system, the Firewall is blocking the QB Desktop app, a disabled QB File Copy Service, an unstable internet connection, a damaged QB company file, and an unverifiable digital signature certificate
Ways to fix it	Check the date and time settings on your system, update QBDT with admin privileges, utilize Quick Fix My Program, manually update the QB Desktop application, use QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool, verify and rebuild the QB company data, install a digital signature certificate for QB, utilize the QuickBooks File Doctor tool, create Firewall exclusions for QB Desktop, and clean install the QuickBooks app.

Fix the Issue of QuickBooks Update Not Working | Guided Methods

The troubleshooting methods you can use to resolve the problem of QuickBooks update will not install are given below:

Verify the Date & Time Settings of Your System

An incorrect date or time on your system can cause your QB Desktop app to not update. Check the date and time settings on your PC with the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the system clock on your desktop
2. Select Adjust Date/Time
   
3. Click on Change date and time
   
4. Specify the current date and time
5. Hit OK twice
6. Close and reopen the QB Desktop app

This would resolve the problem you were dealing with.

Update QB Desktop with Admin Rights

You can update the QB Desktop application with admin privileges to resolve the QuickBooks update problems with the steps given below:

1. Close all your company files
2. Exit the QB Desktop app
3. Go to your PC’s home screen
4. Right-click on QuickBooks Desktop
5. Select Run as Administrator
6. Download the updates again

If this doesn’t resolve your problem, move to the next solution.

Use Quick Fix My Program

The Quick Fix My Program tool from the QB Tool Hub can be used to resolve the issue if your QuickBooks Desktop won’t update, with the steps given below:

1. Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub
2. Open the QB Tool Hub app
3. Go to the Program Problems tab
4. Click on Quick Fix My Program
   
5. Let the tool run

The tool would run and fix any program problems with your QB Desktop app.

Manually Update the QB Desktop App

You can manually update the QB Desktop application to resolve the issue of QuickBooks not updating with the steps given below:

1. Open the QuickBooks Desktop app
2. Navigate to the Help menu
3. Click on Update QuickBooks Desktop
   
4. Then, go to the Update Now tab
5. Mark the Reset Update checkbox
6. Select Get Updates
   
7. Close and reopen QBDT to install the updates

Now, the issue should be fixed.

Use the QB Install Diagnostic Tool

There might be inherent installation issues with the QB Desktop app. This can interfere with the update process of QB Desktop. You can fix it with the QB Install Diagnostic Tool using the steps given below:

1. Open the QB Tool Hub app
2. Navigate to the Installation Issues tab
3. Click on the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
   
4. Let the tool run
5. The tool can take up to 20 minutes to finish working

Now, the QuickBooks app should update just fine.

Verify and Rebuild the Company File

You can verify and rebuild the QB company file data to resolve the problem of QuickBooks not updating with the steps given below:

1. Open the QB Desktop app
2. Navigate to the File menu
3. Click on Utilities
4. Select Verify Data
   
5. Then, go to the File menu again
6. Select Utilities
7. Click on the Rebuild Data option
   
8. QuickBooks will request to create a backup of your company file
9. Hit OK
10. A backup is needed to rebuild your company file
11. Choose where the company file would be saved
12. Press OK
13. Ensure that you don’t replace an existing backup file
14. Enter a unique name in the File name field
15. Hit Save
16. You will get the message stating that Rebuild has completed
17. Hit OK

This would resolve the issue you were dealing with.

Install a Digital Signature for QB Desktop

You can install a digital signature certificate for the QB Desktop application in order to resolve the problem of QB not updating, with the steps given below:

1. Open the folder containing your QB files
   • Usually found in this location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks 20XX (XX) represents the version of your QB Desktop app
2. Right-click on the QB application file (.exe)
3. Click on Properties
4. Go to the Digital Signatures tab
5. Select one of the entries in the Signature list field
6. Click on Details
7. The Digital Signature Details window would open
8. Press View Certificate
9. The Certificate window would appear
10. Go to the General tab in the Certificate window
11. Select Install Certificate
12. The Certificate Import Wizard screen would open
13. Make sure that the Store Location is on the Current User
14. Hit Next
15. Press Next
16. Select Finish
17. You’ll see a message stating that the import was successful
18. Click on OK

Now, the QuickBooks update error should be fixed.

Use the QB File Doctor Tool

The QB File Doctor Tool can be used to resolve the QuickBooks Desktop update problem with the steps given below:

1. Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub
2. Navigate to the Company File Issues tab
3. Click on Run QuickBooks File Doctor
   
   • It can take up to a minute to open. If it doesn’t open, search for QuickBooks Desktop File Doc and open it manually.
4. Select your company file from the dropdown menu
   • If you can’t see your file, click on Browse and search to find your file
5. Click on the Check your file option
6. Hit Continue
7. Enter the QB admin password
8. Press Next

Performing these steps would resolve the issue of QB not updating.

Create Firewall Exclusions for the QB Desktop App

You can create Firewall exceptions for the QB Desktop application to patch the issue of QuickBooks not updating, using the steps given to you below:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Search for and open the Windows Firewall
   
3. Click on Advanced Settings
   
4. Right-click on Inbound Rules
   • You will create Outbound Rules later
5. Hit New Rule
6. Select Port
7. Hit Next
8. Ensure that TCP is selected
9. Go to the Specific Local Ports field
   
10. Feed in the specific port for your QB Version:
    • QB Desktop 2020 and later: 8019, XXXXX
    • QB Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX
    • QB Desktop 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382
    • QB Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377
11. Press Next
12. Click on Allow the Connection
13. Select Next
14. Ensure all profiles are marked if you are prompted
15. Hit Next
16. Create a rule
17. Name it something like QBPorts(year)
18. Click on Finish

This should resolve the issue of QuickBooks not updating.

Clean Install QB Desktop

You can clean install the QB Desktop application to resolve the issue of QuickBooks update taking too long, with the steps given below:

Step 1: Uninstall QB Desktop

1. Open the Start menu
2. Search for and open the Control Panel
   
3. Click on Uninstall a Program
   
4. Choose QuickBooks Desktop from the list of programs you see
5. Select Uninstall/Change
   
6. Click on Remove
7. Hit Next

Step 2: Rename the Installation Folders

1. Open the File Explorer
   
2. Navigate to the folder containing your company file
3. It is usually in one of these locations:
   • C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Users\(current user)\AppData\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
   • 64-bit version C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)
4. Right-click on the folder
5. Press Rename
6. Add the word old at the end of the folder’s name

Step 3: Install QBDT Again

1. Open the QuickBooks.exe file
2. Choose one of the two options:
   • Express Install
   • Custom and Network Options
3. Press Next
4. Hit Install

Now, the problem should be fixed.

Potential Causes Behind the QuickBooks Desktop App Not Updating

Listed below are the potential factors that can trigger the issue of QuickBooks on updating on your system:

1. Program problems with the QB Desktop app
2. Installation issues with the QB software
3. Incorrect date and time settings on your PC
4. The Firewall is blocking the QB Desktop app
5. A disabled QB File Copy Service
6. An unstable internet connection
7. A damaged QB company file
8. An unverifiable digital signature certificate

These are the reasons why QuickBooks won’t update.

Conclusion

The QuickBooks not updating issue can arise when you are trying to update your QB Desktop application. This can result in a hampered workflow and slow down your progress. We have covered all the potential factors that can trigger this issue on your system, along with the methods needed to troubleshoot it, in this blog.

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