Learn How to Fix Issues While Upgrading QuickBooks Desktop

Issues while upgrading QuickBooks Desktop are a common occurrence among regular users. These issues prevent users from downloading and installing the latest features, improvements, and security fixes. The inability to update QuickBooks can hinder the work environment and occur due to lack of admin rights or incorrect internet connection settings. In this blog, we will learn how to fix the update problems with effective solutions.

If you aren’t able to update QuickBooks, follow this guide to learn why this happens and how you can fix it. However, if you encounter time-boundations, you can contact our expert team at 833-802-0002 for immediate assistance in resolving the update problems.

What are the Possible Causes for Errors When Updating QuickBooks Desktop?

Update issues in QuickBooks Desktop can occur for different reasons. You must understand the reasons behind this issue to troubleshoot it with better clarity. The list of reasons given below can be responsible for QuickBooks Desktop update issues – 

• You are not running the QuickBooks Desktop updates as a Windows admin user, which can lead to insufficient privileges. 
• The internet connection settings are incorrect or misconfigured while updating QB. 
• Your system’s date and time settings might be incorrect or set to a different time zone.
• Update issues in QuickBooks Desktop can occur for different reasons. You must understand the reasons behind this issue to troubleshoot it with better clarity. The list of reasons given below can be responsible for QuickBooks Desktop update issues – 
• You are not running the QuickBooks Desktop updates as a Windows admin user, which can lead to insufficient privileges. 
• The internet connection settings are incorrect or misconfigured while updating QB. 
• Your system’s date and time settings might be incorrect or set to a different time zone.
• Your QB Desktop program might be damaged, corrupted, or incorrectly installed on the PC.
• A lack of Windows OS updates can be another reason why QuickBooks won’t update. 
• Essential files, like the .DLL and .OCX files, might not be correctly registered. 
• Your QuickBooks digital signature certificate is expired, invalid, or unverified. 
• The Windows firewall or your anti-virus app is causing blockages while updating QB Desktop.
• Problems with the Network Data and Transaction Log files can also be responsible for update issues. 
• QuickBooks component folder might be damaged or corrupted, which can prevent users from running the updates. 

These are the main reasons why you can’t update QuickBooks. Now, let’s learn how to fix the update issues by following the solutions given in the next section.

Easy Solutions to Resolve QuickBooks Desktop Update Errors

Until the update issues are resolved, you won’t be able to install the most recent updates, features, and security fixes. Thus, you must follow the practical solutions given below to fix the QuickBooks Desktop update error –

Solution 1 – Update QuickBooks Desktop as an Admin User

If you are trying to update QuickBooks as a regular Windows user, you might not have the proper privileges to do so. To ensure you have sufficient privileges, run QuickBooks as an admin user before updating it – 

• Exit QuickBooks, then right-click the QB Desktop icon on your PC and select the Run as Admin option.

• Now, enter your admin credentials, run QuickBooks, and install the latest QuickBooks Desktop updates.

If you are unable to update QuickBooks Desktop, follow Solution 2 below.

Solution 2 – Review the Internet Connection Settings 

If your QuickBooks Desktop won’t update, your internet connection might be the source of the issue. To fix the update issue, test your internet connection by opening the web browser and visiting a safe website like Intuit. Contact your Internet Service Provider for assistance if you can’t open the website. On the other hand, if you can access the website, open QuickBooks and perform the following steps – 

• rom the Help menu, click Internet Connection Setup and select “Use my computer’s Internet connection settings to establish a connection when this application accesses the Internet.”

• Click Next, then select Advanced Connection Settings and move to the Advanced tab.
• Finally, select Restore Advanced Settings, click OK, and select Done. 

After checking the internet connection settings, update QuickBooks Desktop again. However, if QuickBooks update errors persist, follow the next solution. 

Solution 3 – Check the Date and Time on Your PC  

If your system’s date and time settings are incorrect, it can cause problems while updating QBDT. To check your PC’s date and time settings, perform the steps mentioned below – 

• Firstly, right-click the system’s clock on your desktop and click Adjust Date/Time.
• Now, select Change date and time, specify the current date and time, and click OK twice.

Once the settings are set, update QuickBooks to check if the issue is fixed. However, issues while upgrading QuickBooks Desktop persist, move to the next solution. 

Solution 4 – Repair QuickBooks 

Update issues can arise if your QuickBooks Desktop program is damaged or incorrectly installed. To fix the issues within QuickBooks, you can repair the program using two methods as follows – 

Method 1 – From the Control Panel 

You can repair QuickBooks Desktop from the Control Panel in the following manner – 

• Firstly, back up your QuickBooks company file, then restart your PC and open the Windows Start menu.
• Search for the Control Panel, then inside the panel, select Programs and Features. If you don’t see the Programs and Features option in your Windows OS, select Programs, then click Programs and Features. 
• Click Uninstall a Program, then select QuickBooks from the program list, and click the Uninstall/Change option.
• Further, click Continue, hit Next, and select Repair.
• Click Next, and once the QB repair process is complete, select Finish. 

Restart your PC and try installing the QBDT updates again. If QuickBooks is not updating, use the next method. 

Method 2 – Using the QuickBooks Tool Hub Features. 

QuickBooks Tool Hub contains various tools and features that can help fix general issues within the application. Follow the detailed steps given below to repair QB Desktop by using the QuickBooks Tool Hub utilities –  

• Firstly, ensure you have the latest Quickbooks Tool Hub installed on your PC and launch the program. 
• In QB Tool Hub, move to the Program Problems tab and select the Quick Fix My Program tool. Run the tool to repair the QB program, then try updating the app again.

• If QuickBooks won’t update, go to the Installation Issues section and select the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool. 

After running the tool, reopen QuickBooks and retry updating the software. If you are still facing update problems, follow the next solution. 

Solution 5 – Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop 

If the installation issues in QuickBooks Desktop aren’t resolved, you must install the app again. You can reinstall QuickBooks in Selective Startup Mode to ensure no interruptions from background apps. 

After the software is reinstalled, you must activate it in the following manner – 

• Open QB Desktop, then select Activate QuickBooks Desktop from the Help section. 

• Now, follow the on-screen prompts to verify your info and complete the activation process. 

Once done, check if you can update QuickBooks without issues. However, if you get the “QuickBooks cannot complete your update request because it is busy with another update” message, move to the next solution to eliminate it. 

Solution 6 – Install the Latest Windows OS Updates 

Another reason why QuickBooks won’t update is because your Windows OS is outdated. In this case, you must install the latest Windows OS updates in the following manner – 

• Open the Windows Start menu, go to the Settings tab, and move to the Update & Security section. 

• Select Windows Update, click Check for Updates, and if updates are available, install them on your computer. 

After the Windows OS is updated, restart your PC and update QuickBooks again. If you still encounter QuickBooks update issues, follow the next solution. 

Solution 7 – Terminate QB Desktop Processes 

When QuickBooks Desktop runs in the background, it is identified as a QBW32.EXE process. To fix the update issue, you must terminate all QuickBooks .exe processes in the following manner – 

• Right-click the Windows taskbar, select Task Manager, and go to the Processes tab.
• Now, select Image Name and choose each QuickBooks process with the .exe extension. 
• Finally, right-click the processes, select End Process, and exit the task manager. 

Once the processes are terminated, try to update QuickBooks Desktop. If QuickBooks still won’t update, follow the next solution. 

Solution 8 – Run the Reboot.bat File as an Admin 

Running the QuickBooks Reboot.bat file will enable the system to re-register the .DLL and .OCX files. This can help fix the update problems in QuickBooks Desktop. To run the Reboot.bat file, go through the following steps – 

• Restart your PC, then right-click the QB Desktop icon and choose the Properties menu.

• Select Open File Location, then type “Reboot.bat” in the search space at the upper-right corner.
• Lastly, right-click the Reboot.bat file, select Run as Admin, and the window will automatically close once the file runs. 

Now, try to download and install the QBDT updates and check the status. If you are still facing issues while upgrading QuickBooks Desktop, follow the next solution. 

Solution 9 – Install QB Digital Signature Certificate 

Your QuickBooks digital signature certificate contains vital information to protect data and establish secure network connections. If this certificate has expired or is unverified, you must install it in the following manner –

• Right-click the QuickBooks icon on your desktop, select Properties, and go to the Shortcut tab.
• Select Open File Location, click OK, or manually locate the file by following the navigation paths below –
  • Pro, Premier, or Premier Accountant: C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks 20XX
  • Enterprise or Enterprise Accountant: C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions XX.0

• On the File Location window, look for the .exe file, then right-click and select Properties. 
• In the Application File Properties window, select the Digital Signature tab and choose one of the entries in the Signature list field. 
• Select Details, then move to the Digital Signature Details window and click View Certificate. T
• When the Certificate window opens, go to the General tab and select Install Certificate.
• Further, move to the Certificate Import Wizard welcome screen and ensure that the Store Location is on Current User.
• Hit Next, then on the Certificate Store window, let Windows select the certificate store based on the type and click Next.
• Select Finish, and when you are prompted that the import was successful, click OK.

After the digital signature certificate is installed, try updating QuickBooks again. If QuickBooks is not updating, follow the next solution. 

Solution 10 – Rename the Network Data and Transaction Log Files

The Network Data and Transaction Log files are essential QB configuration files. If these files are not working correctly, you can try renaming them to fix the damage – 

• Open the folder containing your company files and locate the files with the .ND and .TLG extensions corresponding to your company files.
• Once found, right-click each of the file names, select Rename, and add .OLD at the end of the name. 
• Hit Enter to save the new name, then restart QuickBooks and try running the update process. 

If you are still facing QuickBooks Desktop update issues, follow the next solution. 

Solution 11 – Rename the QuickBooks Component Folder 

If one of the previously downloaded updates is corrupted, it can cause issues with the new updates. To fix these issues, you can rename the component folder in the following manner – 

• Close QuickBooks, go to this navigation path – C:\ Program Data \ Intuit \ QuickBooks 20 [YY]\Components or C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Intuit \ QuickBooks 20 [YY]\Components if you are a 64-bit user.
• Now, right-click the Components folder, select Rename, and add .OLD at the end, then hit Enter. 

Once the folder is renamed, try to install the QBDT updates again. If you are still unable to update the software, follow the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 12 – Configure the Windows Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Sometimes your Windows firewall might create blockages while QuickBooks tries to access the internet. This can prevent users from updating the application to the latest release. To fix the update issues, you can configure the Windows firewall and antivirus settings and remove the blockages. 

Once done, run the update process again to ensure the issues while updating QuickBooks are resolved. 

Conclusion 

You can perform the solutions given in this detailed guide to resolve issues while upgrading QuickBooks Desktop. However, if these solutions don’t work or you face problems in the troubleshooting process, you might need outside help. You can contact our professional team at 833-802-0002 and get immediate guidance in fixing the issue. 

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