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C
CBM2
December 15, 2020
Question

Upgrade from 2013 to 2021

  • December 15, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 28 views

How can I update from Quickbooks Desktop 2013 to Quicbooks Desktop 2021? 

6 replies

BigRedConsulting
BigRedConsulting
Level 15
December 15, 2020

If you mean upgrading your company file, open it in 2021 and QB will upgrade it.

Tori B
Tori BQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
December 15, 2020

Hey there, @CBM2. 

 

Thanks for reaching out to the Community for support. Along with what @BigRedConsulting said above, I'm happy to provide some guidance for updating from 2013 to 2021. 

 

Before you update your company file, it's always best to first create a back up in the 2013 version. I've included the steps below on how to create a backup. 

 

1. Open the File menu at the top.

2. Choose Back Up Company, then Create Local Backup. 

 

 

3. Click Next, then choose where you want to save your backup copy. 

 

 

 

Once you've saved your backup of the company file, you can now install QuickBooks 2021. You can use the link I've included below to download the installer. 

 

After you've downloaded the installer, it's time to run it. Let me show you how below. 

  1. Open the file QuickBooks.exe you downloaded.
  2. Follow the onscreen instructions. Accept the software license agreement and then hit Next.
  3. Enter your Product and License numbers. Then click Next.

Check out Install QuickBooks Desktop for further details about installing QuickBooks. 

 

For additional help, I'm adding this article that you may find helpful: Upgrade your company files after switching to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

 

Please keep me posted if you have any other concerns about this process. I want to make sure everything is taken care of for you. You can reach out to the Community at any time. Take care and have a great day!

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 14
December 16, 2020

@CBM2 

If QBD 2021 is failed to convert your file, you may need the trial license of older QBD version as a stepping stone (e.g QBD 2017). We may share the trial license of QBD 2015 and 2019 as another option.

C
Carpenter50
February 6, 2021

 How can I update from 2013 to 2021 and what is the cost 

Angelyn_T
Angelyn_TModerator
Moderator
February 6, 2021

Hi there, @Carpenter50.

 

I appreciate you for joining the thread. I can share some information about the QuickBooks pricing and walk you through the steps on how to upgrade your QuickBooks to 2021.

 

QuickBooks Desktop has a 3-year lifecycle, and upgrading it from 2013 to 2021 is a big jump. To avoid data issues due to some feature or version differences, you can create a backup copy of your file. Then, then restore it to QBDT 2015/2016 to 2018/2019, then last QuickBooks 2021.

 

To create a backup of your file, I recommend checking out this article: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

 

And, here's how to restore it:

 

  1. In QuickBooks, go to the File menu and select Open or Restore Company.
  2. Select Restore a backup copy and then Next.
  3. Select Local Backup and then Next.
  4. Browse your computer for your backup company file. It should look like this: [Your company name].qbb.
  5. Select a folder to decide where to save your restored company file. Then select Open.

For more tips about upgrading QuickBooks Desktop to a newer version, you can open these links:

 

 

Moreover, you can review this link to see the current pricing of our QuickBooks Desktop products.

 

If you need additional help with upgrading your QuickBooks, please let me know by adding a comment below. I'm always here to help. Have a good one!

D
DebBYF
April 27, 2021

I also need to upgrade from pro 2013 to 2021.  How would I go about restoring my file to  QBDT 2015/2016 and then to 2018/2019 before restoring to 2021?  And are there any steps I should take to clean up the file prior to restoring it?

T
theriault
June 1, 2021

I just successfully upgrade from QB 2012 Premier with Payroll to QB 2021 (9 years differences) in a single shot.

 

  • It converted directly the database from old to new format (2012 -> 2021)
  •  It restored backup from the older version (QB2012) as well
  • THE BEST ONE: You can install them side to side on the same computer if you want to compare your old QB company file to you new one. Ensure you duplicate your company files first: one in QB2012 format and a new one in QB2021 format.
  • Moreover our integration to import custom invoices using QBFC-11 dll (from C# applications) still work as before. I still can upgrade that to the new QBFC-14 in needs be.

 

I could not dream of better!

THANKS to QB engineers! That was a great job for maintaining compatibility!

K
KernFarm
June 5, 2021

Help!  We did not backup prior to the upgrade from 2018 to 2021. Before we do initial set up, did I lose all of our data?  Or will be restore it automatically? 

DivinaMercy_N
DivinaMercy_NModerator
Moderator
June 5, 2021

Thanks for keeping QuickBooks as your accounting partner, @KernFarm.

 

I'd be glad to help you upgrade your file to a newer version of QuickBooks.

 

To start, you'll need to back up your company file first on your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) 2018 version. When done, you'll have to restore it to your QBDT 2021 to upgrade the file. Note that you'll no longer be able to open the file in QBDT 2018 once the upgrade is complete.

 

Let me guide you on how:

  1. Open your QuickBooks Desktop 2018 and go to the File menu.
  2. Hover over Back up Company and select Create Local Backup.
  3. Choose Local Backup and then Next.
  4. Click Browse and choose where you want to save your backup company file.
  5. Click OK.
  6. In the Create Backup window, specify whether to back up automatically, and select Options to set options for automatic backups.
  7. Select New to set a backup schedule in the Schedule Backups dialog.
  8. Click Finish.

 

For more info about the process, see this article: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

 

Once done, you're now ready to upgrade the file to QBDT 2021. To guide you with the process, please check out this link: Upgrade your company files after you switch to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

 

If you're looking for resources or articles you can bookmark or save for future use, you can always visit QuickBooks Help articles page. You can manually search via entering a keyword on the search field or open any of the categories displayed to start browsing. 

 

If you need further assistance upgrading your file, please post a reply below. I'm just a post away to help you in any way I can. More power to your business. 

W
willjoe
September 15, 2022

UPGRADE FROM QB 2013 PRO TO 2021 OR 2022
In QuickBooks, go to the File menu and select Open or Restore Company.
Select Restore a backup copy and then Next.
Select Local Backup and then Next.
Browse your computer for your backup company file.
Select a folder to decide where to save your restored company file.

 

 

Regards,

Will

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