accessing the same file on two different computers

Accessing QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) files from two different computers is key to flexibility, and I'm here to help you achieve this.

First, you'll need to ensure you have at least two user licenses to activate the multi-user feature. QuickBooks Desktop allows multiple users to work simultaneously on the same company file over a network server.

Once you've confirmed that you own the necessary licenses, the next step is to map the server or host computer as a network drive. This allows you to access QBDT from a different computer that's not the main server.

Then, set up the computers that will be accessing the files for multi-user mode and specify the folder where the company file is located.

To enable hosting of your company file in a multi-user network, follow these steps:

1. Go to File.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Click Host Multi-User Access.
   
4. Select Yes.

After this, you’ll need to install the QuickBooks Database Manager on the remote computer to configure multi-user access for the QuickBooks Server.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Download & Install QuickBooks Desktop on the primary computer.
2. From the QuickBooks File menu, select Switch to Multi-user Mode.
3. In the Multi-user hosting setup window, click Yes.
4. Note: QuickBooks Desktop installs and runs QBDBMgrN.exe as a background service. This service must be running on the computer storing the company file even if QuickBooks Desktop is not open.
5. Select OK on the Multi-user setup information window.
6. Add the necessary users by going to Company, selecting Users, then Set up Users and Roles, and selecting New.

For more guidance on hosting your company files across your network, you can also check out these articles:

• Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop
• What hosting providers are authorized by Intuit?
• What is Right Networks hosting?

If you have any other questions about the multi-user network in QBDT, please feel free to reach out by clicking the reply button or creating a new post in the Community. We wish you a successful year ahead.

@orcmw 

As long as you don't need to have both computers access the file at the same time, look at QBox.  It's designed specifically to share QB Desktop between different computers.  I have no affiliation with the company, I've just been a user for years and am happy with it.