Update your company files to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop

Learn how to update your company file so it works in newer versions of QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, or Enterprise.

If you upgrade to a newer version (year) of QuickBooks Desktop, you’ll also need to update your company files. You only have to do so once.

Here’s how to update your older company file to work in a newer version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Note: If you're a QuickBooks Enterprise customer in a hosted environment, please sign into the server as the Admin, main user, or .int1 before you start the upgrade process.

You can also follow our video tutorial:

Step 1: Prep your company file

1. Open your original version of QuickBooks. Then open the company file you want to update.
2. Press F2 to open the Product Information window.
3. Look in the File Information section. Make a note of where you save your company file on your computer.

Important: Do you keep your company files on a server? Move your company files to your computer's local hard drive. You can move them back after you open them in the new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Step 2: Update your company file

Note: QuickBooks Desktop 2024 and Enterprise 24.0 offer best-in-class security to keep your data safe. After you update your company file to QuickBooks 2024 or Enterprise 24.0, you’ll need to reset the passwords for all non-admin users to a temporary password. When ‌non-admin users sign in they’ll be prompted to set a permanent password.

1. Make sure all users sign out of your company file.
2. Open your new version of QuickBooks Desktop.
3. Go to File, then select Open or Restore Company.
4. Select Open a company file, then Next.
   If you have a backup company file (QBB) instead of a company file (QBW), select Restore a backup copy.
5. Find your company file. Select it and then select Open.
   Note: If you can't find your company file, open the Windows Start menu and then File Explorer. Search for your company file by name or the .qbw file extension. If you still can't find it, make sure it's not hidden.
6. Sign in to your company file as the admin user.
   Optional: QuickBooks automatically creates a backup of your existing company file. You can select Change this default location to save the backup in a specific folder.
7. Select Update Now.
8. When QuickBooks finishes, select Done.
   Note: If the move fails and you can't open the file, restore the backup from step 6 and try again. If the move fails again, contact customer support.

You can now open your company file in your new version of QuickBooks Desktop. If you keep your company files on a server, you can now move them back.