Download and use the desktop app in QuickBooks Online Advanced and Accountant

Learn how to download, use, and install the desktop app in QuickBooks Online Advanced and Accountant.

If you have QuickBooks Online Advanced and Accountant, you can use the QuickBooks Online desktop app to access and manage your company file(s) more easily. This helps you save time and focus more on growing your business. Here's how.

With the QuickBooks Online desktop app, you can:

• Stay signed in: Stay signed in for up to 6 months, so you don’t have to enter your username and password every time.
  Note: You can stay signed in unless you manually sign out.
• Access multiple QuickBooks Online companies: Manage multiple companies by using separate tabs for each, all in one place. You can even open multiple pages within each company tab.
• Work on two tasks at a time: Improve your productivity by using split-screen to manage two tasks at once with the app on your computer.
• Use keyboard shortcut: Speed up your workflows and simplify your tasks by reducing the need for manual work.
• Select your navigation map view: Use a navigation map that’s similar to what you’re used to in QuickBooks Desktop.

Note: If you switched from QuickBooks Desktop, make sure to move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online first.

For Windows

1. Download the QuickBooks Online desktop app.
2. Depending on your computer’s settings, you might see the app install automatically. If not, QuickBooks will prompt you to save the QuickBooks setup (.exe) file.
   Note: If prompted, choose where you want to save the file in your computer then select Save. Open the QuickBooks setup file to start the installation.
3. When the installation finishes, an app shortcut appears on your desktop. Select the shortcut to open the app if it doesn't open automatically.
4. Enter your Email or user ID and Password, then select Sign in.
5. If you have multiple QuickBooks Online companies, select the company you want to open.
6. The first time you use the app, you can select a user interface for your convenience:
   • If you switched from QuickBooks Desktop and want a similar view, select Yes, let’s go.
   • If you’re already familiar with QuickBooks Online, select No, go to standard view.

If you encounter any problems in the app, close and reopen it. You can also uninstall and re-install it, or reach out to our support team for further assistance.

For Mac

Follow these steps to download and install the QuickBooks Online desktop app for Mac.

If you encounter any problems in the app, close and reopen it. You can also uninstall and re-install it, or reach out to our support team for further assistance.

Manually update the QuickBooks Online desktop app

Keep your app up-to-date. This helps you make sure you get the latest features and services you can use to manage your business more easily. Here’s how.

Update QuickBooks Online desktop app for Windows

1. Open the QuickBooks Online desktop app.
2. In the menu bar, select File, then select Check for updates.
3. Follow the prompts to proceed with the update.

Update QuickBooks Online desktop app for Mac

Follow these steps on how to update apps on a Mac computer.

Use the split screen feature

Work on two tasks simultaneously with the split screen feature. Here’s how.

Note: This feature is only available in the desktop view.

1. Open the QuickBooks Online desktop app.
2. Go to the first task you’d like to do. For example, go to Reports.
3. Select Split screen , then select the second task you want to work on.
   Tip: A green border tells you which screen is active.
4. When you’re done with the second task, select Split screen again to close it. Make sure to save your work first.
5. Select Close.

Organize and streamline your workflow to efficiently manage multiple companies

How It’s Better:

• You can open as many pages as needed below each company tab, making it easier to manage company-specific information.
• For quick access, you can right-click on the company tab to see option like Move company to new window.
• Switching between companies and tasks will be smoother, making you more productive.

Manage multiple companies with ease

1. When you open a company, it will appear in a tab within the app.
2. Select the + icon next to the opened company to add another company.
3. If you have more than one company, a dropdown list will appear, so you can select the company you want to open.
4. Right-click on the company tab to show option like Move company to new window.
5. When you open a task for the company you are working on, it will appear as a new tab below the company.
6. Select the + icon to open new tabs for each company, making it easy to switch between different tasks.