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Fix error -6000 when opening a company file

SOLVED•by QuickBooks•2•Updated July 13, 2023

Learn how to fix a -6000, XXXX error when you try to open your company file.

-6000 errors can happen on both local and network setup. This error usually has 3 or 4 more digits and a message that says you can't open your company file.

Here are different -6000 series errors you might see:

ErrorPossible Cause
-6176,0Your firewall  blocks the connection between two computers
-6000, -107The .TLG file is damaged
-6000, -1076Your QuickBooks installation is damaged
-6010, -100The company file is hosted by a computer that's not the server.
-6138, -105The company file is hosted by a computer that's not the server.
-6210, 0The company file is hosted by a computer that's not the server.
-6189, -83The company file is hosted by a computer that's not the server.
-6190, -83The company file is hosted by a computer that's not the server.
-6012, -1061Wrong network setup
-6144, -82Wrong network setup
-6000, -82Wrong network setup
-6129, -101Wrong folder permissions or the QB Database Server Manager isn't working right
-6190, 816A user is in single user mode instead of multiuser while they work in the file.
It can be a mismatch between the transaction log file (.tlg) and the company file (.qbw)
-6190, -85A user is in single user mode instead of multiuser while they work in the file.
It can be a mismatch between the transaction log file (.tlg) and the company file (.qbw)
-6190, -82A user is in single user mode instead of multiuser while they work in the file.
It can be a mismatch between the transaction log file (.tlg) and the company file (.qbw)
-6000, -832Hosting is on or the .ND file doesn't work right
-6144, -304Something went wrong when you try to open QuickBooks
-6190, 1005Something went wrong when you try to open QuickBooks
-6189, 1005Something went wrong when you try to open QuickBooks
-6000, -305Wrong network setup or there's damage to your company file
-6073, -816Multiple computers are hosting the file, firewall settings block the connection, or there's damage to the company file
-6144,-103The .ND file has an incorrect path to your company file or there's damage to the QuickBooks Database Manager Windows user account
-6144, 0The .ND file has an incorrect path to your company file or there's damage to the QuickBooks Database Manager Windows user account
-6120, 0
One of the workstations is hosting the company file or the firewall port (8019) is blocked
-6087, 0File is open locally
-6131, 0File is open locally
-6147, 0You open the company file or restore a company backup (.QBB)

Step 1: Update QuickBooks

Make sure you update QuickBooks to the latest release.

Step 2: Run File Doctor from the QuickBooks Tool Hub

Step 1: Download and install QuickBooks Tool Hub

The QuickBooks Tool Hub helps fix common errors. You'll need to close QuickBooks to use the tool hub. For the best experience, we recommend you use Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit.

  1. Close QuickBooks.
  2. Download the most recent version (1.6.0.3) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop). Note: If you've installed Tool Hub before, you can find out which version you have. Select the Home tab. The version will be on the bottom.
  3. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
  4. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
  5. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

ToolHubIcon_QBDT_US_Ext_051320.jpg

Note: If you can't find the icon, do a search in Windows for QuickBooks Tool Hub and select the program.

ToolHubSearch_QBDS_US_Ext_051320.jpg

Step 2: Run QuickBooks File Doctor

  1. From the tool hub, select Company File Issues.
  2. Select Run QuickBooks File Doctor. It can take up to one minute for the file doctor to open.
    Note: If the QuickBooks File Doctor doesn't open, search for QuickBooks Desktop File Doc and open it manually.
  3. In QuickBooks File Doctor, select your company file from the drop-down menu. If you don’t see your file, select Browse and search to find your file.
  4. Select Check your file (middle option only) and then Continue.
  5. Enter your QuickBooks admin password and then select Next.

If you still have issues after you run QuickBooks File Doctor, follow the solution for how you open your company file.

This means you open your file on the same computer where you install QuickBooks.

Solution 1: Rename the .ND and .TLG files

The .ND and .TLG files are part of your QuickBooks files. These are configuration files that allow QuickBooks to access a company file in a network or multi-user environment.

If these files are damaged, you'll see these errors when you open your QuickBooks files. When you rename these files, you won't lose any QuickBooks data. QuickBooks creates these files again when you scan with the QuickBooks Database Server Manager and when you open your company file.

  1. Open the folder that has your company file.
  2. Find the files with the same file name as your company files but with extensions .ND and .TLG.
    • company_file.qbw.nd
    • company_file.qbw.tlg
  3. Right-click each file and select Rename. Add the word OLD at the end of each file name.
    Example: company_file.qbw.nd.OLD
  4. Open QuickBooks again and try to sign in to your company file. If the same issue occurs, go to solution 2.

Solution 2: Open a sample company file

When you open a sample company file, you test if the problem is with your company file or QuickBooks. If a sample company file doesn't open and instead gives you an error, it's a sign you have damage to your QuickBooks installation. You'll want to repair the installation.

  1. In the No Company Open window, select Open a Sample File and choose any from the list of sample company files.
  2. If the sample file opens, go to solution 3. If the sample file gives you the same error message, repair your QuickBooks installation files.

Solution 3: Copy the QuickBooks file to the Desktop

When you copy the file on the desktop and open it, you test if there's a problem with the location of the company file.

  • If the file opens from the desktop, it means there may be damage to the location you save your file to.
  • Your file might be in too many folders and exceeds the file system path limitation.
  • If the file still doesn't open after you change the location, you might have file damage.
  1. Open the folder that has your company file.
  2. Find the file with the extension of .QBW.
  3. Right-click on the file, then select Copy. Go to Desktop, right-click anywhere on the desktop, then select Paste.
  4. Hold down the control key and open QuickBooks. This will open the No Company Open window.
  5. Select Open or restore an existing company. Go to your desktop and find your company file and open it.
  6. If you get the same error, go to solution 4.

Solution 4: Restore a backup

Restore a backup copy of your company file to check if the problem is with the current company file (.QBW).

If you get an error when you restore the backup, follow these steps:

  1. Check that your computer isn't hosting.
    1. Open your company file.
    2. From File, choose Utilities.
    3. If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access is listed:
      1. Select Stop Hosting Multi-User Access.
      2. Select Yes in Stop hosting multi-user access.
      3. Select Yes in Company file must be closed window.
  2. Make sure the path to your company file isn't longer than 210 characters long.
    1. Go to the location of your company file.
    2. Copy the path from the address bar.
    3. Paste it to notepad and count the characters and the spaces.
      For example: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersDocumentsIntuitQuickBooksSample Company FilesQuickBooks 2018Sample_company_file.qbw is 125 characters.
  3. Try to restore your company file again.
  4. If you still get the error, go to solution 5.

Solution 5: Use Auto Data Recovery to restore your backup

If the company file is damaged, we suggest you recover lost data with QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery.

This means you open the company file saved on the server or another computer.

Solution 1: Check if Hosting is on for all workstations

We suggest you use one computer or server to host company files.

  1. Press F2 to view Product Information.
  2. Find Local Server Information. Hosting should be turned off.

Solution 2: Rename the .ND and .TLG files and run the Database Server Manager from the QuickBooks Tools Hub

The .ND and .TLG files are part of your QuickBooks files. These are configuration files that allow QuickBooks to access a company file in a network or multi-user environment.

If these files are damaged, you'll see these errors when you open your QuickBooks files. When you rename these files, you won't lose any QuickBooks data. QuickBooks creates these files again when you scan with the QuickBooks Database Server Manager and when you open your company file.

Step 1: Rename the .ND and .TLG file

  1. Open the folder that has your company file.
  2. Find the files with the same file name as your company files but with extensions .ND and .TLG.
    • company_file.qbw.nd
    • company_file.qbw.tlg
  3. Right-click each file and select Rename. Add the word OLD at the end of each file name.
    Example: company_file.qbw.nd.OLD

Step 2: Run the QuickBooks Database Server Manager from the QuickBooks Tools Hub

The QuickBooks Database Server Manager (QBDBSM) hosts your QuickBooks company files. Restart the QBDBSM and scan the QuickBooks files after you rename the .ND and .TLG files.

From the QuickBooks Tool Hub, run the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

  1. In the tool hub, select Network Issues.
  2. Select QuickBookd Database Server Manager. Install QuickBooks on your server if it isn’t already installed.
  3. In the QuickBooks Database Server Manager, Select Start Scan if you see your company file(s).  If you don't, Browse to the location of your company file and then select Start Scan.
  4. Open QuickBooks again and try to sign in to your company file. If you get the same issue, go to solution 3.

Solution 3: Open a sample company file from a workstation

When you open a sample company file, you test if the problem is with your company file or QuickBooks. If a sample company file doesn't open and you get an error, the QuickBooks installation is damaged and needs repair.

  1. Open a Sample File, then choose from the list of sample company files.
  2. If the sample file opens, go to solution 4.

If the sample file gives you the same error message, repair your QuickBooks installation files.

Solution 4: Copy the QuickBooks file to the Desktop

When you copy the file on the desktop and open it, you test if there's a problem with the location of the company file.

  • If the file opens from the desktop, it means there may be damage to the location you save your file to.
  • Your file might be in too many folders and exceeds the file system path limitation.
  • If the file still doesn't open after you change the location, you might have file damage.
  1. Open the folder that has your company file.
  2. Find the file with the extension of .QBW.
  3. Right-click on the file, then select Copy. Go to Desktop, right-click anywhere on the desktop, then select Paste.
  4. Hold down the control key and open QuickBooks. This will open the No Company Open window.
  5. Select Open or restore an existing company. Go to your desktop and find your company file and open it.

If you get the same error, go to solution 5.

Solution 5: Close all QuickBooks processes

  1. Sign in as the Administrator on the server computer.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the task manager.
  3. Show processes for all users. Select Users .
  4. Select each QuickBooks process (QBW32.EXE, qbupdate.exe, and QBDBMgr.exe), then End Task.
  5. Open the company file in multi-user mode.

If you still get an error, Go to solution 6.

Solution 6: Check the folder permission manually

You may get these errors if the folder where you save your file doesn't have the right permission. Check your folder permissions to share company files. Try to open your file again. If you still get the same error, go to solution 7.

Solution 7: Configure firewall ports and Anti-Virus Software

You may get errors if your firewall and anti-virus program block access to specific QuickBooks programs or files. It's best to configure your firewall ports and to set up an exception to your anti-virus software.

Note: Since anti-virus programs aren't Intuit software, we can't provide specific steps on how to set up this exception. For help with this process, check with your anti-virus developer/supplier.

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