cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Everything you need to know about banking in QuickBooks Online - Discover more
Anonymous
Not applicable

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi there, I wonder if anyone can help. We host our company file on a server and have recently upgraded both of our workstations that access that company file to Quickbooks Desktop 2019. All went well but when I tried to switch to multi-user mode it came up with error H202. I followed the suggestions to deal with that but still no joy. We haven't changed anything on the server where the company file sits so access to it should be the same as it was when we were both running Quickbooks Desktop 2014.

I've printed off numerous help pages and run database scans, the intuit file doctor etc but nothing seems to be helping.

Has anyone else encountered this upon upgrade ?

Any help would be most welcome

Thanks

19 REPLIES 19
MirriamM
Moderator

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Welcome to the Community, SueMapp. I'd be glad to lend a hand in fixing error H202.

 

To get this be fix, use the QuickBase Database Server Manager. Here's what you'll need to do:

  1. Go to your server computer.
  2. At your server computer (computer hosting your company file/s), open the start menu then type database.
  3. Click on QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
  4. If no folder locations are shown, click Browse and browse to the folder where you store your company file(s).
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Start Scan, which will repair the firewall permissions to allow QuickBooks to communicate over your network and resolve your error.
  7. Once done, click Close.
  8. Try opening QuickBooks in Multi-User mode on your workstation(s).

That's it! For more detailed steps, I'm including a helpful article that you can check: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/Error-H101-H202-H303-or-H505-when-opening-your....

 

I want to ensure that this is taken care of for you, so please feel free to let me know how it goes. Have a great day!

Anonymous
Not applicable

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi there, thanks for coming back to me. I have tried this solution several times but it hasn't worked. I have two workstations running QB Desktop 2019 and only one user can get in at a time. I've run the scan several times to try and cure it so that we can work in multi-user mode but it doesn't make any difference. I've been googling various solutions but cannot fathom out why it now won't work. It was fine when we were running QB Premier 2014 

 

Any other suggestions would be great, thanks 

Sue

John C
QuickBooks Team

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi SueMapp

 

The error you are receiving relates to a network issue. Did you scan the folder where the files are located rather than the drive?

This can also be caused by the files being stored deep into the system (more than 4 folders deep). If the files are stored more than 4 folders deep you will have to move it to a different server location.

 

We recommend that your IT team check services.msc to ensure that the 2019 version of Database Server Manager is set to automatic start and is running while the DNS server is set to automatic delayed start. For this type of error we recommend that you contact our telephone support team, 0808 168 9535.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi there, thanks for your responses, I've checked the folder depth and the company file is located as - drive letter\shared folders\Quickbooks 2019\.QBW file - is this too long ? 

 

Secondly I've rerun the scan and I still can't put QB into multi-user mode. 

I've checked on the startup properties of both the Quickbooks Database Services and the DNS Server and corrected as advised 

I've checked the version of the Database Server Manager and we are running 11.0.1.2584 (DB24) 

Do we need an upgrade of this for it to work ? 

 

It would seem on our previous install for 2014, the software is also on the server even though QB is never opened on the server, we have always just accessed the company file through our workstations so should this be taken off ? 

 

Many thanks 

John C
QuickBooks Team

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi SueMapp

 

The issue appears to be due to you using the 2014 version of the database server manager (DB24), you will need to run the 2019 server manager and scan for files using this instead. The 2019 server manager would show up as DB29 in the services list.

If you do not have it installed you can use the installer for QuickBooks 2019 and select custom install to select just the server manager to be installed.

 

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/Install-update-and-set-up-the-QuickBooks-Datab...

 

Daffodil
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

I'm inquiring as to whether you were able to rectify the multi-user mode issue.  We are having the same problem.  The office usually has two users, sometimes three users.  Our upgrade was from QB Premier 2016 to QB Premier 2019.  The IT person tried the fixes, but without any luck.

FritzF
Moderator

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Thanks for joining this conversation, @Daffodil.

 

Just to verify, did you already tried the steps provided by my colleagues above? If so and you're still getting the same results, I highly suggest getting in touch with our Phone Support team. They have tools such as screen-sharing (remote access) that can check your QuickBooks and perform other troubleshooting steps to help fix this.

 

Please refer to this article for the detailed steps on how to reach them: Contact the QuickBooks Desktop Customer Support Team.

 

Just in case, I'm also including these articles for additional resources:

 

 

Keep me posted on how the call goes by leaving a comment. I want to make sure this is taken care of for you.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi there, in the end we have deployed the Quickbooks Company File onto a user's machine and shared the file so that others can access it. We ensure this file is regularly backed up and that the machine is always on for when the users need it. 

We had problems with the .net part of QB 2019 and our server wasn't playing ball so as we only have 2 users that need QB this seemed the best workaround. 

Once the files were moved to the user's machine we were able to switch to multi-user and all has been well since. 

I did this with help from QB support over the phone 

Hope that helps 

Sue

sborgmt
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hello,

 

I am having issues of this kind on an existing installation running QB 2016 Premier Accountant version. The system was fine up to a few days ago, having been running for almost 2+ years now on this. Since a few days ago I'm getting Error H202 when users try to switch companies to multi-user mode. These companies were working fine in multi-user mode up to a few days ago.

 

The strange thing is that if I open the same company from the "server" first, switch it to multi-user mode and then go to a client PC, they can access the company in multi-user mode fine. But if the company is first opened on a client PC, the users cannot switch it to multi-user mode, but gets the H202 error.

 

The QB service account is local admin on the server.

The users have full access to the folder where the company files is.

I ran QB Database Server manager which is not finding anything wrong.

I temporarily disabled the firewall, same result.

I ran the QB Tool Hub + Database Server manager, no issues found, same problem.

QB Services are running in automatic mode.

I went through every step in great details of this link, again nothing resolved it:

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/open-programs/how-to-fix-error-h202-and-h505/00/18...

 

Server is running Windows Server 2012 R2, clients all Windows 10 and QB is updated to the latest version everywhere.

 

The strange thing is that companies open in mutli-user mode if they are opened like that on the server first. In my mind, this shows that the server is ok, or almost. I need some guidance as for sure it was working properly a few days ago and I need to see if there is a fix.

 

Some screenshots attached:

Page 1 - the error if the client tries to set to multi-user first

Page 2 - if multi-user is set on server first, it works

Page 3 - if the company is opened in multi-user mode on the server, the client connects fine in multi-user mode

 

Thank you,

Stefan

Chris_H
QuickBooks Team

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi sborgmt ,

Welcome to the community!

I'm sorry to hear that you are receiving an error H202 when trying to access multi user mode in QuickBooks desktop 2016.

I can see from your response that A) This is only occurring when the company file is opened from a workstation P.C, and B )That you have followed the article on the troubleshooting steps for this thoroughly.

The only thing which I can think of currently which may be worth checking if you haven't already, is when you're in services.msc can you check whether the DNS.server is set in it's properties to 'Delayed start' which is recommended.

If at all possible it may also be worth trying to change the mapping of the local files on the server to a different drive to be shared with the workstation P.C's and see if you have any more luck this way.

If neither of the above work, then I would suggest contacting our dedicated desktop support team on 0808 168 9535.

Thanks,

sborgmt
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hi, I found the issue to be the mapped share in DFS. If the data is opened from a mapped share in DFS the company does not switch to multi-user while if the company is opened through UNC directly \\server\share the companies switch to multi-user correctly.

 

The thing is that the user rarely needed a multi-user connection, and the introduction of DFS went unnoticed and the first time they needed a multi-user company it failed. Since time had passed I failed to make the connection with DFS... so the setup was fine, it's DFS that does not work well with QB.

 

Problem solved, so I'm letting you know in case someone else runs into the same issue with data on DFS.

 

Stefan.

EmmaM
QuickBooks Team

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hello Stefan

 

Glad you are back on track.Thanks for letting us know how the problem was solved that is very useful for us and also we hope it helps any other Community users with the same issue

 

 

Emma

wusty
Level 2

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

I have the exact opposite problem. I have a new Windows 10 surface pro running QuickBooks as server. I have done everything listed (firewall checked, virus software stopped, uninstalled QB on server and reinstalled, scanned with database server manager, checked that DBmgr was running in services, etc) but if the server is logged into a company file then the workstation cannot log into same file even though server is set to multi-user mode. Workstation gives error (no number) that it sees the server is set to multi-user but it cannot connect.  In a log file somewhere, I did see that the server had file locked maybe.  If the workstation logs into company file first then the server CAN log into file just fine. Very odd.

JamesDuanT
Moderator

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hello wusty,

 

The troubleshooting steps provided on this thread help fix the multi-user issues. Since that's not your case, I'd recommend reaching out to our Technical Support Team. They can pull up your account and further review the issue.

  1. Click Help at the top menu and select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  2. Select Contact us and then enter that you get Reminder prompts. 
  3. Select Continue
  4. Choose either to Message an Agent or Talk to a Specialist

Let us know what are the results so we can add details if necessary.

book3
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

This is exactly the issue we are facing as well. Clients can login to multi user mode if the server has not opened QB yet, and then the server can get in once everybody is in. If the server opens first nobody else can get in. When I try to open Quickbooks Database Server program, it says it was never setup on this computer even though it has been. Did you ever resolve this?

Thanks.

Angelyn_T
QuickBooks Team

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Hello, @book3.

 

At this time I recommend following the steps provided by my colleagues above to resolve the problem you're getting. If you're getting the same problem, I recommend reaching out to our Support Team so they can review and check this error further.

 

To contact support:

 

  1. Open this link: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_GB/contact.
  2. Select QuickBooks Desktop for the product.
  3. Pick the options that suit your experience under the What can we help you with? section. (Errors, Errors by code number)
  4. Choose a way to connect with a representative under Here's how to connect with a QuickBooks expert about "I ...".

Post again if you have any other questions. I'm always here to help. Have a good day!

cortbennett
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

When I try this I get a message need to be in multi user mode to access database manager.

MirriamM
Moderator

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Thanks for joining the thread, @cortbennett.

 

When accessing the Database Manager, you'll need to be in a Multi-user set up. To turn on Multi-user Access on your server computer, here's what you'll need to do:

  1. Go to the File menu at the top.
  2. Select Utilities.
  3. Choose Host Multi-User Access on the drop-down.
  4. Click Yes on the confirmation window.

For more details about this, see this article: Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop. Once turned on, you can now proceed with setting up your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) account to multi-user mode. Check out this helpful link with detailed steps on how to do it: Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop.

 

Here's also some links to know more about QuickBooks Database Manager:

You can always add a comment below if you have any other questions about the Database Server Manager. I'm here to help you. Have a great day ahead!

jerminski731
Level 1

Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

I have found my issue is resolved when I login on the server first in multi-user, once I do that others can login and then I logout and it remains in multi-user until the next reboot. At that time I just repeat the above to get back into multi-user.

Need to get in touch?

Contact us