QuickBooks Desktop Pro Read Only from 30 June 2023 - Update

Hello Rachelllsley, Thanks for posting on the Community page, The "read only" tool will be released soon, your version of Desktop Pro will have the licenses expire, essentially stopping you from opening files. The "read only" tool is a separate program to view historic data. 

Thank you.  Will we be able to see the data in the same format as in QuickBooks pro desktop and export information?

No problem at all, as far as we are aware yes once you export it to the read only tool, it looks like the desktop program.

Are you confident all your customers are aware of this change and have other solutions in place?  We have a trial migration in Quickbooks online and it is woefully poor compared to Desktop Pro. 

We are now thinking we will need to set up QB Online from scratch (opening balances only) due to issues with the migrated data.  Given we are paying for QuickBooks Desktop, the account for our QuickBooks trial migration and now need to pay for a third account to trial this principal do you not think further assistance should be provided?

Do you have a subscription for your desktop pro account? 

Yes.  Fully paid up QuickBooks user since 2007.

Hi Rachel,

I've read the thread and understand how the QuickBooks Desktop discontinuation affects you. We're thankful that you've chosen to work with us for a long time. It's not a farewell, but the beginning of something new.

You're right about QuickBooks Desktop for our UK customers, and support will end on June 30, 2023. This means there will be no more updates, and you will have to troubleshoot all the issues manually.

To start, I recommend creating a backup copy of your QuickBooks Desktop company file. This way, you can save it for future use.

Here's how:

1. In QuickBooks, go to the File menu and select Switch to Single-user Mode.
2. Return to the File menu and choose Back up Company, followed by Create Local Backup.
3. In the window, click Local Backup and then Next.
4. In the Local Backup Only section, press Browse and choose where you want to save your file.
5. Set the number of backups you want to keep.
6. Tap OK, and then click Save it now and Next.

Feel free to read about the QuickBooks Desktop discontinuation support hub for a detailed description of the process of moving your data to QBO. This might include the answers to your outstanding questions about the software.

You'll want to consider exploring QuickBooks Online UK. You can use a free trial subscription to determine which one best meets your needs. If you're interested, check out this link and scroll down to What can I expect from the migration journey? section: QuickBooks Pricing.

Once everything is settled, visit this article to learn how to set up your company file: Get started with QuickBooks Online.

Please let me know in your reply if you require additional information about the process or have other concerns. I'll be right here to help. Take care.

Hello

Can you confirm is this is all versions UK desktop Quickbooks or only those on a monthly/annual subscription.  I have clients still using 2003!!, 2010 and 2016.  Will these continue to work, albeit with no support?

thanks

Hello

Can you confirm is this is all versions UK desktop Quickbooks or only those on a monthly/annual subscription.  I have clients still using 2003!!, 2010 and 2016.  Will these continue to work, albeit with no support?

thanks

@MrPea2 

Till last month, we have helped some of our clients to get one-time licenses for QBD 2019. Our channel at Intuit says that we can still use any one time license after June 2023 for good as long as we have secured the activation code. Hopefully they don't change their mood to sabotage this policy.

Hello MrPea2, thanks for posting on this thread, It is all subscribed desktop users accounts will STOP working as they are all being discontinued.  You need to move over to either QuickBooks Online or another software before the end of June. More information can be found here in the FAQ section under will I be able to access the latest version after the 30th June 2023.

We have introduced a data export tool which allows you to keep a view only back up of your desktop data in case you need it for HMRC purposes more information on that can be found here

So all older retail versions will lose write access to the company file after June 2023?  I have clients using version 2003! it doesn't make sense how you could prevent them, legally, from using this software they bought outright 20 years ago.  There's something not being shared here to effectively get people to transfer that don't need to.

So, can you categorically state that users of Retail (non subscription) versions prior to 2016 will lose Write access to their company file after June 2023?

As I know, legally they can do anything. A license is just a permit and they can revoke it at any time. I dare not speculate but make sure your clients have secured the activation code. If I were to compare with the US version, their servers would reject activation of the outdated QB Desktop Enterprise when we reinstalled it on our machine. 

Worst case scenario, make sure your clients secure backup files every day for the last 3 days till the end of June. They will need it to convert data to QBO or another accounting program. 

Here's what my EULA says:
"  If you purchased your license to the Software under a one-time, upfront payment at retail or directly from Intuit and not under a Subscription, you shall receive: (i) a license to the specific version of the Software product you have selected that, subject to the license grant and restrictions in Section A.2, allows you access to the features of the Software; and (ii) Updates and Enhancements to the Software in accordance with the terms of the Termination provisions. Intuit's obligations under this Section B.(b)1.1 are contingent upon you installing all updates and error corrections within thirty (30) days of being notified of their availability by Intuit (or its Representatives). QuickBooks 2016 Software purchased on a separate standalone basis are eligible for enhancements on a when-and-if available basis through May 31, 2019, which is the current support period for QuickBooks 2016."

I can accept that, under this agreement, I am not eligible to receive enhancements, which isn't a problem, but I don't see where they have the right to disable the software that they have agreed I should have access to.  What am I missing?

Exactly! 

I don't feel we're getting straight answers here

Absolutely gutted that we will not be able to use desktop, I have been using it for 12 years now and wish I had not gone onto subscription, should of kept the hard copy - most of my clients are very small businesses and will not pay the monthly online subscription so leaves me looking for a book keeping software package that i can pay for outright - any ideas guys? , Im going to have a lot of unhappy clients - shame on you quickbooks - I have always recommended you in the past !

Hi - we've got QB Desktop and need access to view only after 30th June. How do we do that ? Is there a "Read Only" toll and where do we find it to export it? 

Hi jackylegume, thanks for joining the Community - you can access the data export tool on this link (we recommend bookmarking this in your browser for easy access). For further information on how to use the tool, click here.

Hi Everyone

I have just found this conversation about the data export tool.  I am a humble bookkeeper and by no means a computer expert.  I have been trying to find answer to a simple question:

If I download my data to give me access to historical data for compliance purposes, will I be able to access it from any computer in the future or is it just available from the computer where my desktop version is installed?

I have QBO up and running but only transferred 2 years of data with Movemybooks.

Hello Bar8, thanks for posting on the Community page, So you can access it anywhere you want, as long as you have the company file stored. Its web based the data export tool, so it will just ask you for your intuit log first, then you upload the company file to the website, pop in the admin password and then you will be good to go to viewing your historical data. 

Subscription makes no difference. They are cutting you off either way. Terrible business practice from Intuit but they have a long history of these sorts of practices.

Don't know about anyone else in the UK, but my desktop pro has stopped working (June 2nd) with this pop up, "QB Desktop has reached the expiration date and will no longer open company files"

It clearly states June 30th on all the previous pop ups on the software and I've still got data to manually input, what the hell are these people doing??

Angry is not the word I wish to use !

Hello Kev-20, thanks for posting on this thread, your billing may have failed early and therefore that’s why you're getting that message come up, we wouldn't have expired your license too early. Can we take your license number so we can check the account in the system, for you, if you don’t feel comfortable sending your license number here as others will be able to see it, then please can you ring the desktop support line on 0808 168 9535 so they can check in the system for you thanks.

For Ashleigh 1

Licence for QB desktop Pro 2020 is: 6908-2612-1678-855