Need Help

Thanks for reaching out, @Big-Al. 

Before we begin, I'd like to ask you a few questions to get some clarification. 

Are you using a server to hold the company file? If so, what kind of server are you using? Can you access it remotely? 

Knowing as many details about your company file and hosting computer as possible will help me to provide the best resolution for your concern.

In the meantime, let me go over some information about multi-user mode and networks:

You can work in QuickBooks Desktop from a different computer than your server. Before you can access QuickBooks Desktop remotely, you'll need to map the Server or Host computer as a network drive. Set up computers that'll access the files for multi-user mode and then set the folder where the company file is stored. By doing this, you shouldn't have any issues with multi-user mode or accessing the company file. 

If you have issues with any of this process, please be sure to reach out to your IT Professsional or our Technical Support Team. 

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your reply, and I look forward to chatting with you soon. Take care! 

#1 - Yes, the QB database is on a server, Windows 11.  We can access it remotely, using a VPN..

#2 - The QB file has been accessed remotely by a couple people for several months.  My laptop is fairly new, and I have only taken my machine home twice.  The first time, even though my laptop was mapped to the Q drive at work, it didn't seem to be mapped to Q drive when I tried to use QB the first time I took it home.  Our network support gave me instructions to map it the next time I tried to connect.

This weekend, I didn't even try to connect at all ... didn't even turn the laptop on while at home, so obviously didn't try to map the Q drive. However, today when I came back into work, a person in the office couldn't connect because the system said it was in single user mode.  That is why I asked about a setting that changes the single/multi user status when a computer is disconnect from the office network.  Since I didn't even have the computer on, I didn't try to connect to QB over the weekend.  I tried to log on to change to multi-user like I did the last time this happened, but this time it wouldn't let me log in because it said someone else was using the system in single-user mode.  We checked her system and it let us log in and change to multi-user.  (This person is not in the office as she is on bereavement leave for a few days, but she also has a laptop at home and might have used it this weekend.  I have never known her to change to single user mode, so ...)

Hope that helps a little. I have used QB on a network with server before, so I understand the mapping, etc. I have changed to single-user for some actions in the past, so I understand how and why, but I did not change to single user while remote, in fact I couldn't even connect to QB the first time and didn't  try to connect this past weekend.  But both times I had my laptop off the office network, when I reconnected QB was in single user mode.  Coincidence?  Maybe, or ???

Hi, Big-Al.

Thanks for getting back to us and for providing some additional details. Allow me to jump in and help ensure this is taken care of for you.

One of the possible reasons why it keeps on switching from multi-user to single-user mode is because of the network setup. To isolate this, let's download and run the QuickBooks File Doctor. This will fix company files and network issues in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

You can refer to this article for the detailed steps on how to do it: Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor.

Aside from that, we need to make sure that your Database Server Manager is properly set up. This is the tool that allows users to access the company data. Please check this article about QuickBooks Database Server Manager and let's perform all the steps provided: Use QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

I also recommend visiting our website for more tips and resources you can use in the future" Self-help articles.

Leave a comment below if you have follow-up questions about this or anything else QuickBooks. I'm always here to help. Take care.