Skip to main content

SUMMER SAVINGS 90% OFF QuickBooks for 3 months* Ends 8/27

Buy now
Switch to QuickBooks and 70% off for 3 Months
Level 7
December 11, 2018
Solved

How do I give users view only access

  • December 11, 2018
  • 49 replies
  • 436 views
No text available
Best answer by ShiellaGraceA

Hey there efisher,

I'd love to walk you through the steps to get users the view only access.

While there isn't a specific option for users to access view only, you'll have the option for selective access in some areas in QuickBooks.

Here's how:

  1. Click Company.
  2. Click Set Up Users and Passwords.
  3. Select Set Up Users.
  4. For existing users, click Edit User. For new users, click Add User.
  5. Click Next to see each user access roles, and select Selected Areas of QuickBooks.
  6. Click Next and you'll see on every areas the No Access, Full Access, and Selective Access radio button.
  7. Just click Selective Access, and choose the sub-options.
  8. Follow the on-screen prompts to walk you through the rest.

You'll see some screenshots outlining the steps above.

You might want to check out this article for more information: QuickBooks Desktop Users and Restrictions

Just drop a comment below if you have any more questions I can help.

49 replies

Level 9
December 11, 2018

Hey there efisher,

I'd love to walk you through the steps to get users the view only access.

While there isn't a specific option for users to access view only, you'll have the option for selective access in some areas in QuickBooks.

Here's how:

  1. Click Company.
  2. Click Set Up Users and Passwords.
  3. Select Set Up Users.
  4. For existing users, click Edit User. For new users, click Add User.
  5. Click Next to see each user access roles, and select Selected Areas of QuickBooks.
  6. Click Next and you'll see on every areas the No Access, Full Access, and Selective Access radio button.
  7. Just click Selective Access, and choose the sub-options.
  8. Follow the on-screen prompts to walk you through the rest.

You'll see some screenshots outlining the steps above.

You might want to check out this article for more information: QuickBooks Desktop Users and Restrictions

Just drop a comment below if you have any more questions I can help.

New Member
April 10, 2019

Agree with the other users here that this is really frustrating. There *really* should be a read-only option. Do you know if they are working on an option for that for the Online Mac Quickbooks??

May 5, 2020

Thanks for sharing your feedback here in the QuickBooks Community, @Sofia L.

 

As my colleague FritzF mentioned, the view-only (read) access is only available in the Enterprise version. I understand how this feature available in QuickBooks Premier version would be beneficial to your business. 

 

It's our priority to provide products and services that suit your business needs. I'll make sure to take note of your request and will update you once the view-only option is available for our users who are using premier version.

 

In the meantime, I'd suggest visiting the QuickBooks Desktop New Features regularly. This way you'll be updated with the latest news and updates including product improvements. 

 

Simply go to Help menu bar, select New Features then click New Feature Tour

 

Please know that you're always welcome to post if you have any other concerns. Have a good day ahead. 


It is a year later than the other inquiries about the desktop premier ability to have a view only feature?

 

What is the status, as this is a need and a very common need for QB users.

 

Thank you, Jennifer

May 14, 2020

I agree that view only access is a priority for our company.

 

I am very glad for this forum, because it has now saved me quite a bit of money and aggravation that moving to Quickbooks online would have inflicted.

 

I use the desktop version and will now stay right where I am.  I am a light user — Quickbooks is sort of overkill for us, but it makes it easier to work with our accountant.  I am definitely never going to be a candidate for the Enterprise version.  

 

I was really hoping that moving to the online version would enable me to allow my business partners to view our status without the risk of messing anything up.  

 

We actually want the opposite of what selected permissions currently do.  We would want everyone to be able to view balances and reports, but we would not want any of the others to be able to create a transaction — not even one transaction by mistake.

May 27, 2020

Super discouraging. I cannot fathom why you can't give a view-only option to all levels of subscription. Wow. For internal controls it's imperative! It can't cost a bunch to extend that option to all levels. Just feels like extortion.