Why does the QBO app log me out when I'm working in the app?

I can see the significance of using the QBO app, @MN_Mom.

QuickBooks Online (QBO) has a timeout feature that automatically logged you out after the maximum hours allotted to your account. This feature prevents unauthorized persons from accessing your data every time you're away from your device.

To stay signed in, you have to ensure that the app is updated and its data cleared. You can then uninstall and reinstall it again. 

Here's how:

1. Change the Wifi data connection on your device to 4G (varies by device).

2. Close and restart the app.

3. Clear the data:

• Open your device Settings.
• Select Apps (varies by device).
• Choose QuickBooks app from the list, then select Storage.
• Select clear data.

4. Power down and restart your device.

5. Uninstall and reinstall the app.

Once done, I suggest setting your account's time-out preference in the Account and Settings page. I also encourage to save your user ID and password before the allotted time end for you to be not logged out of QuickBooks.

You can follow these steps:

1. On the upper right corner, look for the Gear icon.
2. Select Account and Settings.
3. Choose the Advanced menu.
4. Scroll down to the Other Preferences section.
5. Click the Pencil Icon.
6. In the Sign me out if inactive for drop-down, select 3 hours.
7. Click Save.
8. Hit Done.

Lastly, here's an article that you can browse through on how to solve common errors in QuickBooks Online mobile app: Fix common errors in the QBO mobile app.

Let us know if you still have further queries managing your QBO account via app. We're always here to assist you at any time. Take care!

I'm not on the mobile app. I'm on the QBO desktop app for a Mac. I changed the settings to 3 hours, but I'm still getting logged out for inactivity while I'm typing and using the app. It happens when I've only been signed in for like 15 minutes.

Hello MN_Mom,

I appreciate you for trying the steps shared by my colleague.

Since the issue persists even after changing the preferences, I suggest reaching out to our phone support team so we can investigate this further.

Here's how:
 

1. Click the ? Help icon.
2. Go to the Search tab.
3. Click Contact Us.
4. Select Ask about something else.
5. Enter a few words about your concerns.
6. Click Continue.
7. Select either Chat with us or Schedule appointment.

Furthermore, you can visit our Help Article page whenever you have questions.

You can always post a reply whenever you have concerns about your QuickBooks account. 

Having the same issue for like a month now. Already uninstalled and reinstalled. Nothing works. Sometimes it's after like 2-3 mins. Working on an invoice and click save and it signs out. Sign in and hit projects, signs out. 

Welcome to the Community, @DAGV1.

Allow me to help you and get this QuickBooks app working for you.

QuickBooks Online (QBO) time-out function is designed for the security of your data especially when you're away from your computer for several minutes or hours. When you set your timeout duration to a specific setting (1, 2, or 3 hours), you'll remain signed in that long before being logged out for inactivity. This measures your time of inactivity from the last time you moved your mouse, clicked, or used your keyboard on any transaction form. If you are timed out, sign back into your company to continue where you left off.

With this, you can set your account's time-out preference in the Account and Settings page. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Gear Icon.
2. Choose Account and Settings.
3. Select the Advanced menu.
4. Scroll down to the Other Preferences section.
5. Click the Pencil Icon.
6. In the Sign me out if inactive for drop-down, select 3 hours.
7. Click Save.
8. Hit Done.

I've also added these articles that will guide you with your invoices:

• Set up and Send Progress Invoices
• How to Let Customers Pay their Invoices Online

Additionally, here's an article that can help you get around with QuickBooks Online using iPad: QuickBooks Online iPad: Frequently Asked Questions. It also includes answers to your How Do I questions about using the apps. 

Please know that you're always welcome to swing by anytime if you still have questions or concerns with QuickBooks. I'll be around to help. Take care and have a good one,

I think you're missing the point. We both have that setting. Until recently it was fine, now it signs out at intervals that make zero sense. In the middle of an invoice, sometimes right after signing in and clicking on a tab. Never just when idle, it's always in the middle of working on something. 

This is where you're supposed to say "I will let the tech team know about what is happening with the software so they can issue a fix"

Hey there, @DAGV1. 

Thanks for chiming back in. 

You can try resetting the QBO Mac app's data. You'll click the Help and the option should be called Refresh Data. 

If this doesn't work, then I recommend contacting our Customer Support Team for further assistance. 

Keep us updated on how it goes. I'm only a post away if you need me. Take care! 

The same thing happens to me. I am in the middle of a journal entry and it just times me out. It is VERY frustrating -- because none of the work is saved. Once I log back in, I have to start over.

There is a glitch with the program. It should not log me out due to inactivity while I am using the app. Not to mention, I have the settings so it logs me out after 3 hours of inactivity and it sometimes happens within 15 minutes of logging in. 

Please fix the issue instead of keep responding telling us to change our settings or contact support. You are support - please make a ticket for it to get fixed. 

Hello there, @Sng198.

We understand the relevance of keeping your QuickBooks Online (QBO) company active in the mobile app without automatically signing out. It may be that the changes made to your company using the mobile app didn't flow through due to the accumulated temporary data.

In this situation, it affects the application's performance whenever you use it to manage journal entries or other business activities. We recommend clearing the app's data to restore it to its default function. Refer to these steps to get you going:

For Android devices:

1. Open Settings and select Apps.
2. Tap on the app you want to clear app data for and select Storage.
3. Select Clear data.

For iOS devices:

1. Open the Settings app, and then choose the General option.
2. Locate the iPhone Storage and tap on it.
3. Choose the Offload App.

Feel free to check this page for more details: Fix common errors in the QuickBooks Online mobile app for Android.

In addition, you can visit this article to help you manage journal entries: Reverse or delete a journal entry in QuickBooks Online.

The Community space is open 24/7 if you need help with this or have any additional QuickBooks-related concerns. We'll be around to help you out again. Keep safe.

It's not a mobile app issue. It's a desktop app issue.

This did not help.

This did not help at all.

Hi there, @MN_Mom.

I understand how challenging on your end to log in to your account even after the troubleshooting steps my colleague provided. Let me direct you to the best possible help.

Since the troubleshooting steps weren't able to fix your login concern, I recommend contacting QuickBooks Online (QBO) Mobile app support. They can pull up your account in a safe environment, check the root cause of the issue, and find a fix. Here's how:

1. In the upper right corner, click the (?) Question mark icon.
2. Select Help and Support.
3. Tap Contact Us.
4. Type in your concern. Then, Continue.
5. Choose how you would want to connect with us. Either Chat with us or Have us call you.

You might want to learn the features supported on your mobile device. Check out this article: Compare mobile app features.

Click the Reply button below if you have additional questions about managing your QBO Mobile app account. I'll be willing to lend a hand. Keep safe always. 

Having the same issues with my M3 MacBook Pro.  I was even creating an invoice and it just randomly signed me out.  I then have to restart the program to get back into it.  This is not mobile but the online app from quickbooks for the Mac OS system.  Is there any fixes for this?  I have turned inactivity to 3 hours, reinstalled the app and reset the app with no success.

Hello there, bytebackjrd.

I appreciate you joining the thread and performing some steps to resolve the issue. However, since you're still getting the same problem, I recommend contacting our Customer Care Team. They have the tools to pull up your account to investigate the root of the problem and why the issue keeps appearing.

To get in touch with them, click the ? Help button at the top-right corner and select Contact Us to talk with a live agent.

In case you're working on your QuickBooks Online account and inactive for some time, you can consider utilizing the timeout feature. This will help you prevent from logging out at a specific hour when you're away from your computer.

To learn about the features of the desktop app and how it works, you can check out this article: Download and use the QuickBooks Online desktop app.

If you want to add specific info to your invoices or other sales forms, you can check out this article: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online.

If you need further help with managing your invoice transactions, please don't hesitate to let me know by leaving a comment below. I'm always here to answer any questions you may have. Take care, bytebackjrd.

I'm so happy that this issue is now resolved. Now if Reminders can be fixed! When I use a Reminder from my Reminder list, I expect it to disappear from the list (as it used too!).

I'll guide you on deleting your reminder list, MN_Mom.

If referring to the transaction reminders, you'll want to go to your Recurring transactions list to delete a reminder. To do so, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Go to the Gear icon, then choose Recurring Transactions.
2. Find the reminder you want to delete.
3. Under the ACTION column, click the arrow icon (beside Edit).
4. Choose Delete.

On the other hand, if you're referring to other reminders that aren't tagged as recurring and show up on the Dashboard, you can click the Go button and complete or delete the transactions instead. I've added a screenshot for your visual guide.

Furthermore, QuickBooks offers various reports that cater to your business needs. You'll only have to make sure to customize them so you'll get the right data. I've added this article for more information: Customize Reports In QuickBooks Online.

Drop your comment if you have any concerns about the reminder list. I'm always right here to assist. Have a great day!

Yes, this! Thank you. Same issue here. I just worked for over an hour on an invoice and it didn't tell me it logged me out until I hit save and all the work is gone. I have been trying to remember to hit save once in a while but I still sometimes forget, it's infuriating

We just started using QBO (downloaded the app) in Windows. It logs you out in the middle of typing a transaction, LOSING ALL INPUT, while a customer is standing there, huffing with impatience. It's INFURIATING.  I want to decide when it logs me out on my own computer, inside my own business. I don't need intuit treating me like a child who can't remember to put away her toys.

This needs to be addressed immediately. We pay way too much money to have to repeat work so often.

We just started using QBO (downloaded the app) in Windows. It logs you out in the middle of typing a transaction, LOSING ALL INPUT, while a customer is standing there, huffing with impatience. It's INFURIATING.  I want to decide when it logs me out on my own computer, inside my own business. I don't need intuit treating me like a child who can't remember to put away her toys.

This needs to be addressed immediately. We pay way too much money to have to repeat work so often.

I'm not at all happy with 3 hours as my max, nor many other things about the online app vs. desktop.

I hear your sentiments, Leah.

Let's work hand in hand toward fixing this issue with the QuickBooks Online (QBO) mobile app logging out while working on a transaction.

A constant action on your QBO won't make it log out while doing the tasks. We can do some troubleshooting actions to sort this out.

If you are experiencing issues with the QBO app on your desktop, you can uninstall and then download and install the application again. Thus, it can help narrow down the problem and potentially resolve any issues caused by your computer or system interactions. 

For your QBO mobile app, we can refresh the data within the program or from the settings menu on your mobile app. It restores the application to remove the older cache that causes this odd behavior. 

I'd be glad to guide you on how:

1. Go to the Menu ☰ icon, then select Help & Feedback.
2. Tap Refresh Data.
3. Select Refresh to confirm.

Alternatively, I suggest uninstalling and reinstalling the mobile app. It allows you to use the app with a clean slate. Follow the steps below to proceed:

1. Tap and hold the app on your phone.
2. Drag the app to the Uninstall section.
3. Click Yes to confirm.

Once done, reinstall the QBO mobile app and review your estimates.

However, I suggest contacting our Technical Support Team if the issue persists. They have tools to perform a screen-sharing session to investigate this behavior further.

Feel free to comment below if you have any other concerns with your QBO transactions or any QuickBooks-related tasks. I'm always here to assist you.