What happens when my QB Desktop subscription lapses

Hi, @tmittelstaedt.

Once your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) subscription lapses, you won't be able to access your company file. To avoid losing your accounting data, it's best to create a backup copy. You can either schedule it or do it manually. To learn more about creating a backup, check out this article: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

You can also export reports to Excel from QBDT, such as the Balance Sheet, General Ledger, Profit and Loss, and Payroll reports if you're processing payroll through QB. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to Reports, then select Reports Center.
2. Locate and double-click the report you want to export.
3. Choose the Excel dropdown menu, then Create New Worksheet or Update Existing Worksheet. 
4. If you encounter a message stating that your report has too many columns, navigate to Advanced, uncheck the Space between columns checkbox, and select OK.
5. When you’re prepared to export, hit OK.

For more detailed information on this process, you can visit this article: Export reports as Excel workbooks in QuickBooks Desktop.

Moreover, you can export lists from a QB company file to another.  

I'll add this article here to learn more about exporting info with QBDT: Import and export data in QuickBooks Desktop.

If you have any follow-up concerns about your QBDT subscription, feel free to return to this thread. I'm here to help.

So what version of QB did this break with?

I paid for a perpetual license when I bought QB and only paid for the maintenance on it which up until some version or other would give you upgrades as part of the maintenance.  Then if you stopped maintenance, you would be stuck at that version since you wouldn't be entitled to upgrade, but you still could continue to use that version.

I didn't buy QB as a "subscription"  I bought it as a perpetual use.

What you are telling me is in conflict with what Intuit support told me last year which is the entire reason I upgraded to QB 2023.  I'll just have to go back to my prior year installers and reinstall an older version.

I used to recommend QB to people like me just starting out small businesses.  Not anymore.  Not everyone wants to put their company vitals into your servers for you to raid marketing data out of.

@tmittelstaedt 

I'll just have to go back to my prior year installers and reinstall an older version.

You can't use the older version to open  your company file. You can use the trial version of QB Desktop 2023 to access your historical data for good. Contact me in private for details.

I have QBD 2021 and I'm not go8ng into the cloud. I've been with QB since 2005 and gave bought several versions of the desktop and have the cds as well. How do I continue to use my QBD without an active subscription?

My understanding is that your license will be deactivated and you will not be able to get access to your company file.

So when you open QBD and you pick a company to open, your dead in the water.

I'm facing the same issue.

I understand the importance of continuing to use the QuickBooks Desktop without an active subscription, Reliable2005. I'm here to share insights about this matter.

If you're using the 2021 stand-alone license, yes, you can continue to access your QBDT files on your computer without purchasing an active subscription. However, after May 31, 2024, all the 2021 versions will be discontinued. With this, you'll stop receiving the security updates and online services, such as:

• Payroll Services
• Payments
• Live Support
• Online Backup
• Online Banking

Rest assured that you can still use the program, but it is recommended to upgrade it to ensure the security of your data. I suggest browsing this article to learn more about the discontinued software: QuickBooks Desktop Service Discontinuation Policy.

On the contrary, if you're using the Plus (annual) version, you'll no longer be able to use or access your account. Your company file will remain on your computer, but you'll need to re-activate the service to open or view the data.

Furthermore, you can manage your QBDT account and subscriptions with the Customer Account Maintenance Portal (CAMPs). 

You're always welcome to ask any other questions regarding your data in QuickBooks. If you have other concerns about adding some entries to your books, keep me posted, and I'll guide you through the process.

@Reliable2005 

Login to CAMPS and check your license status. If you are using QB Desktop 2021 with a non subscription license, you can use it for good.

https://camps.intuit.com

Wholeheartedly agree with your frustration. It is shared. Wondering if you found a solution since last December. We got bumped up to Enterprise Silver because of too many "names". We have been in business for over 20 years and it has proven very expensive to have one continuous system of accounting. We only use the basics. No need for new updates that only cost more and slow things down. Thank you!

@Alebaz 

How many user license do you have?

Do you also need to run any add-ons? e.g QB Payroll

I'm relieved to hear that many share the same frustrations I've had with QB in recent years, but also reading the comments makes me angry all over again...  We used to be able to purchase and use the Desktop software for many years -- perfect for a *very* small business with one employee.   Then came the incessant add-ons, insistence that we move to a subscription-based model, and annual 40-50% increases.  Now I'm reading that those who did not move the subscription service will have continue to have read-only access to their data, while others of us who have paid these exorbitant annual subscription fees will be locked out once the subscription expires!!!  I'm so done with QB.

@hcraftsman1 

Now I'm reading that those who did not move the subscription service will have continue to have read-only access to their data

You can use the trial version of QB Desktop Enterprise to access your archive files for good if required.