Why am I unable to reverse a journal entry from a prior locked period in the current open period without a password?

In QuickBooks, if a prior period is locked, it’s used to protect finalized financials from being altered. To reverse a journal entry from that period, you’ll need a password because it’s part of the security settings to prevent accidental changes.

This ensures your reports stay accurate and compliant with accounting standards. If you have the password, you can unlock the period, make adjustments, and then lock it again to keep everything secure.

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I'm glad you've raised this concern here, @manager2guitcom.

I'll be adding information about editing transactions from a locked period in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

I agree with what @kabel1657 shared. If you wish to reverse a journal entry from a locked period, you'll need to enter the password you set on it. This is QBO way to protect your financial records from locked period damage.

I'll also add this article if you want to change the closing date or forgot the password to your locked period: Edit your closed books in QuickBooks Online.

You can also read this article to learn how to update your account credentials: Update or change your Intuit Account sign-in information.

Feel free to reply to this post for additional questions about editing transactions from a locked period in QBO. We'll be willing to help. Keep safe, and have a good day.