Yeah, according to the setting it should only log you out after 3 hours of INACTIVITY, and it should reset the inactivity timer to zero each time you make an interaction with the application.  HOWEVER, just like so many issues with this software, the programmers have failed to implement this feature as described and it simply logs you out after 3 hours since you most recently logged in.  This has been bugging me lately.  It's 11AM where I am now, I have not been INACTIVE since 8am, I've been working in and out of QBO, however 8AM is approximately when I logged on - and lo' and behold: I've just been logged out when returning to the application.

This setting is not only annoying, even if implemented correctly a 3 hour timeout is much to short for those of us who spend most of our day using the application.  At least offer additional 6, 8, and 10 hour logout intervals.

This is obviously not a time-out or inactivity issue - how can QBO not recognize that I am entering payroll? I just lost 90 minutes of work, and I hadn't been logged in over 2 hours. You moderators aren't listening, why do keep repeating the same crap about "inactivity" and security?

Adding to this discussion, this is the single most frustrating part of my day. I understand signing you out if you are INACTIVE. but clearly this system is BROKEN because it logs you out when you are in the middle of typing. CLEARLY I AM ACTIVE!!!! I go to save a massive journal entry I've been working on for about an hour and I get "something went wrong" or some other annoying error. I have to close the journal entry without saving (and it even prompts me to save but again.... I can't because the system has logged me out in the background) And of course as soon as I try to refresh the page to clear the error I am prompted to login again. By this point I know the drill and know that the "something went wrong" error means the system has logged me out so my only option is to close the journal entry and LOSE EVERYTHING and start over and TRY to get it all done in the time window that QB gives me. Oh, and because its a JE, I can't save until its balanced so there is no way to "save as you go"

THIS IS SO IRRITATING QUICKBOOKS!

FIX THIS!

DON'T LOG ME OUT WHEN I AM STILL WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there, @lauren potter. 
 

I understand you're in a tough spot here, and this isn't something we want you to experience while using QuickBooks.  

I've checked here on my end and there's no reported case about this issue. There are times when a browser's cache data becomes full of the frequently accessed web or damaged. To better isolate this issue, let's try signing in to your QBO account using a private or incognito window. This mode doesn't use the existing cache data and helps us confirm browser-related issues. Let me show you how: 

• For Google Chrome browser: Ctrl + Shift + N
• For Mozilla Firefox browser: Ctrl + Shift + P
• For Safari browser: Command + Option + P

Once done and it works, go back to your regular browser and clear the cache to delete those temporarily stored files and browsing history. The overtime collection of data can create corruption, however, removing this should fix the issue. You can also use other supported, up-to-date browsers to roll out the possibility of a browser-related issue.

If the issue persists, I recommend contacting our QuickBooks Live Team. That way, they can create a case and forward it to our Product Team for further investigation. 

Additionally, you may want to review this article in the future that enables you to extend your time limit before the system automatically logs you out when idling: Change the timeout duration in QuickBooks Online.

Please let me know in the comment on how it goes, and if you have other concerns, you can always include them here. Anytime I'll be around to help. Stay safe and well.

There seems to be no way to turn this stupid setting off? Because it does not work properly! I keep getting logged out while working in my client's books and it is super annoying!  Actively editing something and the system pops up and says I am inactive?? LIKE WTH!?!?  Literally editing line by line of pay types in timesheets at the moment and it popped up!  Thankfully the "stay logged in?" button worked this go- but usually that does not work either- logs me out regardless of pushing the "stay logged in".  Then I lose what I was working on and have to log back in.  Stupid setting quickbooks! Clearly your AI cannot decipher between active and non active and is just a 3 hr timer regardless.  And YES I sent in a "feedback" - not that they do anything.

[duplicate deleted]

I have the same problem with being randomly logged out of the desktop app for QBO. One of the big selling points of the app was that we were to be able to stay logged in so that we could work on our various clients' books throughout the day without having to login constantly. 

In my case, it doesn't even track the three hour interval. Sometimes it will log me out in the midst of making entries (as other posters have reported) but at other times, it will keep me logged in all day. 

Please, please fix this. 

My QBO also logs me out any time it wants. I start work at 8am and usually have to log in at least 3 or 4 times before lunch and I usually have two windows open... Super annoying and costly for the company for the lost time f'ing with logging in. I'm going to try setting it to 2 hours instead and see if that works. I am in my QBO all day long and it will sign me out "due to inactivity". FIX THIS PLEASE, QUICKBOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is happening to me today, but it didn't yesterday. I haven't changed anything. My timeout is set to three hours. I send feedback every day for stupid crap like this. Such a frustrating system.

I have discovered that often, when it logs me out randomly, if I close and re-open the QBO desktop app, I'm magically still logged in without re-entering my password. 

It's really annoying because I still have to re-open each client tab but I should either be logged out or not, instead of this "oh, not really" nonsense. 

wait, what? there's a QBO desktop app?? 

There is in the accountant version. It's under settings, left column, second from the bottom.

I can confirm that, not only ius this still an issue in December 2023 - but the new app (v 1.22) now sometimes logs me out for "inactivity" after just a few minutes, making it 100% unusuable.

It was NEVER based on inactivity - that I can confirm, it was a simple timer.  I set mine to 3 hours to minimize the annoyance, but I upgraded to the newest version and good Lord it's awful.

I'm going back to an old version from my backups.  I'll lose some things (easy access to "all dates" is reports is nice) But being logged out for inactivity WHILE I AM TYPING is ridiculous.

Cleared all the cache / cookies and all data in my Firefox browser and it still logs me out while I'm in the middle of a transaction! I don't even leave it for 15 mins and it already logs out. FYI - my time out was set to 1 hour.

I agree with everyone else on this thread...why do you have a timeout feature - maybe 24 hours or so, but 3 hrs max? Geez.

I hear your sentiments, @angela94.

Currently, the maximum timeout period in QuickBooks Online (QBO) is set to three hours. Since the issue persists after clearing your browser's cache and cookies, I recommend using Google Chrome or another supported browser so you won't be signed out of your account when performing tasks in QBO.

I understand how convenient it is for you to set the maximum timeout period to 24 hours or so. Don't worry. I'll help you relay your valuable insight to our software engineers. This way, they can evaluate your suggestion and may consider including it in our future product updates. To do that:

1. Go to the Gear icon.
2. Select Feedback.
3. Enter your feature request, then click Next.

In addition, QBO provides reports to help you get an overview of your company's performance.

Please feel free to reach out to me in the Community if you have any follow-up concerns about adjusting your timeout period in QBO. I'm available 24/7 to help you. Stay safe, and have a great day!

This is a problem on both the windows app and the mac app for Quickbooks Online.  The "sign me out after xx hours of inactivity" does not work.  The application logs us out at random times, whether we are using the app or it is idle.  The problem seems worse on the the app for QBO than using a browser.  Please fix this!

Thanks for joining the thread, @phylwith.

We want to ensure that you have a seamless experience using the QuickBooks Online app on your Windows or Mac devices. Since you're still getting the same results after setting the "Sign me out if inactive for XX hours", I'd suggest some troubleshooting steps. Let's start by refreshing the program to prevent any disruptions while using QuickBooks. Here's how:

1. Refresh your QBO app by clicking Help.
2. Select Reset App Data.

If the issue persists, we may need to uninstall and reinstall the QBO application. Here's a quick guide to do it, or you can visit the link here to reinstall the app directly. Simply scroll down to the Get the QuickBooks Mac or Windows App section, then click the Free Download button.

If the problem continues, I suggest reaching out to our QuickBooks Team so they can conduct a thorough investigation and resolve the issue.

Feel free to post here if you have any further questions about the timeout feature. We're here to help at any time.

I'm using QBO app on my Mac Studio with Ventura 13.5.

QBO RANDOMLY logs me out while I am typing. 

In advanced settings, I have the log out set to after three hours of INACTIVITY. QBO insists on random logouts DURING ACTIVITY which cause a loss of work.

I've read through multiple threads on QB's site, such as this one.

In these threads the "experts" (just bots?) point to the users as having the issue. They're wrong.

QB has an interface problem and those who monitor threads (just bots?) brush it off. There are "solutions" like clearing a browser cache, but these do not address real problem with QB software.

I was aslo logged out while reading this thread, about 20 monutes after I logged into QBO via a browser.

Please fix this "feature."

This is not the experience we want our users to have with QuickBooks, Rick.

I can share information to stop your QuickBooks Online application account from logging out of the system.

The application logs you out from the system when you sign in to QBO in a browser or vice versa. In this concept, you'll have to log in only on one platform for some time. For example, for this hour, you will use the browser and for the next hour on a QBO mobile application.

At the moment, we're still using the time duration to stay logged on in QuickBooks. While the auto-saving of transactions isn't an option, you can perform some troubleshooting steps to fix the performance issue: 

Here's how:

1. Go to your device's Settings and select Setting General iPhone Storage.
2. Choose an app that's taking up a lot of space.
3. To free up the storage without deleting the documents and data for the app, select the Offload App.

If the issue persists, we may need to uninstall and reinstall the QBO application. Here's a quick guide to do it, or you can visit the link here to reinstall the app directly.

Other than this, I suggest contacting our Care Support team. They have tools to pull up your account to review what's totally causing this issue and other ways to fix it by using their means.

Additionally, you may want to review this article in the future that enables you to extend your time limit before the system automatically logs you out when idling: Change the timeout duration in QuickBooks Online.

If you require further assistance managing your QBO account or related matters, reply to this thread. I am here to support you at any time.

Your response is total BS.

I was not logged into the browser version until I came to the community to serch for an answer.

I was logged out yesterday over 20 times while using QBO desktop on my Mac.

WTF does an iPhone have to do with this issue? I did not mention that in my comment, nor was I using an iPhone.

The article you mention is TOTALLY USELESS as it deals with resetting the INACTIVITY timeout. From the instructions: "Choose 1, 2, or 3 hours from the Sign me out if inactive for ▼ dropdown menu.”

The logouts I am expericning are WHILE ACTIVELY USING QBO.

Do you have a solution or is it still my issue?

As a follow up to my previous reply a short while aqo...

I've now been logged out three times in under an hour of ACTIVE use.

Also, I may have mistakenly given the impression I am using QuickBooks Online by using the abbreviation “QBO." I started my first reply to the orginal question with "I'm using QBO app on my Mac Studio with Ventura 13.5."

My apologies if there has been some confusion on the version that is logging me out while in ACTIVE use. I am using the Mac desktop app. Oddly, the About Quickbooks in teh app states: “Quickbooks Online 1.31.1 (see screenshot).

Thank you.

I have the same issue with the APP for both Mac and Win.   I have the timeout set to 3 hours I have never made it beyond an hour before I get logged out.

I am ACTIVELY working - clicking save, entering products, entering POs, running reports, etc.  and I get logged out while I am working in less than an hour.  None of my time is "idle" for more than a couple of minutes.    I am constantly clicking "save" so that I do not lose any work and the system still logs me out in under an hour.

Quickbooks Online - Mac App and Windows App.

Hello there, RickCoplin, and @s1b.

I understand that the sudden logout issue in your QuickBooks Online (QBO) desktop app for Mac has affected your business workflow. I can guide you through some troubleshooting steps to resolve this matter so you can complete your accounting tasks on time.

Let's begin by resetting the app data to give the program a fresh start and eliminate any stored files that may be causing issues in the system. Follow these steps to carry out this task:

1. Click Help on the navigation bar at the top.
2. Select Reset App Data.
3. Allow some time for the process to complete, and close the app.
4. Right-click the app and Run as Administrator when re-opening.
   
   

Next, open your company and perform any accounting tasks. If you continue to get the same result, uninstall and reinstall the application to fix any problems caused by corrupted files or incorrect settings. Click the following link to download the installer: 

• QuickBooks Online desktop app for Mac.
• QuickBooks Online desktop app for Windows

If none of these suggestions work, I recommend contacting our QBO Care Team. Our specialists can conduct thorough troubleshooting to pinpoint the cause of the automatic log-out problem in your company. They'll also assist you in implementing a permanent solution to prevent it from happening again.

Additionally, here's an article detailing the various features of the desktop app, as well as the advantages they offer: Download and use the QuickBooks Online desktop app. 

You can improve your online program navigation with keyboard shortcuts and quickly access your company by adding a QBO icon to your desktop. Refer to the links below for additional information:

• Create a desktop shortcut for QuickBooks Online
• QuickBooks Online keyboard shortcuts to help you and your clients
• Keyboard shortcuts for QuickBooks Online

Should you need assistance navigating your QBO desktop for Mac app or Windows and other product-related matters, don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I'm here to ensure that both of you receive the support you need, Rick Coplin, and @s1b.

Hello,

Clicking "Help" on the navigation bar at the top produces an assistant or search utility. There is no "Reset App Data" to be found. I tried searching for it with the search utility, and that yielded no relevant results.

Also, with the Mac desktop app closed, right clicking on the icon does NOT give an option to "Run as Administrator."

May I suggest you take the actions you have suggested and see if they work? If they do, great. What am I missing?

Rick