Download and use the desktop app

Learn how to download, use, and install the QuickBooks Online desktop app.

If you have QuickBooks Online, you can use the QuickBooks Online desktop app to access and manage your company file(s) more easily. This helps you save time and focus more on growing your business. Here's how.

If you haven't downloaded the app yet, open this article in QuickBooks Online to get started. Take me there

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With the QuickBooks Online desktop app, you can:

• Stay signed in: Stay signed in for up to 6 months, so you don’t have to enter your username and password every time.
  Note: You can stay signed in unless you manually sign out.
• Access multiple QuickBooks Online companies: Manage multiple companies by using separate tabs for each, all in one place. You can even open multiple pages within each company tab.
• Work on two tasks at a time: Improve your productivity by using split-screen to manage two tasks at once with the app on your computer.
• Use keyboard shortcut : Speed up your workflows and simplify your tasks by reducing the need for manual work.
• Select your navigation map view: Use a navigation map that’s similar to what you’re used to in QuickBooks Desktop.

Note: If you switched from QuickBooks Desktop, make sure to move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online first.

Use the split screen feature

Work on two tasks simultaneously with the split screen feature. Here’s how.

Note: This feature is only available in the desktop view.

1. Open the QuickBooks Online desktop app.
2. Go to the first task you’d like to do. For example, go to Reports.
3. Select Split screen , then select the second task you want to work on.
   Tip: A green border tells you which screen is active.
4. When you’re done with the second task, select Split screen again to close it. Make sure to save your work first.

Organize and streamline your workflow to efficiently manage multiple companies

How It’s Better:

• You can open as many pages as needed below each company tab, making it easier to manage company-specific information.
• For quick access, you can right-click on the company tab to see options like moving it, pinning it, and more.
• Switching between companies and tasks will be smoother, making you more productive.

Manage multiple companies with ease

1. When you open a company, it will appear in a tab within the app.
2. Select the + icon next to the opened company to add another company.
3. If you have more than one company, a dropdown list will appear, so you can select the company you want to open.
4. Right-click on the company tab to show options like moving, pinning, and more.
5. When you open a task for the company you are working on, it will appear as a new tab below the company.
6. Select the + icon to open new tabs for each company, making it easy to switch between different tasks.