Error message: Connection Has Been Lost

A difficulty on accessing your company file can cause the following error when you try to open or use QuickBooks desktop:

The connection to the company file has been lost. QuickBooks must close immediately. Any unsaved data will need to be re-entered.

In this article, you'll learn about the following solutions:

• If you use a standalone computer
  • Solution 1: Restart QuickBooks
  • Solution 2: Run the Quick Fix my Program from the QuickBooks Tools Hub
  • Solution 3: Run the QuickBooks File Doctor from the QuickBooks Tools Hub
• If your computer is connected to a network and your data file is stored on another computer
  • Solution 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tools Hub
  • Solution 2: Restart computers
  • Solution 3: Check your network
  • Solution 4: Disable power management settings on the server
  • Solution 5: Fix hosting on all computers

If you use a standalone computer

• The folder where the file is saved may need additional permission.
• A 3rd party process/service from an Anti-Virus firewall may be interfering with QuickBooks.
• Your QuickBooks file may be corrupted.

For the best results, follow the steps and solutions in order they appear.

Solution 1: Restart QuickBooks

Solution 2: Run the Quick Fix my Program from the QuickBooks Tools Hub

The QuickBooks Tools Hub helps fix common errors. QuickBooks needs to be closed to use the tool hub.

Step 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tools Hub

The QuickBooks Tool Hub helps fix common errors. You'll need to close QuickBooks to use the tool hub. For the best experience, we recommend you use Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit.

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. Download the most recent version (1.6.0.8) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop). Note: If you've installed Tool Hub before, you can find out which version you have. Select the Home tab. The version will be on the bottom.
3. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
4. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
5. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

Note: If you can't find the icon, do a search in Windows for QuickBooks Tool Hub and select the program.

Step 2: Run the Quick Fix my Program from the Tools Hub

1. In the QuickBooks Tools Hub, select Program Problems.
2. Select Quick Fix my Program.

Solution 3: Run the QuickBooks File Doctor from the QuickBooks Tools Hub

1. From the QuickBooks Tools hub, run the QuickBooks File Doctor.
2. View the results.
   • If you see No problem detected in your Company File, your company file is OK.
     If you still see the error, Verify your company data file, and rebuild it if necessary. See Resolve data damage issues (basic troubleshooting) to perform a Verify and Rebuild.
   • If the tool detects data damage, you can:
     • Repair the file. The tool will tell you if it fixed your file.
     • Restore recently backed up company file.
     • Recover lost data with QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery
     • Send your company file to our Data Recovery Team. To request data recovery service from Intuit Data Services, contact QuickBooks Technical Support. Fees may apply.

If your company file is stored on a portable drive, follow these steps:

Your company file should be stored on the local drive. Working on your company file while it is on a portable drive, such as a flash drive, is not recommended. Proceed with the following steps at your own risk.

Check your portable drive

1. Make sure your portable drive is still connected. You may try:
   • Disconnecting and reconnecting your drive
   • Finding your QuickBooks company file on your removable drive from My Computer
   • Saving other files to your drive to make sure it's working
2. Make sure your drive has plenty of available space. It should have at least as much free space as the size of your company file.
   Note: If you still see the error, follow the steps above under Use the QuickBooks File Doctor to fix the issue.

If your computer is connected to a network and your data file is stored on another computer

• The network connection may be unstable (non-wired connection).
• The folder where the file is saved may need additional permission.
• Firewall is preventing access over the network.
• Power saving mode is turned on.

Your network can break in several ways:

• You may have seen a Windows error or similar problem on your computer.
• The server or host may have a similar problem.
• There may be a problem in the connection of the computers (i.e. cables, routers, protocols, etc.).

For the best results, follow the steps and solutions in order they appear.

Solution 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tools Hub

The QuickBooks Tools Hub helps fix common errors. QuickBooks needs to be closed to use the tools hub.

1. From the QuickBooks Tools Hub,  run the QuickBooks File Doctor.
2. View the results.
   • If you see No problem detected in your Company File, your company file is OK. If you still see the error, Verify your company data file, and rebuild it if necessary. See Resolve data damage issues (basic troubleshooting) to perform a Verify and Rebuild.
   • If the tool detects data damage, you can:
     • Repair the file. The tool will tell you if it fixed your file.
     • Restore recently backed up company file.
     • Recover lost data with QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery
     • Send your company file to our Data Recovery Team. To request data recovery service from Intuit Data Services, contact QuickBooks Technical Support. Fees may apply.

Solution 2: Restart computers

1. Restart the server.
   Important: Before doing this, make sure no one else is connected to the network.
2. Restart your workstation/s.

Solution 3: Check your network

Important: Wireless networking is not supported by QuickBooks and is not highly reliable for information like your company file.

1. Open or save another file on the server to make sure you have the necessary access.
   • Create and delete Microsoft Excel or WordPad file on that computer.
2. If you're unable to create and delete a non-QuickBooks file in that folder, Set up Windows access permissions required for QuickBooks.

Note: If your network isn't working or if you are uncomfortable doing the steps provided, please consult a network technician or an IT professional.

Solution 4: Disable power management settings on the server

1. On the computer where the company file is stored, open the power management settings in Windows Control Panel:
   • On your keyboard, press Windows key.
   • Type Power Options, then select Power Options from the results.
2. Turn off all sleep, standby, and hibernation modes on the host computer. Refer to Windows Help and Support for more information about power options.

Solution 5: Fix hosting on all computers

Host computer tasks

1. Make sure QuickBooks Database Server Manager is installed on the host computer (server)

   1. On your keyboard, press Windows key and type QuickBooks.
      If QuickBooks or QuickBooks Database Server Manager doesn't appear in the list, it means the program is not installed. Refer to Install, Update and Set Up the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

• Set hosting settings

  If QuickBooks is installed on the host computer:

  1. Open QuickBooks.
  2. Choose File > Utilities.
     • If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access appears in the menu, hosting is enabled and you can proceed to the next step.
     • If Host Multi-User Access appears in the menu, select it to enable hosting on this computer, and then proceed with the next step.

  If QuickBooks is not installed on the host computer (called a server-only installation):

  1. Double-click the QuickBooks Database Server Manager icon in the Windows system tray (or choose Start > All Programs > QuickBooks > QuickBooks Database Server Manager).
  2. Click the Database Server tab.
  3. Verify that your company file appears in the window below Currently connected company files and logged in users. If it isn't there, click the Scan Folders tab and click Help for information about adding the company file.
  4. Close the QuickBooks Database Server Manager window.

• Delete and re-create the .nd file

  You need to scan the folder where the company file is stored to create the Network Descriptor (nd) file. The *.nd file stores information about the computer that is hosting the file.

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows and type QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
  2. Select QuickBooks Database Server Manager, click Add Folder and find the folders storing the company files.
  3. When all folders are added, click Scan.
  4. The data files appear under QuickBooks company files found. Click Close.
  5. Browse to the folders containing the company files and make sure the file .band was created for each company data file.

  Note: If you don't see the QuickBooks Database Server Manager in the Programs list, you might have to uninstall QuickBooks and reinstall selecting the second option: I'll be using QuickBooks on this computer, AND I'll be storing our company file here so it can be shared over our network.

Workstation tasks

1. Make sure hosting is turned off

   1. Open QuickBooks.
   2. Choose File > Utilities.
      • If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access appears in the menu, select it to disable hosting on this computer and proceed with the next step. If the workstation says Stop Hosting Multi-User Access, click it to fix it.
      • If Host Multi-User Access appears in the menu, hosting is already disabled and you can proceed with the next step. The workstation should say Host Multi-User Access. If it does, don't change it.

2. Open the company file using a UNC path

   UNC (Uniform Naming Convention) is a common syntax Windows uses to describe the location of a network resource.

   An example of a UNC path is \\Computer Name\Shared Folder\. Computer Name in this example would be the name of the server where the company file is hosted.

   Follow the steps below to open the company file using the UNC path:

   1. Open QuickBooks.
   2. Choose File > Open or Restore Company.
   3. Select Open a company file and click Next.
   4. In the left pane of the Open a Company window, click My Network Places.
   5. Double-click Entire Network and navigate to the location on your server where the company file is stored.
   6. Select the company file and click Open.

Quick tips to prevent the issue from happening again: Ensure you connect to the network using wired connection Configure firewall and add QuickBooks firewall ports Set up folder permissions to share company files