Fix Error 1920: QuickBooks Database Manager failed to start

Learn how to fix “Error 1920: Service QuickBooks Database Manager (QBCFMonitorService) failed to start” when trying to install or update QuickBooks Desktop.

This error happens if QuickBooks Database Manager can’t connect to your company file. We’ll help you fix it so you can get back up and running.

If you're trying to install or update QuickBooks

Use these steps if you’re trying to install a new version of QuickBooks, or trying to update your current one.

Step 1: Uninstall QuickBooks Desktop

1. Press Windows key + S, then search for and open the Control Panel.
2. Select Programs and Features or Uninstall a Program.
3. Select QuickBooks Desktop [version] from the list of installed programs.
4. Select Uninstall/Change and follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 2: Rename the installation folders

Notes:

• If you don’t see Application Data or Program Data folder, you need to display hidden files and folders or search for files using Windows.
• If you have other Intuit apps installed on your computer, you should only uninstall or rename the QuickBooks version folder found in the Intuit folder: C:\Program Data\Intuit.

1. Go to the installation folders. Refer to the chart below.
   

   Windows 10/8/7	Windows Vista
   C:\Program Data\Intuit C:\Program Data\Common Files\Intuit C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Intuit C:\Program Files\Intuit C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit	C:\Program Data\Intuit C:\Program Data\Common Files\Intuit C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Intuit C:\Program Files\Intuit C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit

2. On your keyboard, press Windows key + R to open the run command.
3. Enter (or copy and paste) the location of the folder, then Enter.
4. Right-click the folder, then choose Rename.
5. Rename the folder to .OLD.

Step 3: Install QuickBooks Desktop

After you’re done with step 1 and 2, you can now install your QuickBooks Desktop.

If you're trying to update QuickBooks Database Server Manager on the server computer

Use these steps if you don’t have QuickBooks on your server, but share your file over the network using Database Server Manager.

Step 1: Uninstall the QuickBooks Database Server Manager

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R.
2. The Run dialog box opens. Enter appwiz.cpl, then OK.
3. Select the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
4. Select Uninstall/Change and follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 2: Rename the installation folders

Notes:

• If you don’t see Application Data or Program Data folder, you need to display hidden files and folders or search for files using Windows.
• If you have other Intuit apps installed on your computer, you should only uninstall or rename the QuickBooks version folder found in the Intuit folder: C:\Program Data\Intuit.

1. Go to the installation folders. Refer to the chart below.
   

   Windows 10/8/7	Windows Vista
   C:\Program Data\Intuit C:\Program Data\Common Files\Intuit C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Intuit C:\Program Files\Intuit C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit	C:\Program Data\Intuit C:\Program Data\Common Files\Intuit C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Intuit C:\Program Files\Intuit C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit

2. On your keyboard, press Windows key + R to open the run command.
3. Enter (or copy and paste) the location of the folder, then Enter.
4. Right-click the folder, then choose Rename.
5. Rename the folder to .OLD.

Step 3: Reinstall QuickBooks Database Server Manager

Here’s how to reinstall Database Server Manager and set up file sharing.