Move data from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Desktop

If you're interested in support any time, any day, consider upgrading to QuickBooks Online Advanced.

Learn how to move your data from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Desktop. With the help of our migration tool, you can relocate all your data and transactions.

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Prerequisites

• If you haven't yet, download QuickBooks Desktop. You’ll need it open when you move your data.
• For information on how data moves to QuickBooks Desktop, check out Learn how data moves from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Desktop.

Step 1: Download the migration tool in QuickBooks Online

1. Sign in to QuickBooks Online.
2. Go to the Export Overview page.
3. Select Get Started.
4. Select Download tool.
   Note: Keep this page open on your browser.
5. Install the migration tool, then select Next.
6. Read and accept the terms of the license agreement, then select Next.
7. Select Install, then select Finish.

Step 2: Export your QuickBooks Online data

1. In the Step 1: Prepare to export page, select Continue.
2. Select the QuickBooks Online data you want to export, then select Continue.
   Note: You can either choose All financial data or All financial data without transactions. For products and services, inventory isn't exported.
3. In the Step 3: Request your data page, select Continue.
4. Fill in the Name and Email address fields, then select Continue.
5. Select Close.
   Note: Email confirmation may take time depending on the amount of data you want to migrate. Check your QuickBooks Online homepage for updates.
6. Go to the Export Overview page.
7. In the Step 1: Prepare to export page, follow the instructions for online migration. Then, select Continue.
8. In the Exporting from QuickBooks Online page, select Continue to Download, then select Download QBXML file.
9. Save the file to your desktop, then select Continue.

Step 3: Run the QuickBooks Desktop migration tool

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop and remain on the No Company Open screen.
2. Open the QuickBooks Desktop migration tool.
3. Select Browse, then navigate to your downloaded QBXML file.
4. Select your QBXML file, then select Open.
5. Select Import.
6. Enter a Name, then Save your file.
7. Choose a save option, give your file a name, then select Save. After a few moments, a Certificate window will pop up. This allows you to grant permissions for the migration.
   Note: If the Migration Tool is unable to connect to QuickBooks Desktop and the Certificate window fails to appear, try running either the Migration Tool or the QuickBooks software as Administrator (right-click the Program icon, then select Run as Administrator).
8. Select Yes, Always, then check the box to Allow application to access personal data. 
9. Select Continue. 
10. Select Confirm. A window will appear with a percentage meter to show the import process.
    Note: The completion time depends on the amount of data you’re working with. Large migrations may take hours to complete. 
11. Once the migration is complete, select Done.

Note: If you want more information about this tool, check out Desktop Migration Tool FAQs. 

Step 4: Check if the data exported matches

After you export your data, run a profit and loss report in QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop to compare your books.

Note: Run reports on accrual basis in QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop to match and compare them.

Next steps

• You can cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription if needed.
• Get started with QuickBooks Desktop.