I have QB 2012I have QB 2012 on parallels 2016 and want to upgrade to QB 2016. Can I go directly to 2016 or must I first upgrade to 2014 or 15

Good day, @printspat.

Yes, you can automatically upgrade from 2012 to 2016. However, please know that these two versions are already discontinued. Access to add-on services like Payroll, Banking, Technical Support, and Payments are no longer available.

I'm adding this article for your reference: QuickBooks Desktop service discontinuation policy and upgrade information.

Before doing so, make sure to backup your company data, so you’ll always have a file to go back and work with when prompted with any error. 

Here are other important reminders:

• Once the file is converted, opening it using the previous version is unavailable. 
• Always convert the files locally. Copy the file from the server to a local workstation.
• Rebuild the company file locally, and take note of the mandatory backup location in case you need to restore files during the conversion process.

Start converting the company file to the 2016 version by using the Easy Upgrade feature. It will create an updated copy of your most recent files automatically. 

Right after, perform the steps below to restore the file.

1. Open your QuickBooks 2016.
2. Go to the File menu and select Open or Restore Company.
3. Choose Open a company file and click Next.
4. Select the data file and click Open.
5. Read the info in the Update Company File for New Version pane. Check the box to signify you understand, then select Update Now.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to back up the file. 
7. Click Yes on the message prompt.
8. Once it’s updated, save the backup in a safe location.

Take a look at this article for the details: Upgrade your company files after switching to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Please post again in the Community if you need anything else. I'm more than happy to help. Have a great day!

Many thanks for your reply. After considering all the steps necessary to upgrade my QB 2012 I wonder if that is necessary. I use my QB only offline, never go online, so I feel relatively secure with my older version. Can I simply upgrade to Windows 10 without changing my version of QB? If I don't go online, is even that necessary ?

Hi there, printspat.

Here's how:

1. Choose the Start menu and type About your PC.

2. Select About your PC, then scroll down to find your version number.

Now that you have your version number, look below to see which versions of Windows 10 are supported with QuickBooks Desktop.

• Windows 10 version 1809 (latest): QuickBooks Desktop 2020 is certified to work properly on version 1803 of Windows 10. Desktop 2017-2019 are not yet fully certified. However, we are not aware of any major issues preventing you from using QuickBooks on this version of Windows 10, so you shouldn't have any trouble.

• Windows 10 version 1803: QuickBooks Desktop 2017-2020 are fully certified to work properly on version 1803 of Windows 10.

• Windows 10 version 1709: QuickBooks Desktop 2017-2020 are fully certified to work properly on version 1709 of Windows 10.

• Windows 10 version 1507, 1511, 1607, and 1703: If you are using the Home or Pro versions of Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, and 1703, we recommend you update to the latest release of Windows 10. Microsoft has already discontinued support for these versions. See Windows Life-Cycle fact sheet for more details.

Please check this article on how  to upgrade your company files so you can keep using them in your newer version: Upgrade your company files after switching to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help you succeed with QuickBooks.​​

@printspat ,

QuickBooks 2012 only works on Windows 7 or lower. Try running it in compatibility mode on your Windows 10.

So, I must upgrade to at least QB 2017 in order to upgrade to Windows 10 ? Can I go directly from QB 2012 to QB 2017 ?

Welcome aboard to the Community, printspat.

On behalf of my peers, I would like to provide some additional information about QuickBooks Desktop. To answer your first question, yes, you'll need to have at least the 2017 version to upgrade to Windows 10 OS.

For the second one, it's also a yes for moving from 2012 to 2017. However, I recommend performing a back up of your company file first before doing anything else.

Here's how:

1. Click the File tab at the top menu bar.
2. Select Backup Company.
3. Choose Create Local Backup. 

Additionally, the following article provides detailed instructions on the upgrade process for your company files. You can visit the link below after following the steps above:

Upgrade your company files after switching to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know if you have further questions about QuickBooks. I’ll be right here ready to help you. Have a good one.

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@printspat wrote:

So, I must upgrade to at least QB 2017 in order to upgrade to Windows 10 ? Can I go directly from QB 2012 to QB 2017 ?

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It may look absurd upgrading to 2017 now if you don't have any license yet. Intuit only supports 2017 version up to May 2020. But should you have decided purchasing 2020 version, call and ask Intuit later to convert your file for free. Otherwise, you have to purchase a 3rd party conversion service.