tried this   the migration tool is not working

says quickbookss Migration fail unexpectedly

@shannonMel98 

The migration tool is not reliable. Use the manual way instead.

Thanks for joining the thread, Shannon. Let me help you successfully migrating your files.

As using the migration tool isn't working for you, I recommend manually moving your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT). 

Before beginning the installation process, please ensure to have your product key and license info ready, as this information is necessary for the installation. You can locate this info from the Product Information window.

Here's how:

1. Open the QBDT.
2. Press the F2 key on your keyboard.
3. Look for your product name, license, and product number in the Product Information window.

After that, you can proceed to the installation process. 

1. Install QuickBooks Desktop on the new computer. 
2. On your original computer, create a backup company file.
3. Restore the backup on your new computer.
4. Then download the latest tax table after moving your company file.

You can also refer to this article for more details and information: Move or reinstall QuickBooks Desktop to another computer.

Just in case you need help with moving your files manually, check out this link as your guide: Move your company files to another computer.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have further questions about migrating your QBDT files. The Community is always available to help. Take care. 

Here is the major problem using the QB migration tool. I also got the failed message.

Went back to the original machine and could not open QB because of licensing problems.

Apparently as soon as you load the transfer tool onto the thumb drive the machine is no longer licensed to run QB. 

Total mess. No quickbooks on either machine.

Spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to fix this disaster.

Don't use the migration tool!

My password does not want to work and I have downloaded 4 times from one computer to another making different passwords each time. What can I do?

@aprilhbryant 

Why don't you take the "regular"way? Open your company file on the old machine and secure the backup file. Install QB on the new machine and restore the backup file.

Thanks for joining the Community and getting involved in this thread, aprilhbryant.

As mentioned by On Beta, you can move your company file to another computer without affecting the product license. With this process, a one-time password won't be required.

Here's how it works:
 

1. Before you begin, confirm QuickBooks is installed on your new computer.
2. Create a backup company file on your original computer.
3. When you save the backup file, give it a unique name so it's easy to identify. This also helps prevent accidental overwrites.
4. Save your file somewhere it can easily be located, like the Windows desktop folder.
5. Move your backup to the new computer. You can either put it on a flash drive or another external device. There's also an option to share it if your computer is on the same network.
6. Restore your backup on the new computer and be sure it has a unique file name.
7. If you use payroll services, be sure to download your latest tax table after moving the file.

You'll be able to learn more about moving company files to different computers in our Move your company files to another computer article.

I'll be here to help if there's any additional questions. Have a lovely Thursday!

I tried this and it gives error message “migration failed unexpectedly “ 

What do I do now? 

Encountering migration issues with QuickBooks Desktop can be time-consuming, 20309. Let me help you resolve the migration issue you're experiencing within QuickBooks Desktop.

If you are trying to use the QuickBooks Migrator Tool to move QuickBooks files from one computer to another, 64-bit QuickBooks files can only be migrated between 64-bit systems.

However, if you use a USB containing files from 64-bit QuickBooks Desktop 2022 or 2023 on a 32-bit Windows system, the migrator tool may stop unexpectedly. You need to organize a computer connected to the internet and a USB flash drive with enough free space to hold your QuickBooks files.

Furthermore, here are some things you can do to ensure a successful migration:

See to it the computer you are migrating to meets the minimum requirements for QuickBooks migration. Check the compatibility of the QuickBooks version with the operating system and verify that your computer has enough free disk space for the migration process. 

Next, ensure you are using the latest version of QuickBooks for a seamless migration. 

1. Open QuickBooks and go to the Help menu.
2. Select Update QuickBooks and then Update Now.
3. Click Get Updates to start the update process.

If the issue continues, use the QuickBooks File Doctor tool to help you resolve any data damage within your company file.

Here's how:

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. Download the most recent version (1.6.0.3) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
3. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
4. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
5. Once done, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

Next, you can initiate or use QuickBooks PDF & printer Repair Tool. Feel free to visit this page to see the instructions from step # 2: Fix PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.

Through these steps, you can avoid unexpected migration failure and successfully move your QuickBooks files to a new computer.

I'm also adding this page for the step-by-step process of moving QuickBooks to another computer: Move or reinstall QuickBooks Desktop to another. 

Additionally, it would be best to create a backup copy of your company file before the migration process. If changes occur, having a backup copy lets you restore it.

If you need further assistance with your data migration in QuickBooks Desktop, we are still here to help. Please let me know in the comment section. Have a great day.