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Anonymous
Not applicable

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

I have to go in and re-validate our license every 2 weeks or so and I am wondering if there is a port or some feature of the anti-virus that is blocking QB from automatically validating.

The main issue is that QB is syncing with Fishbowl shop software and the sync fails every time I have to go in and re-validate the license

43 Comments 43
QBooksConsulting
Level 4

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

g-shreckengost
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Did you ever solve this issue? We're having the same problem on our Fishbowl-syncing machine.
Anonymous
Not applicable

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

no not completely. Intuit support wants us to run a clean install but we were afraid that it would undo all the progress we made in syncing the apps, which took forever to get setup correctly
easypc
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

same issue using POS 2018  with Enterprise 2018 desktop (as client).  Tells me ever 1-2 weeks quickbooks desktop has expired. . . working with QB support now to troubleshoot
Anonymous
Not applicable

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

[mention://7773155 [mention://7773155 @easypc]] did you ever get anywhere with this?
TheGreatWhay
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

toxicelbow,

I am convinced you did the right thing by not doing a fresh install, as I did do this, and the problem still exists.  I have a third party app that will not push data into Quickbooks unless QB Desktop is logged into on the server.

Looking forward to anyone who may have additional suggestions. Even with Firewalls turned off, the problem exists.

BettyJaneB
QuickBooks Team

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Good day everyone.

 

Thanks for reaching out the Community about this matter. I want to ensure to get this license re-validation issue sorted out so you can get back to business.

 

The popup message that you received indicates that the license registration of your QuickBooks is damaged. To fix this we'll need to delete the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file.

 

Here's how:

  1. Close QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Ensure that all QuickBooks processes are no longer running.
  3. Open the entitlement data folder for your operating system and version of QuickBooks.
  4. Right-click the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file and select Delete.
  5. Select Yes to confirm you want to delete the file.
  6. Open your company file and follow the instructions to register the application.

To learn more about this process, please refer to this article: Delete damaged EntitlementDataStore.ecml file to resolve license and registration issues.

 

If the issue persists after performing these steps, I'd suggest reaching out to our Customer Care Team. They have the proper tools to check on your account to verify what's causing the issue. 

 

To reach them:

  1. In your browser, navigate to https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_US/contact
  2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop.
  3. Click the issue or topic.
  4. Click the Green Phone button to see the support number.

This should help you get back on track. Fill me in if you need further assistance. I'll be here to help. Happy Holidays!

bljb
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

I'm wondering if anyone has tried the solution offered here by Intuit, and if so, if they were successful in preventing the dialog box (the popup box) from appearing. (See attached image for screen shot of dialog box.)

 

 

KhimG
QuickBooks Team

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hi there, @bljb.


Thank you for the screenshot. I want to make sure the pop-up you receive gets taken care of.


Have you tried performing the steps above from my colleague BettyJaneB? Before doing so, let’s first check your subscription status by logging in to CAMPS.


If the billing information needs updating it could be that the reason you continue to get the same message. Make the proper changes to fix the problem.


However, if your profile says active and everything is correct, I suggest giving the following steps a try. 

  1. Close and make sure all QuickBooks processes are no longer running.
  2. Open the entitlement folder for your operating system and version of QuickBooks.
  3. Look for the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file, right-click it and choose Delete.
  4. Click Yes to delete the file.
  5. Launch QuickBooks and open the company file, then register the application.

Here’s an article for your reference: Resolve installation errors by deleting a damaged file.

 

This information should get you back in line. Let me know if I can be of additional assistance, I'm always here to help. Take care and have a great day!

AdrianG001
Level 4

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

You can try un-installing and installing the application and make sure all the updates are up-to-date. If you still get the error, please contact Intuit Support Team.

 

 

Regards,

Adrian

 

mklinejr
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Deleting the entitlement file doesn't resolve anything.  It "fixes" the issue temporarily for a week or so and then it returns.  I have a client with QuickBooks 2019 on 2 servers and they are getting this every 8-14 days on one of the servers.  They are angry with me because the issue continues.

BettyJaneB
QuickBooks Team

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Thanks for bringing this concern to my attention, @mklinejr.

 

Allow me to provide additional troubleshooting steps to get this sorted out. 

 

Updating your server manager is a good start when it comes to fixing server issues.

 

To do that:

  1. Download the patch from Update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release.
  2. Reboot the server after the patch installation completes.
  3. On the workstation, after the server has been updated, you may get the following message: The company file needs to be updated to work with this version of QuickBooks Desktop.
  4. There will be a prompt to create a backup which is required since these updates can modify the database structure.
  5. Follow the prompts and after backup is completed, you should be able to open the file.

If updating the server doesn't make a difference, you can try using the file doctor tool to help fix network and file issues. To do that, you may follow the instructions found in this link: Fix your Damaged Company File or Network.

 

Lastly, if the problem continues after trying these steps, I'd suggest reaching out to our Customer Care Team. They have an advanced tool that can help investigate what's causing the issue. 

 

You can always reach back out to me if I can be of further assistance with this concern. Just leave a reply below and I'll get back to you. Have a nice day!

CrissyKoger
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

I too have constantly received this error message. We use the QB Web Connector to sync Quickbooks Desktop Enterprise with Salesforce on our server.  We are unable to use the web connector "auto run" feature because we receive this error message and it locks up the web connector.   We have done the clean install and validated the registration and nothing resolves the issue permanently.  Extremely disappointed.  

Alessandra_B
QuickBooks Team

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hello there, @CrissyKoger.

 

You can delete the Entitlement Data Store file on your computer. I can provide more details about this and help you.

 

When QuickBooks won't open, it's sometimes caused by a damage in the information on your file. You can resolve this by deleting the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file.

 

Kindly follow these steps:

  1. Close QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Ensure that all QuickBooks processes are no longer running.
  3. Open the entitlement data folder for your operating system and version of QuickBooks.
  4. Right-click the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file. And select Delete.
  5. Select Yes to confirm you want to delete the file.
  6. Open your company file and follow the instructions to register the application.

For further guidance, you may refer to this article: Resolve Installation Errors by Deleting Damaged File.

 

Fill me in if you have any other concerns. I'll be sure to get back to you.

joEmonster
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Yeah this is a shame. I too have a client hosted in a cloud Citrix environment with a server running QB Enterprise Manufacturing 19 with Fishbowl. I have never seen these expiration messages until upgrading to 19. My client runs exports from Fishbowl and for that to happen Fishbowl needs to always be logged in on the server and QB open. Every 2 weeks or so exports fail to run because this message has popped up.

 

We've tried all of these casual responses from Intuit as a 'fix' but nothing has stuck. Updates, deleting the entitlement store files, re-activating, etc. It would honestly be great if Intuit actually acknowledged the issue, provided a fix for it, rather than reposting the same non-working troubleshooting steps that they have been. 

Charies_M
Moderator

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hello there, joEmonster.

 

Thanks for taking the time to join us here in the Community. I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts about this error message you're getting.

 

We are taking note of this. Our engineers are working on preventing this error from happening again. Right now, you can follow the steps provided by my colleague to resolve the error message "Quickbooks Desktop has expired". 

 

To be updated to the recent changes, improvements, and fixes in QuickBooks Desktop 2019, you can check out this link.

 

Always feel free to drop me a reply below if you have additional questions and I'd be glad to assist you further.

gtmerp
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

We are having the exact same issue, every 2 weeks or so we get the same pop up. We have QuickBooks Web connector syncing data, i think the issue is that when any application pragmatically initiates the sync with the QB file it is unable to make Quickbooks application sync the license.
Rose-A
Moderator

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hey there, gtmerp.

The validation process of QuickBooks requires you to enter the license number and product code. Let me help you get past this issue.

 

This type of error may occur when the encrypted file which contains the information regarding your license number and product code is damaged. In such a situation, the only solution is to delete that encrypted file and re-enter the license number and product code.

 

Let's try to delete the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file to resolve this issue:

 

  1. Close QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Ensure that all QuickBooks processes are no longer running.
    • From the keyboard, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. This opens the Task ManagerWindows 10: Select More Details to show Task Manager
    • Select the Processes tab.
    • Sort the processes alphabetically by selecting the Process Name header.
    • Search for all instances of QBW32.EXE. And select and select End Task.
  3. Open the entitlement data folder for your operating system and version of QuickBooks.
    • On your keyboard, press Windows+R to open the Run window.
    • Enter C:\ProgramData\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8 (or v6) and press Enter. (The folder location is the same for all QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise versions.)
  4. Right-click the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file. And select Delete.
  5. Select Yes to confirm you want to delete the file.
  6. Open your company file and follow the instructions to register the application.

You can get more details in this article: Resolve installation errors by deleting damaged file.

 

The following article is a good reference: Set up QuickBooks Web Connector.

 

If you're still getting the same issue, I'd suggest getting in touch with our QuickBooks Desktop Support. This way, they can investigate further and help you from there.

 

  1. Within your QuickBooks Desktop, click Help at the top menu bar.
  2. Click Contact us.
  3. To route you to the correct support expert, we need to know what type of question you have. Give a brief description of your issue and click Continue.
  4. We’ll provide you a few options. You choose which one is best for you.

You can always get back to me if you have any other QuickBooks License concerns. Have a great day.

Racingwithfishbowl
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Has there been any update on this from Intuit. The post of 6-11-2019 says you are aware of the issue and working on it. We also use Fishbowl but unfortunately I am having to delete the .ecml file every two to three days on the server. This did not happen until the upgrade to Enterprise 2019. My users get are getting very frustrated.
KhimG
QuickBooks Team

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Thanks for looping in and providing the issue you’re experiencing, @Racingwithfishbowl.


I have checked if there’s still an open investigation for this error message and found none. Since the solution given above only fixes the problem temporarily, please give our Customer Care Team a call. 


They can create a ticket and request to get this reviewed. You may need to use the same steps for now until a permanent solution is implemented.


Here’s how to get in touch with support:

  1. Press F1 or go to the Help menu and select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  2. Type in your concern on the Search box and hit Enter.
  3. Click the Contact us link at the bottom.
  4. Tell us more about your question on the box provided.
  5. Hit Start a Message.

If you have additional concerns or need anything else, let me know. I’m always here to help. Have a good one!

Patrickles
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

This has been negatively affecting my company for awhile now as well. Deleting the license file and reactivating did not help. Please get this resolved. 

AlcaeusF
Moderator

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hello Patrickles,

 

I appreciate you for reaching out to us here in the Community. Allow me to assist you with the error message prompting on your QuickBooks Desktop.

 

If you still encounter the error after following the steps provided by my colleagues, I recommend reaching out to our QuickBooks Support Specialists this time. By doing so, we'll be able to make sure the problem gets fixed as quickly as possible for you to use the program.

 

They'll be taking over and perform further troubleshooting to get rid of the issue going on from your end. Here's how you can reach them:

 

  1. Open QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Click the Help tab at the top menu bar.
  3. Click QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  4. Click the Contact us hyperlink.

 

For future reference on how you can contact support, I'm also attaching the article I recommend on this:

 

Contact the QuickBooks Desktop Customer Support Team.

 

Please let me know if you have any followup questions about the popup on your QuickBooks. The Community has your back.

Bri2785
Level 1

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Has anyone had an actual fix for this? We've been dealing with it also since we upgraded to 2018. I found this a a related article, no progress there either.

 

https://help.developer.intuit.com/s/question/0D50f00004zoqaJ/quickbooks-appears-unregistered-randoml...

 

Seems it's a known bug, is there any ETA on when it will be addressed?

JessT
Moderator

I keep getting the popup “Quickbooks Desktop has expired. To continue using Quickbooks Desktop, you must buy Quickbooks Desktop now.” On our server computer.

Hi Bri2785,

 

We'll check to see why you're getting this error. However, we need to see your setup, so we can find the root cause of the issue.

 

Please get in touch with our phone agents to check this further. They can use a screen-sharing tool for this. You can follow the steps shared by AlcaeusF above.

 

If you have other questions, you can always go back to this thread.

Need to get in touch?

Contact us