QuickBooks Desktop 2024 not working on Parallels

We're so sorry to hear about the frustrating experience you're having, Middlebrooks. It must be incredibly stressful to suddenly run into issues like this after everything had been working smoothly. 

One of the reasons you're having issues with your client's file could be a compatibility problem. QuickBooks Desktop 2024 compatibility issues on Parallels are often tied to specific factors, such as Windows 11 updates, system resource allocation, or mismatched Parallels settings. 

To resolve this and ensure optimal performance, you'll have to make sure that you're using the correct version of Parallels that is fully optimized for both Windows 11 and macOS. Apart from this, checking your system updates and isolating your QuickBooks files within the Windows environment will help address the problem. 

If the problem continues after performing these steps, I suggest reaching out to our Live Support Team to assist you further and conduct a thorough investigation to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. 

Here's how to reach them:

1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Enter a brief description of your issue, then select Let's Talk, and then choose a way to connect.

If you have any other questions or concerns while using QuickBooks Desktop, feel free to reach out. We're always here to help.

@Middlebrooks 

Open the sample file and save it with a new file name. Can you reopen it without any issue?

I have been working fine since Aug. Then all of a sudden I can't. I even checked recent updates. No recent updates around 11/08-11/10 that could have caused this.

Frustrated

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/install/re-quickbooks-desktop-2024-not-working-on-...

I cannot open a sample file. 

Once in a while when I open QBDT 2024 it will open with the last company, so I put in my password and it cant open. Any other time it just hangs....

There's likely a compatibility issue between your version of Parallels and Windows OS. You can use QB Desktop 2024 Mac trial version as a workaround. You should contact @Fiat Lux - ASIA directly via email for details.

@Middlebrooks I'm having the same problem!!! So frustrating!!! Have you been able to solve this yet? My guess is that it's connected to the Parallels 26.1.2 upgrade but I'm not sure.

This is the error message I will sometimes get. 

It's worth noting, it comes up much faster if I have no connectivity. Which is so puzzling. This is QB Desktop. There should be no internet dependency!

@crussell21 

Every time you run QB before opening a company file, it will intentionally contact their servers to verify your license.There is no way out. Have you tried the trial version of QB Desktop Mac as a workaround?

Nope, need to get Windows working. 

No solution yet. 

QB for Mac is of no help as I run payroll and that license does not transfer from QBDT to QB Mac

Yes, correct. Unless you decide to use a third-party payroll application to replace Enhanced Payroll and import payroll data as IIF into QB Desktop.

So there are not steps you suggest other than contacting QB, have them remotely log in and fiddle around to fix. As a small business owner I don't have the extra time required to just hang on the phone for what will probably be a an hour +.

Nothing was updated when my QB stopped loading in Parallels, I had checked or I would have rolled back the update. 

I have ran the QB Tool Hub - almost every thing to run there. 2023 runs fine, 2024 nope, not a chance. So I have to resort to an older machine, thankfully that does have Windows 11, to process/run payroll & payroll tax. 

There has to be suggestions offered.

Why would I reach out to a 3rd party person, when QB should offer solutions?

I had the exact same issue.  Contact Parallels Tech Support.  They said they deal with Quickbooks problems all the time. 

Did QuickBooks Support manage to help you? If not, I highly suggest you contact Parallels.

I have the same problem, and they were able to fix it. The issue is happening not just in QuickBooks version 2024, but more likely from 2019.

Anyway, if you are using an M-Series Mac and running Windows 11 ARM-based. Please contact Parallels for them to fix it for you.

Thank you.

After spending many hours on the same issue, I paid $30 to speak with Parallels support.  The Parallels technician indicated that it is a know issue that Parallels is working on.  The technician had me downgrade from Parallels 26 to Parallels 20.4.1.  The technician said that 20.4.1 is more stable than 26, and they are working up patches and updates to 26.  Because it is a known issue, Parallels is allowing your 26 product key to be used to down grade to 20.4.1.

Since the down grade to 20.4.1, all my issues with Quickbooks 2024 Pro Plus have subsided and I operating normally.  Hope this helps. 

Also, Parallels was not willing to refund the $29 even though my problem was associated with the instability of 26.

how do you downgrade and where can you find the version to download that works?

You have to delete the most current windows security update.  This happen to me and i could not get QB working right again until delete this update 2025-11 Security Update (KB5068861) ([removed]).
Uninstall the security update and QB will load properly.

This issue seems like deja vu to me.  I had the same kind of issue last week where I could NOT open my company file, the sample company file, nothing.  After several frustrating days, I learned it was due to the latest Parallels update, 26.1.2.  Many solved it by downgrading their version of Parallels.  I was going to try that but came upon this solution instead, and I can confirm it does work:

This issue appears to occur after recent Windows updates when running QuickBooks 2024 on Parallels Desktop 26.1.2.
Please try the below steps to remedy the situation:
- Right-click the QuickBooks icon and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
- Click Change emulation settings.
- Under Execution mode, select Very strict execution.
- Restart your virtual machine to apply the changes.
This compatibility mode ensures QuickBooks runs with tighter execution constraints inside the virtual environment, which can prevent UI freezes, gray screens, and unresponsive behavior.

Try this.  Good luck.

J D Thomas
ThomaStudios

This worked like a charm for me! I spent hours on my own and 3 hours with QB support without any luck. I greatly appreciate your post!

I spent the better part of a week on support with QB, Parallels and local IT people because last week, I suddenly could not get into QB. No one could figure out what the problem was. I went online and saw this thread and the solution to install an older version of Parallels. So I told the tech support from Parallels that think I found the problem and ask him to do this. After 3 hours on the phone (he was remoted into my desktop did everything), QB is finally up and running. I am GRATEFUL that the tech support with Parallels fixed this for me. However, he said they have been getting TONS of calls with the same problem and I don't understand why he didn't do this in the first place. Nevertheless, I am very thankful for this thread and the person who shared his problem/solution because it worked. 

I, too, spent MANY HOURS on the phone with both QB and Parallels and neither could fiture out why I could no longer log into QB. After a week of no solutions, I finally found this thread with your solution. I reached back out to Parallels and told them these are the steps I would like to take. The same rep did what you said, and uninstalled Parallels and re-installed the older version and viola, QB is now working. It took 3 hours on the phone with Parallels today, but the rep got everything taken care of. I am grateful to you for you posting your problem/solution. BTW, the rep said they have been getting TONS of calls from others with the same issue.