How Specify Where QB Company Files are Stored?

Search no more, John.

I'd be delighted to guide you on how to locate those files. The file stored from the multi-user mode is located on the same file as your Company file. Here's how. 

1. Go to the File menu in your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), and select Open or Restore Company.
2. Select Open a company file, then Next.
3. Browse the location of the company file. For example: if your company file is mapped to drive E, look for Company Files Name (E:) in the list.
4. Click the company file (with file extension .qbw) from the list and select Open.
5. If prompted, enter your user name and password.

You can also refer to these articles for more details: 

• Open a company file located on a remote computer 
• Set up folder and Windows access permissions to share company files

I'd also suggest seeking assistance from an IT expert. This way, you'll be guided accordingly and steer clear of any errors in moving the files.

Furthermore, I've also added this link for your reference in restoring your file to a new computer: Restore a backup of your company file.

I'm all ears if you have any other concerns or questions about moving your files in QBDT. Please don't hesitate to add them in your reply and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Keep safe and have a great weekend ahead!

Thanks for your response to my question.  Just to clarify, we wish to move QB company files from the server on the current three-station network configuration that has been in use for several years.  

The owner of the company wants to pare the computer system down.  He wants to remove the network and server from the system.  All that will be left in terms of QB is a standalone laptop.

Without a server, there are no mapped network drives to create a link to the past locations of the QB company files.  As a result, when I try to use the prior company files via the QB file menu, the screen is blank and no company files are detected or shown.  My guess is that since they have been only used from the server, and the server no longer exists, they do not show up at all.  This is the problem I am trying to resolve.  We have created backup QBB files from the server and stored them on a USB flash drive.  What I don't know how to determine is where the restored QBB files should go on the remaining laptop (i.e., which folder).  When that has been determined, will QB then "see" and load these company files when selected (so we can use QuickBooks with our data)?

Thanks again for your assistance with this.

John

Hi there, John.

I'm here to make sure you'll be able to open your company file successfully and get back to your business right away.

You can locate the file by going to your computer server and performing a wild card search for all company files. Let's make sure to include the asterisk (*) before the extension type to ensure the search works correctly.

Note: Be sure to include the asterisk (*) before the extension type to ensure the search works correctly.

• *.qbw (Working Files)
• *.qbb (Back-Up Files)
• *.qba (Accountants Copy Files)
• *.qbx (Accountants Transfer Files)
• *.qby (Accountants Change Files)

To search using the file explorer:

1. Open the Windows Start menu 
2. Select File Explorer by typing it into the search box.
3. From the menu bar, choose My Computer or This PC.
4. In the search field, be sure to include the asterisk (*) before the extension type (*.qbw, *.qbb) to find all corresponding files.

Once found, take note of the file's location so you can easily locate it when opening your company file. I also suggest you change the name of your company file so you can easily locate it in the future. 

For more information, you can refer to this article: Locating Backups and Company Data Files. It helps you learn about searching for all company files saved locally on the same computer or over the network. 

For future reference, these links outline the complete steps on how to resolve any of the following issues.

• What to do if you can't open your company file
• Fix portable company file issues in QuickBooks Desktop

Let me know if you need further assistance, so we can perform additional troubleshooting steps to find your company. Have a wonderful day! 

Thanks for your prompt response.  To clarify, I do have the current folder location for the QBW files.  However, these QB company files are stored on the server (\\Server\Company Files is the path).  We have made back up (QBB) files for each company and stored the files on a USB flash drive for transfer to what will be the sole QB computer after the server has been removed).  Since we will no longer have the server to use as a source, I need to determine where (on the local drive of the standalone laptop) the QB company/backup files should be placed so that the QB program will recognize these files after they have been transferred from the USB thumb drive.

For example, should the folder used to store the company files be in this path?  (C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files)?  Should I use that as the destination folder for the company files (QBB) transferred from the USB flash drive?  When copied and installed on the QB laptop, will the restored backup files (including the QBW files) then be visible and available to QuickBooks upon entry (i.e., will these files all be options to opened with QuickBooks, on the initial attempt to see them, as well as having them visible and available when QB is opened in the future?).

Thanks.

John

Good afternoon JN92,

Thank you for reaching out to the QuickBooks Community! Ultimately the decision is up to you. C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files is a simple default that our program use. Yes, it will be, and when doing a backup, QuickBooks will ask you where you would like it to be saved as well. Here is a handy article that can help you with moving your company files to another computer. 

Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have additional questions about QuickBooks, and I’ll get back to answer them for you. Have a good one.

John, There was no need to clarify anything; you have been clear from the beginning.  The responses to your question were typical time-wasting QB Support answers. 

Yes, Ive found Forum Customer Support answers to never be complete or addressing the exact issue. It's all to push you to pay for there additional customer support to get the simpliest answer possible!

I also have the same issue where my "working files" (QBW) are saving to a completely different drive then the backups (QBB). I can direct where to save the backups but when I open the company working files, they pull from the working file saved to a different drive- I believe this is the reason my data file is constantly broken and needign rebuilding- But it's impossible to find any answers through forums alone!

I want to move all my working file (QBW) to the same drive as the QBB backups, but I'm concerned over QB not finding the files when I try to open them again bc QB does not actually allow me to choose where I pull the working fines from- it's currently auto saving my working files to ONEDRIVE!!! 

I paid for customer support for one year and it cost over $700! It expired as soon as I actually needed to support and I wasn't about to pay again for it.

These forum answers are just typical "almost there" answers that leave you frustrated and without resolve to force you to give into paying for their support!

Apologies, to be clear, thats meant to say that QB doesn't allow me to choose where to SAVE the working files (QBW) to. It started saving them to filepath "USERS/public/OneDrive/Documents/QB Backups".

It saved it there automatically bc my computer was linked to my OneDrive acct and I'm concerned over moving the files completely and loosing the data since that has already happened with other non-QB files I've tried to move from the OneDrive file path back to my Computers C drive "Documents"!

I've got your back to help save your QuickBooks Desktop working files to a different location, @2rsdigital.

When you restore a portable backup company, you have the option to choose and change the path to save your file. To open a portable version of your company data, here's what we need to do:

1. Open QuickBooks and log in as an admin.
2. Proceed to the File menu and click Open or Restore Company.
3. Select Restore a portable file, then choose Next.
4. Click your portable company file. It should look like this: [Unique company file name].qbm. Then select Open.
5. Read the notes on the Where do you want to restore the file page, then click Next.
6. Once you're ready to open your file, choose Save.

When you open your portable company file, QuickBooks automatically reindexes your data. This also fixes many data issues.

I'm also adding this resource to help fix if you encounter issues creating a portable company file: Resolve issues with portable company file.

Fill me in if you have further concerns with saving QuickBooks working file. I'm always around to help. Keep safe!

You don't really specify where files are stored other than by putting them in a location - one or more - and then opening them. QB doesn't really care as long as it has appropriate rights - basically full rights, similar to your Documents folder.

I personally find it ridiculous that the company file location can't be changed to another location. It's too much cutting and pasting to move it or the rigamarole of backing up and restoring the backupo where you want the save location in the first place.