QB Database Server Manager GUI will not open (QBServerUtilityMgr.exe)

I appreciate you for reaching out, cn133. Let me share with you some important detailed information about multi-user setup.

Initially, you've done a great job of completing the initial troubleshooting steps. Based on the issue you are facing, it seems that we need to take further steps to get your QuickBooks software up and running. 

To begin with, we'll need to restart the QuickBooks Database Service Manager, which manages the company file for multi-user access.

In addition, we'll need to configure the firewall settings to ensure that the QuickBooks software can communicate with other computers on your network. This should help resolve your issue and get your QuickBooks software running smoothly again.

For QuickBooks Desktop 2023, you might encounter issues or errors due to blocked dynamic ports and specific port numbers. To fix this, simply restarting the QuickBooks Database Service Manager should refresh the connection and improve performance.

Here’s how:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop from your server computer.
2. Tap the File menu to choose Open or Restore Company.
3. Then, tick the radio button for Open a company file and choose the file you’re working on.
4. Once opened, select Next to mark the box for Open file in multi-user mode and tap the Open option.
5. Next, log in to the company file and navigate to the File menu to select Close Company/Logoff.
6. This action will close the company file on your server.
7. Launch the Windows Start menu and enter the Data

You should check out this article for more detailed troubleshooting steps: Use QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

Moreover, please refer to this page for more information on how to Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about QuickBooks Desktop network concerns. Our team is available 24/7 to provide the support you need. Have a great day!

Thank you- but it does not appear you understood my post. There are no issues with networking- and I described none- all computers access the mapped server comapny files folder normally. Also as I stated when hosted from a QB instance on the server all workstations log in multi user mode without issue. I have restarted the service many many times it has no effect on the database manager issue. 

It seems like you're experiencing some technical issues with QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Based on the information provided, it appears that you've already tried various troubleshooting steps, including reinstalling, repairing, and enabling hosting. 

Let's attempt to log in to your QBDB33 if you have the necessary permissions or access. This might be the cause of the restriction if you are not logged in as an administrator. Furthermore, please ensure to turn on the hosting within the program.

Here's how: 

1. Close QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Open the Windows Start menu.
3. Open the Control Panel and then select User Accounts.
4. Find the QBDataServiceUserXX for your version of QuickBooks Desktop. For QuickBooks Desktop 2020, look for QBDataServiceUser30. For the 2019 version, look for QBDataServiceUser29. The number goes down for each version.
5. Select Change the account type and then Administrator. Then select Change Account Type.
6. Select Apply to save your changes.

Once everything is set, then start rebooting the system.

Follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows key+R to bring up the Run window.

2. Type services.msc, then press Enter. You can also search for services. msc on the Windows search bar.

3. In the services window, look for the QuickBooksDBXX service that matches your version:

• QuickBooks 2020: QuickBooksDB30
• QuickBooks 2019: QuickBooksDB29
• QuickBooks 2018: QuickBooksDB28

4. Double-click the QuickBooksDBXX service.

5. Set the Startup Type to Automatic and Service Status to Running or Started.

6. Go to the Recovery tab.

7. From the First failure drop-down, select Restart the Service. This automatically restarts the QuickBooksDB service if it fails. Do the same for Second failure and Subsequent failures.

8. Select OK to save the changes.

9. Reboot your computer.

However, given the complexity of the issue and the various attempts you've made to resolve it, I recommend reaching out to QuickBooks Desktop support for further assistance. They may be able to provide more specific guidance or even a solution tailored to your situation.

I understand that technical issues like this can be frustrating, but with the right support and resources, I'm hopeful that you'll be able to resolve the problem and get the QuickBooks Database Server Manager up and running as needed.

Changing to Admin/reboot did not solve. Creating a new password and setting the service to use that QBDataServiceUser33 account and pass did not solve though svc was happy using that acct and not local.

Startup and recovery options were all already changed to the values you suggested during my troubleshooting.

I will try a chkdsk and other than that I am out of ideas.

I don't want to spend hours on support for something I know is a simple issue- if only someone could provide the answer or suggestion. I will just run QB itself on the server as host and have to re-launch it every time the server has to reboot. Disappointed there is not a higher level of support here on the forums. Thx for trying.

I also uninstalled again- and deleted ALL remaining folders in PFCommon, PFiles, etc- everywhere. Used CCleaner for registry multiple passes/reboots untill all QB remnants were gone. Checked Services as well to make sure clear. Reinstall. Same problem. tried from different user accounts- same problem.

Hi there, @cn133. 

I understand that you've been facing some challenges with QuickBooks Desktop where QB Database Server Manager GUI did not open. It can be frustrating when things don't work as expected, and I'm here to help you resolve this issue. I appreciate that you've already received some steps from my colleague, and I understand that you may still be feeling uncertain about how to proceed. 

Please know that you don't have to go through this alone. Our Customer Care Team is here to support you and assign a representative who can offer you personalized assistance. They can investigate the issue and provide you with the most accurate guidance. I'm happy to share the steps you can follow to get started on resolving the issue.

How to get a call or chat from us

1. Open QuickBooks.
2. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
5. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.

• If you don't already have an account, make sure to Create a new account.

6. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.

• If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.

7. Select to chat with us or Have us call you.

Phone support may be limited due to volume.

You can also check this article for more details and be sure to review their Support hours to know when agents are available.

If you have any further questions or encounter any other issues with QuickBooks Desktop in general, please do not hesitate to contact us here. Your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to making things right for you. Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to resolving this matter to your satisfaction.

Did you ever get this issue resolved? I am having the same problem on Enterprise 24 - DBService34. We have done all the same things you described and same problem - It appears that the DB server is not opening or installing at all on this server - It is not even listed in the services as it says you need to install for it to work???

No unfortunately never resolved.

No never resolved unfortunately.

I appreciate you for diligently following through with all the troubleshooting steps provided by my colleagues on this thread to resolve the installation issue, JC1015. Let me help you by routing you to our QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) support team.  

Since the issue persists with Database Server 34 installation in your QBDT after executing the troubleshooting, I recommend contacting the QBDT customer care team. They are well-equipped with the tools to check on your end and provide specialized assistance in resolving this matter.

You can follow the steps below on how to contact them:

1. Open your QBDT account.
2. At the top of your account, select Help.
3. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
4. Click on Contact Us.
5. Please give a brief explanation of your concern, then press Continue.
6. Log into your Intuit account. Select Continue, then Continue with my account.
7. An email with a single-use code will be sent to you. Type in your code and click Continue.
8. Choose if you want to Chat with us or Have us call you.

Moreover, know that our QBDT Enterprise customer support hours are available any time on any day to answer any inquiries you may have.

Keep me posted if you need further assistance with QuickBooks Database Server Manager or any QBDT-related inquiry. I’ll jump right back in to assist further.

Had the same issue described above where Database server manager would not open GUI, though, for a the briefest of seconds, they icon would appear on the taskbar in the notification area then disappear. The service was running and setup correctly with the correct login credentials and as an administrator. Other symptoms noticed were that the QB Tool Hub would not behave as expected for the Networking issues section and some of the other tools, just for reference. Spoke to a representative from Intuit support for hours after we lost the ability to connect more that one computer at a time after using the built in upgrade to go from QB Enterprise 2023 to 2024. . After spending all of that time and getting help from the higher level technicians there we were finally told that they did not wish to provide any more support and that the problem was ours to figure out. That is what contacting support got us. By the way, the computer hosting the database did not change and the behavior was the same even with all of the other workstations off, so it was not an issue of an incorrect install on another machine, though that was also verified. This is with ALL security software including Windows Firewall off and, again, it was not a connection issue anyway because other workstations could still connect just one at a time not simultaneously as they did before the update. SO, if you are having the same issue and end up getting some kind of solution from QB support, PLEASE post it here, because Intuit has basically told us to pound sand and I am going to have to fresh load the operating system on this machine in the hopes of solving this issue caused by simply upgrading to the next edition of Enterprise.

I recently upgraded my company's 4 QB files from 2017 to 2024, and encountered this same problem when I uninstalled 2017 and replaced it with 2024. After installing the new version, and rebooting, I was unable to open ANY of the data files in multi-user mode, and couldn't get the DB Server Manager Utility to open on the server at all. I tried uninstalling, reinstalling, rebooting, checking my share paths, nothing worked. After checking my Windows application event logs and correcting some things there I was finally able to get the server manager app to open on the server, scan my folder, and finally allow the QB files to open in multi-user mode. I threw the kitchen sink at the server trying to fix this, but ultimately I believe the following steps are what fixed the issue. Please note that my setup worked perfectly for years until the moment I uninstalled QB Pro 2017 with QB Pro 2024 already installed. The second I uninstalled 2017 my company files could no longer be accessed in multi-user mode and I couldn't get the QB Database Server Manager program to open - it flashed an icon in the system tray by the clock for maybe 2 seconds, then disappeared. I could still open the company files from the workstations with the data files on the shared server drive, but if I tried to put them in multi-user mode I would get that error message that directed me to the QB website. I made these repairs in a remote session with my server, which my computer automatically records, so if this doesn't fix your problem feel free to let me know and I will rewatch the important parts of the recording to see if I missed something.
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MY System Config:
- QuickBooks Pro Desktop 2024 with (2) 3-User License Packs
- Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit Version 1909 Build [removed]
- 20GB RAM
- Intel Xeon E3-1225 v3 @ 3.20GHz.
- 500GB PCIe Gen 3 NvME M.2 SSD
- No Third-Party Security Software
- Windows Firewall Disabled
- Wired 2.5Gbps Network Card with Static IP Address for LAN, Network Set to PRIVATE in Windows
- Network setup to turn off password protected sharing, enable 40/56-bit encryption, turn on public folder access
- Windows Defender is ON but with exceptions made to ignore:
- The folder my QB company files are in
- The QB 2024 install directory
- The Intuit Common Files directory where the QB Server Manager utility is installed
- Windows has 1 LOCAL User Account with a password
- The folder the QB company files are in is shared with all users, groups, and the hidden EVERYONE user
- The office runs a simple peer-to-peer network with a Windows 10 Pro workstation acting as a server for several small apps, like QB, and 6 to 10 desktops for employees all running Windows 10 or 11 Pro.
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MY STEPS TO FIX THE PROBLEM:

• - Backup your computer and QB company files
• - Uninstall all QuickBooks & Intuit branded programs
  • - Settings → Apps
  • - Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs
• - Delete any/all QB Service Users in Windows User Accounts
• - Delete any/all QB branded Windows Services
  • - Open an elevated command prompt and for each QB service on your system listed, type the following commands followed by the ENTER key
    • - sc stop SERVICESHORTNAME
    • - sc delete SERVICESHORTNAME
      • - Replace SERVICESHORENAME above with YOUR service names
• - Repair a common Windows log file error by recreating a missing directory
  • - This might have been unique to my system, but it was part of the sequence I did to fix QuickBooks, and it won't hurt anything if your system doesn't have the same issue.
  • - Open an elevated command prompt (should open to C:\Windows\system32) and enter the following commands, hitting ENTER key after each
    • cd config\systemprofile\AppData\Local
    • mkdir TileDataLayer
    • cd TileDataLayer
    • mkdir Database
    • exit
• - Archive old QB Server settings for your company files
  • - Open the folder containing your QuickBooks data files (QBW)
  • - Rename ANY files ending in the extensions .ND and .DSN by appending them with .old
    • - There should be at least 1 of each file type for each of your QB data files
    • - For example, if your QB file name is "MyCompany.QBW" you should have a file named "MyCompany.DSN" and "MyCompany.ND"
    • - Rename those files to "MyCompany.DSN.old" and "MyCompany.ND.old"
  • - If you do NOT see any files with those extensions, or you don't see any file extensions at all, you need to enable this setting in Windows
• - Repair an issue with Windows 10 not allowing interactive services beyond Build 1803
  • - This might have been unique to my system, but it was part of the sequence I did to fix QuickBooks. My event log showed error messages specifically stating that the QB Data Server program and services wouldn't start because they couldn't run as interactive, which this fixes.
  • - Open the Windows registry editor
    • - START → RUN → regedit
  • - Navigate to the following registry path:
  • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows
  • - Find the key named 'NoInteractiveServices' and double-click it to edit
    • - Change the REG_DWORD value from 1 to 0
  • - Close the registry editor
• - Run system file checker
  • - Open an elevated command prompt and enter the commands below followed by hitting the ENTER key
    • sfc /scannow
    • exit
• - Reboot the computer AFTER the scan above finishes (this is important, don't skip this reboot)
• - Find your QB setup/install file and run it as an administrator
  • - RIGHT click on the file
  • - On the window that drops down LEFT click on RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR
  • - Choose the CUSTOM install option
  • - Select the install type that matches your needs
    • - I chose the last option, which is to install only the QB Network Server files as I was doing all of this on my "server" PC
• - Reboot your system
• - Open your Windows programs and look for the folder named "QuickBooks"
• - Create a shortcut to the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on your desktop
  • - In your programs list, in the QuickBooks folder, RIGHT click on the icon for "QuickBooks Database Server Manager"
  • - Click either CREATE SHORTCUT or SEND TO → DESKTOP (CREATE SHORTCUT)
• - Change that program so that it always runs as an administrator
  • - RIGHT click on the icon for "QuickBooks Database Server Manager"
  • - On the menu that appears LEFT click on PROPERTIES
  • - Click the COMPATIBILITY tab
  • - Click the CHANGE SETTINGS FOR ALL USERS button at the bottom
  • - Place a check in the last box on the new window that reads "Run this program as an administrator"
  • - Click OK and then OK again on the main window to get back to your desktop
• - Double-click the shortcut icon you just modified to launch the QB Database Server Manager Utility program
• - Scan for your company files like normal