Upgrading Quickbooks Desktop 2016 to 2021

Hello, Owsleyja.

I can share some information about upgrading QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) from 2016 to 2021.

Yes, QBDT has a 3-year lifecycle, you may create a backup file on your QBD 2016 and install the trial license of QBD 2021. To create a backup of your file, I recommend checking out this article: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

You may also connect with our Customer Care Support team to ask for trial licenses of the mentioned versions. 

Also, I'm adding these articles for more information about upgrading QBDT to a newer version:

• Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, or Enterprise.
• Upgrade your company files after you switch to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Please keep me posted if you have other questions about upgrading in QBDT by commenting below. I'll be right here to help.

@Owsleyja 

Contact us in private if you need the trial license for QBD 2019. You don't need to purchase any license for QBD 2019. Then you can utilize the trial license for QBD 2021 to open the upgraded file prior to buying the one time license of it.

I am upgrading Quickbooks Pro 2016 to Quickbooks Pro Plus 2022.  I understand that I need to upgrade first to Quickbooks Pro 2019 and then upgrade again to Quickbooks Pro Plus 2022.  Where can I get a trial for 2019?  Thank you.

Hi EJ300,

Thank you for buying QuickBooks 2022. I'll share information about upgrading your company file.

Yes, you're right about upgrading to 2019 first. In most cases, this is required. However, you may try to directly upgrade to 2022 first, and if you can't do it successfully, please contact our QuickBooks Desktop Support for the interim update.

Here are some articles for your reference in the future:

• Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file

• Restore a backup of your company file

• Upgrade your company files after you switch to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop

• What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2022

If you have other questions, feel free to go back to this thread.

@EJ300 

Contact us in private and we may share the trial code.

We are also upgrading from 2016 to 2021 or maybe 2022. Do we need to upgrade to 2019 first?

Hello SwartzTrailers!

Thanks for joining this thread. I'm here to assist you in upgrading your company file.

You're right! QuickBooks Desktop has a 3-year lifecycle. You'll need to upgrade to 2019 first before you jump into 2022 or 2021. This is to avoid data issues due to some feature or version differences.

Check this link on how to upgrade your company file: Upgrade your company files after you switch to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Also, I added this link if you need help in opening your company file: What to do if you can't open your company file in QuickBooks Desktop.

Comment again here if you have additional questions with your company file. Take care!

@SwartzTrailers 

You can try upgrading your data directly on QBD 2021. Upgrading to QBD 2019 is your second option as a stepping stone when you encounter errors on QBD 2021. You can still purchase one-time licenses of QBD 2021 from some partners and they may offer you to upgrade your files for free.

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@Fiat Lux - ASIA wrote:

@SwartzTrailers 

You can try upgrading your data directly on QBD 2021. Upgrading to QBD 2019 is your second option as a stepping stone when you encounter errors on QBD 2021. You can still purchase one-time licenses of QBD 2021 from some partners and they may offer you to upgrade your files for free.

 

I had to change my hard drive and lost my program but still have my data.  Can I do the upgrade without the actual program file?

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@jingleproperties wrote:

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I had to change my hard drive and lost my program but still have my data.  Can I do the upgrade without the actual program file?

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@jingleproperties 

Which QBD year version did you use?

Do you need to upgrade your data to which year version?

Hi I have never used quick books before and I actually just bought the 2016 desktop pro version it has never been used. How do I go about upgrading it so I can have payroll services and how much would that cost ? 

Thanks for choosing QuickBooks Desktop in managing your business, Raimilla94.

QuickBooks Desktop has a 3-year lifecycle and you may create a backup file on your QuickBooks 2016 and install the trial license of the 2021 version. To create a backup of your file, I recommend checking out this article: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

To buy QuickBooks Desktop for you to run payroll, select the QuickBooks best for you. After you buy it, you can start the upgrade tool. From there also, you can contact our Sales agent to look for QuickBooks bundled with payroll service.

I'm adding these articles for more information about upgrading your software to a newer version:

• Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, or Enterprise.
• Upgrade your company files after you switch to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Keep in touch if you need any more assistance with this, or there's something else I can do for you. I've got your back. You have a good one.

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@Raimilla94 wrote:

Hi I have never used quick books before and I actually just bought the 2016 desktop pro version it has never been used. How do I go about upgrading it so I can have payroll services and how much would that cost ? 

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@Raimilla94 

Did you just buy the QB Desktop 2016 license? If you only need to have a basic accounting system, it will suffice. But the version is outdated and you won't be able to connect to any payroll service. Consider to return the the license and ask for the refund, and purchasing a new one-time license for QB Desktop 2021 or an annual subscription for QB Desktop 2022.