why can't i open my installed 2021 quickbooks?

Thank you for raising your concern here with us on the Community page, @ThomasDianna1.

I can share with you the troubleshooting steps on how to fix issues when QuickBooks won't open.

Several factors are affecting QuickBooks not to open correctly. A couple of them are technical errors that can be caused by the system and environmental problems in addition to how QuickBooks interacts with these variables. 

To resolve the issue, you can start by running a quick fix on your program from the QuickBooks Tools Hub. First, download and install the QuickBooks Tools Hub.

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. Download the most recent version (1.4.0.0) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Then, save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop). 
3. If you've already installed Tool Hub before, you can find out which version you have from the Home tab.
4. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
5. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
6. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

From the Tools Hub, run the Quick Fix my Program. It shuts down any open background processes QuickBooks uses. It'll run a quick repair of your program.

1. In the QuickBooks Tools Hub, select Program Problems.
2. Select Quick Fix my Program.
3. Start QuickBooks Desktop and open your data file.

For additional solutions, you can also check out this article, then follow the steps under Solution 2: Suppress the QuickBooks Desktop application to Solution 5: Run the Clean Install tool from the Tools Hub: QuickBooks Desktop doesn't start or won't open.

If QuickBooks won't respond or you get an error that says it stopped working, you can use this link to resolve the issue.

Please let me know if you have any other QuickBooks questions. I'm more than happy to help. Have a good day!

I have the disc and the given License numbers and Product code numbers do not work

Hi there, alan49.

I'll provide steps to fix the license number and product code numbers issue in QuickBooks Desktop.

When entering the license number and product code in the QBDT, make sure they should match. If you bought the software from our website, look in the purchase confirmation email you received from us. If it's from a retail store, look for the brightly colored sticker on the original CD envelope.

If you get a The validation code is incorrect or This service is temporarily unavailable error while you activate your QuickBooks, I suggest checking if your date and time settings are correct first.

Here's how:

1. Close your QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Right-click the time display on the Windows taskbar. Then, select Adjust Date/Time.
3. Check if your date and time settings are correct. If they are, move on to the next solution below. If not, continue with steps 4 to 8.
4. Choose the Date & Time tab and set the date for the current year.
5. Select Apply and click OK.
6. Open your QuickBooks Desktop and go to Help.
7. Select Activate QuickBooks, then Begin Activation.
8. Enter the validation code. Then, select Next.

If the issue persists, you can click this article to see other solutions on how to resolve the license and product code numbers that don't work: Fix errors when activating QuickBooks, or adding license and product numbers.

If the problem continues to occur, I'd recommend using the license lookup tool. This is to verify if the License numbers and Product code numbers you used are correct.

Please refer to this article to see information on how you can update your QuickBooks license and product details: Change a QuickBooks Desktop license number or product code.

Let me know how this goes by commenting below. Please post again and I'm glad to help ensure you're able to use the License numbers and Product code numbers to install the software.

I just purchased my upgrade with two users for 650.00. Naturally, as it always seems to be with Intuit the download shows as complete and successful. However, there is no icon and the program does not show up on my program list.

I am so tired of the exorbitant fees and charges for the software and its use. Combined with the tech support fees to fix their program issues I spend hours of time and money every time  we have to do an upgrade. After so many years...Intuit should not be so average. This is ridiculously frustrating. Not only can no real people be reached, I am expected to watch videos and search online for a "fix".

My next step is to ask my professional connections on LinkedIn what they use in business. Because after 10 years of ever increasing fees and issues that cost me hours of time when an upgrade is mandatory (because we all know that our software was still great before getting forced into the constant upgrades) I am absolutely fed up.

If there is a real person anywhere reading this post...tell me what I am supposed to do so I can waste hours of my life that I will never get back. These kinds of issues are a result of very average performance and development. I know that because it happens EVERY TIME. No more excuses Intuit. Deliver results!

I hear you, tryagain72.

I appreciate you or sharing your thoughts and experience with the product and our support. This is something Intuit doesn't want you to come across in your future interactions.

The steps shared by my colleague in this thread can fix the issue with the missing QuickBooks icon after installation.

If you've already done with those steps and you can't still find the icon, I suggest contacting our QuickBooks Care Support. This needs to be isolated so our team kay take a closer look and come up with a fix.

Here are the steps to contact support:

1. Click Help at the top menu and select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. In the Have a Question? window, enter a topic.
3. Click Contact us.
4. Hit the Stat Messaging button.
   

The availability of support depends on which type of subscription you're using. You can check out this article for our contact information. Click on the QuickBooks Online drop-down to see the most updated support schedule: Support hours and types.

If you need other helpful articles in the future, you can always visit our site: Help articles for QuickBooks Desktop.

Be sure to get back to me if you have other concerns. I'd be more than happy to assist you further. Wishing you and your business a continued success.

I too have experienced this exact same problem in the last few days.
I've followed the recommended fixes - even uninstalled QuickBooks Pro Plus 2021 and did a fresh reinstall.
It worked one time yesterday - today same problem !!

Shouldn't have to go through this much trouble to resolve this issue

Bingo !  You nailed 

Does anyone have a solution to this problem?  I can't pay my employees.  This is frustrating.

Has anyone figured this out? I need to pay my employees tomorrow... This is frustrating.

Thanks for reaching out to the Community, @HonowaiPainting.

It's my priority to ensure that you'll be able to open QuickBooks so you can pay your employees.

The steps shared by my peers above can help fix installation and issues when opening the program. If none of these steps work for you, I'd recommend contacting our Customer Care Team. They have the tools that can identify the root cause of this matter and apply a resolution.

To do that:

1. Click on Help and choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact us at the bottom.
3. Enter a brief description of the issue and click Continue.
4. Choose Talk to a specialist or Chat.

In addition here are some links that you can scan through to help you in processing payroll in QBDT and on what is the best thing to do if you can't open a company file:

• Learn how to create paychecks to pay your employees
• Learn how to fix general problems when your company file won't open

I'll be around to assist you if there's anything else you need with managing your company file. Take care!

I cannot even open the program to begin with and now we have to install yet another program this is frustrating.

I want to ensure this is taken care of, @HonowaiPainting.

Since you're unable to open the program, I'd recommend getting in touch with our Customer Support Team outside QuickBooks. This way, they can pull up your account securely and help check the cause of the issue.

To start with, here's the link: Contact Support.

If you need other helpful articles in the future, you can always visit our site: Help articles for QuickBooks Desktop.

Please know that you can always get back to us if you have other questions. I'm always here to help.

@HonowaiPainting 

Is it your first time installing QB Desktop or do you need to upgrade from an outdated version?

I have been having the same issue for over a month now. The only way I have found to be able to continue is to completely unistall the qb program and reinstall.  When it asks "do you want to overwrite the files, click no to all".  Also need to click custom installation not express.  I have spent so many hours on this uninstalling and reinstalling more times than I can count right now.  So frustrating....

Did it work for you? By doing this, were you able to successfully install the QuickBooks?

@vbt 

Did you encounter the same issue? Which QB Desktop year version and Windows OS do you have?

I've recently faced this identical issue myself. I tried the suggested solutions, even going so far as to uninstall QuickBooks Enterprise 2023 and starting fresh with a new install. It only functioned once yesterday, and today, the problem's back!

Thank you for posting in the Community forum, @PKF Texas. I appreciate all the troubleshooting you did to open Enterprise 2023. Routing you to the department that can efficiently assist you is my pleasure.

Since you're still unable to do your tasks in the program after following the suggestions in this thread, I recommend contacting our Support Team. They have the necessary tools to verify the reason behind this. This way, resolutions will be provided accordingly.

Here's how:

1. Go to the Help icon, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Press Contact Us.
3. Enter a description of your subscription concern, then click Continue.

Please check out this article for our support hours:  Contact QuickBooks Desktop Support. It is to ensure we cater to your needs on time.

Our representatives are willing to help resolve this issue. Rest assured that we'll help you. Take care.