Accountant's Copy password

Hi there, @DFlanigan. Thanks for posting your concern in the Community.

Let me help resolve the "You are accessing a feature that is not supported in the accountant's copy" error.

The error you've received while opening the Accountant's copy file is an accessibility issue. It's best to collaborate with your client to entrust you with their company password to resolve this. As their accountant, you should have accessibility permission on the same level as the Primary admin. 

If they can't disclose their company password, your client can consider setting up a new Admin user and creating the Accountant's copy from there to get past the error. Here are the specific steps your client can follow:

1. In QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), go to the Company menu, then select Users.
2. Click on Set Up Users and Roles.
3. Select New.
4. Type a name to distinguish the new user from the original Admin user. Then, enter the current password.
5. Set the role to Full access*. Then, click on Add.
6. Select OK.
7. Log out and sign in using the newly created Admin user. 
8. In the login pop-up window, change your password to a different one. 
9. Create another Accountant's copy.
10. Entrust the second password to the accountant.

I'm also adding this guide about managing accountant's copy in QBDT:  Accountant's copy overview.

We'll be here in the Community if you still can't access the Accountant's copy your client has provided. We're committed to offering ongoing support. Take care.

Thank you for the quick reply, but I think we've missed the issue.  As I stated, I have accessed the file several times with the client password, with accessibility permissions on the same level as the Primary admin.  I've been working in it for at least a week, along with several other Accountant's Copy files from teh same client.  When I tried to log back in today with the same admin credentials and the client's password, I was prompted to set up a password after receiving the access error.  So far, I am only having the issue with the one client.

And this is now the second file.  Again, I have the client password with primary administrative access.  I have previously had the file open and been working in it.  I just tried to open it as a secondary filed in QuickBooks 2024 and am being asked to "Create Complex QuickBooks Desktop Password" in the "Sensitive Data Protection Seup" screen.  And again, these are accountant copy files.  If I set up a new password, the client will no longer be able to use their password.  Both of the files I have had this issue with have been opened in 2023 and then in 2024.  Of course, I can't go back to 2023 now that they have been opened in 2024.

Why is QuickBooks asking me to create a password in an Accountant's Copy that has a password from the client?

Thanks for going back to this thread, DFlanigan. Let me provide some steps to access your client's file.

Once you have received the accountant's copy from your client in the format of .QBX, let's make sure to have it converted into an accountant's copy working file, which is in the format of .QBA. This will allow you to make any necessary adjustments or corrections to the client's books.

Here's how to convert the accountant’s copy to a working file:

1. From the File menu, select Open and Restore Company.
2. Select Convert an Accountant’s Copy Transfer File, then Next.
3. Read through the Overview, then Next. Do the same with the Can and Can’t Dos and select Next.
4. Find and open the accountant’s copy (.QBX).
5. Confirm you want to convert the file.
6. Rename the file, then select Save.

If you encounter the same issue again, let's refresh the background process by closing all versions of QuickBooks Desktop. To do this, open the Task Manager on your computer and select all QuickBooks programs. Look for the QuickBooks icon, right-click, and choose Run as Administrator to ensure you have the admin privileges. Then, reboot your computer.

Once done, open the accountant's copy again.

I've also attached this resource that you can use as a reference to fix accountant copy errors: Resolve errors when creating or working on an accountant's copy.

This thread is always open for your updates and for more Accountant's copy and QuickBooks-related queries. The Community is available 24/7 to assist you. Stay safe.

I do appreciate the quick responses, but I either I'm not communicating very well or I'm talking to a bot? 

Yes, it is a working Accountant's Copy file.  I've attached a screenshot that includes the problem company, and as you can see, they are all qba files.

As I've said twice now, I have been working in the file for 2 weeks prior to this afternoon.  As you can see by the screenshot, it was created in QuickBooks 2023.  I converted the file in QuickBooks 2024 and originally received the message that it was created in 2023 but my client would be able to import the changes from 2024.  I worked off and on in the file for 2 weeks.  This afternoon when I tried to open the file in QB 2024, I received the error message and the next dialogue box was to set up a complex password.  It negated the Accountant's Copy.

I have done what you suggested several times, but just to make sure, I did it again.  I have closed everything, shut down my computer and restarted it.  I went to the QB 2024 icon and right clicked to "run as administrator".  I told it to open a file, navigated to the company I wanted and received the error message again.  Just to be clear it states:  "You are accessing a feature that is not supported in the Accountant's Copy.  Any changes will not be tracked or sent back to your client in the Accountant's Copy Change File."

I tried updating QuickBooks.  I tried updating Windows.  I tried opening another Accountant's Copy file in 2024 and received the same error.  

Nothing has changed since I was able to access the file yesterday, except that I can no longer open it as an Accountant's Copy.  I do not want to go back to the qbx file I was sent as 2 weeks worth of work would be lost and I would be starting over again.  Does anyone have any other thoughts or seen this happen before?

I apologize if I'm being difficult or grumpy, but I'm a little panicked here and it doesn't seem that the QB team is actually reading the issue, simply seeing a couple of keywords and responding.

Any help is appreciated

@DFlanigan 

Do you run QB Desktop 2024 Accountant Plus on Win 11?

No, I'm still on Windows 10 professional.

Can you open other accountant's copy files without any issue?

Can you convert Accountant’s Copy to Company File/QBW on your QBD 2024 without any issue?

I was able to open one other one in 2024 and was able to convert to a qbw.

I hesitate to try too many because once I try to open in 2024, it won't allow me to open in 2023.  I don't want to lose all my options

Create a duplicate file and use it to convert to a QBW file. Don't use the original file. You need to make sure your original files is good. Then you can consider reinstalling your QBD 2024.

Right - that was obvious.  Think I'm tired, but that's a good idea.  I'll try that in the morning and then can reinstall if I need to.  Thanks.