Move files from Quickbooks online to Quickbooks Desktop for Mac

Which QB Mac version (year) do you have?

Welcome to the Intuit Community, Nicole127.

Let me guide you moving your files from QuickBooks Online (QBO) to QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for Mac.

You'll first need to export your files from QBO to QBDT for Windows. Then, convert them to Mac so you can successfully move the file.

Just a heads up:

• You need to use a Windows computer with Internet Explorer 11 or higher when exporting your data file.
• QuickBooks Desktop for Windows must be the same version or earlier than Mac. For example, if you are exporting to QuickBooks for Mac 2016, you need to use QuickBooks for Windows 2016 or earlier versions.
• Make sure QBDT for Windows is updated to the latest release before converting the file to Mac.

Please refer to the Download a trial of QuickBooks Desktop link to get the version of QBDT you'll want to use. It provides license and product numbers you can enter upon installing the sample file.

To get started, the following steps below will walk you through migrating your data:

Step 1:Export your files from QBO to QBDT for Windows.

Step 2: Convert the Windows company file to Mac.

1. Open the company file in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.
2. Re-sort lists.
3. Rebuild and verify your data file.
4. Go to the File menu, select Utilities, then Copy Company File for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
5. Save the file in your desired location (this creates a file with the extension MAC.qbb)
6. Copy the file to a DVD, external hard drive, flash drive, or FTP web site.
7. Restore the file in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
          a. In the No Company Open window, select Browse.
          b. Locate the file you want to restore.
          c. If your QuickBooks Windows file is on an external drive, save it locally by dragging it to the desired location before restoring it to avoid data corruption.
          d. Click OK when you get the prompt asking if you want to restore a QBDT for Windows file.
          e. Enter a name for the restored file, then click Save.

Check out the Convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac link for more details about the steps provided above.

Should you need anything else, don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I always have your back.

Thank you so much for your reply. Someone at my accountant's office set up QBO so I don't know which version they used or if if was done on a Windows computer. Also I've always had a Mac computer and used the online software with my Mac, so how does this affect what I need to do? Do I need to manually setup the new software manually adding all the historical data?

Hello there, Nicole127,

The version of QuickBooks Online doesn't matter. You'll want to follow the steps laid out by my colleague to convert your QuickBooks Online data to QB Desktop for Mac.

You'll go through the process of converting from QBO to QB Desktop, after converting to Desktop, you'll have convert it to QBDT for Mac.

Stay in touch with me if you need further assistance.

The instructions provided require the use of a Windows computer which I don't have and don't have access to one either. Everyone in my household own Mac computers. Is there a way around this?

Hello again, Nicole127. I appreciate your input from every angle. 

As mentioned by my colleague MaryLandT, to convert your QuickBooks Online data to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, exporting the data to QuickBooks Desktop for Windows is first needed. Since Windows computer with Internet Explorer 11 or higher is needed when exporting your data file.

To complete the task in moving your files, I recommend following the steps provided by my colleague above. 

If there's anything else I can do for you, let me know. I'd be more than happy to answer it for you. Have a great day and take care.

@Nicole127 

Utilize this free (for now) conversion app to get the QBW file. 

https://www.exportmybooks.com/

Then you may ask someone to convert it to the Mac version. Send a private message to us should you need any help.

I have a copy of  QB Desktop for Mac, but not for Windows. According tot he step-by-step process you have outlined, I will need to purchase a copy of QB Windows, as well. I am not going to buy $300 worth of software just to convert the online version to a desktop version that I already bought. Is there a way to access the Windows version of the Desktop software for the purpose of converting  online to desktop without actually buying another license? 

Greetings, @edassoc.

You'll want to download our QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) trial version and convert your QuickBooks Online (QBO) data from there.

Once done, you can now convert your QBDT data to QBDT for Mac.

For future reference, I suggest checking our Getting Started page. From there, you can read great articles that can guide you in navigating your QBDT for Mac.

Do get back to us whenever you have other concerns. I'll be around to help. Have a great day and stay safe.

I followed these directions to export QB data from online before converting it to desktop:

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/import-or-export-data-files/export-and-convert-you...

When I got to Step 3, I tried several times to click on the Settings icon in QuickBooks, and it either disappeared or failed to function.

In the attached screen shots, you can see the before and after.

I do not know how to resolve this.

Thank you for getting back in this thread, @edassoc.

Browser issues can be one of the reasons why the Settings icon is unable to function. 

Let me guide you on how to resolve browser problems.

Here's how:

• You can use a private browser or incognito.
• If you still got the same problem, you can follow the steps to Clear cache and cookies.
• And if the problem persists, you can use another browser to open your QuickBooks.

You can visit our QuickBooks help website to learn some articles that can help you in the future: QuickBooks Support.

Don't hesitate to comment below if you have anything else to add. I'd be glad to help you as soon as I can. Keep safe and healthy!

@edassoc 

Try these solutions

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/other-questions/move-from-quickbooks-online-to-des...

I downloaded Quick book 2021 for Mac I did not see where I could have had a choice for windows or Mac how do I proceed ?

Thanks for following this thread, @Bob261. To clarify the process shared by my peer @MaryLandT, if you're trying to convert from QBO to Mac, you'll need to export your files from QBO to QBDT for Windows. Then, convert them to Mac so you can successfully move the file.

Here's how: 

1. Export your files from QBO to QBDT for Windows.
2. Open the company file in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows, then re-sort lists.
3. Rebuild and verify your data file.
4. Go to the File menu, select Utilities, then Copy Company File for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
5. Save the file in your desired location (this creates a file with the extension MAC.qbb). 
6. Copy the file to a DVD, external hard drive, flash drive, or FTP website, then restore the file in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

a. In the No Company Open window, select Browse.

b. Locate the file you want to restore.

c. If your QuickBooks Windows file is on an external drive, save it locally by dragging it to the desired location before restoring it to avoid data corruption.

d. Click OK when you get the prompt asking if you want to restore a QBDT for Windows file.

e. Enter a name for the restored file, then click Save.

Or if you're from QuickBooks Desktop for Windows already, then to Mac. You can follow the step-by-step procedure in this help article: Convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac. 

I'll always be around here to help in case you need a hand. Take care!

2021

Hello there, BLHair,

Do you want to move files from QuickBooks Online (QBO) to your Mac 2021?

If so, you need to export files from QBO to QuickBooks Desktop for Windows. Then, convert them to Mac so you can successfully move the file.

I've outlined again the steps for your guidance:

Step 1:Export your files from QBO to QBDT for Windows.

Step 2: Convert the Windows company file to Mac.

1. Open the company file in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.
2. Re-sort lists.
3. Rebuild and verify your data file.
4. Go to the File menu, select Utilities, then Copy Company File for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
5. Save the file in your desired location (this creates a file with the extension MAC.qbb)
6. Copy the file to a DVD, external hard drive, flash drive, or FTP web site.
7. Restore the file in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
          a. In the No Company Open window, select Browse.
          b. Locate the file you want to restore.
          c. If your QuickBooks Windows file is on an external drive, save it locally by dragging it to the desired location before restoring it to avoid data corruption.
          d. Click OK when you get the prompt asking if you want to restore a QBDT for Windows file.
          e. Enter a name for the restored file, then click Save.

Check out the Convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac link for more details about the steps provided above.

If you're referring to something else, please update this post or click the Reply button below. I'll keep this post while waiting for your response. Thank you and stay safe!