Quickbooks Desktop, multi-user mode issues

Welcome to the Community, SueMapp. I'd be glad to lend a hand in fixing error H202.

To get this be fix, use the QuickBase Database Server Manager. Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Go to your server computer.
2. At your server computer (computer hosting your company file/s), open the start menu then type database.
3. Click on QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
4. If no folder locations are shown, click Browse and browse to the folder where you store your company file(s).
5. Click OK.
6. Click Start Scan, which will repair the firewall permissions to allow QuickBooks to communicate over your network and resolve your error.
7. Once done, click Close.
8. Try opening QuickBooks in Multi-User mode on your workstation(s).

That's it! For more detailed steps, I'm including a helpful article that you can check: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/Error-H101-H202-H303-or-H505-when-opening-your....

I want to ensure that this is taken care of for you, so please feel free to let me know how it goes. Have a great day!

Hi SueMapp

The error you are receiving relates to a network issue. Did you scan the folder where the files are located rather than the drive?

This can also be caused by the files being stored deep into the system (more than 4 folders deep). If the files are stored more than 4 folders deep you will have to move it to a different server location.

We recommend that your IT team check services.msc to ensure that the 2019 version of Database Server Manager is set to automatic start and is running while the DNS server is set to automatic delayed start. For this type of error we recommend that you contact our telephone support team, 0808 168 9535.

Hi SueMapp

The issue appears to be due to you using the 2014 version of the database server manager (DB24), you will need to run the 2019 server manager and scan for files using this instead. The 2019 server manager would show up as DB29 in the services list.

If you do not have it installed you can use the installer for QuickBooks 2019 and select custom install to select just the server manager to be installed.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/Install-update-and-set-up-the-QuickBooks-Datab...

I'm inquiring as to whether you were able to rectify the multi-user mode issue.  We are having the same problem.  The office usually has two users, sometimes three users.  Our upgrade was from QB Premier 2016 to QB Premier 2019.  The IT person tried the fixes, but without any luck.

Thanks for joining this conversation, @Daffodil.

Just to verify, did you already tried the steps provided by my colleagues above? If so and you're still getting the same results, I highly suggest getting in touch with our Phone Support team. They have tools such as screen-sharing (remote access) that can check your QuickBooks and perform other troubleshooting steps to help fix this.

Please refer to this article for the detailed steps on how to reach them: Contact the QuickBooks Desktop Customer Support Team.

Just in case, I'm also including these articles for additional resources:

• How to fix Error H202 and H505.
• Install, update, and set up the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

Keep me posted on how the call goes by leaving a comment. I want to make sure this is taken care of for you.

Hello,

I am having issues of this kind on an existing installation running QB 2016 Premier Accountant version. The system was fine up to a few days ago, having been running for almost 2+ years now on this. Since a few days ago I'm getting Error H202 when users try to switch companies to multi-user mode. These companies were working fine in multi-user mode up to a few days ago.

The strange thing is that if I open the same company from the "server" first, switch it to multi-user mode and then go to a client PC, they can access the company in multi-user mode fine. But if the company is first opened on a client PC, the users cannot switch it to multi-user mode, but gets the H202 error.

The QB service account is local admin on the server.

The users have full access to the folder where the company files is.

I ran QB Database Server manager which is not finding anything wrong.

I temporarily disabled the firewall, same result.

I ran the QB Tool Hub + Database Server manager, no issues found, same problem.

QB Services are running in automatic mode.

I went through every step in great details of this link, again nothing resolved it:

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/open-programs/how-to-fix-error-h202-and-h505/00/18...

Server is running Windows Server 2012 R2, clients all Windows 10 and QB is updated to the latest version everywhere.

The strange thing is that companies open in mutli-user mode if they are opened like that on the server first. In my mind, this shows that the server is ok, or almost. I need some guidance as for sure it was working properly a few days ago and I need to see if there is a fix.

Some screenshots attached:

Page 1 - the error if the client tries to set to multi-user first

Page 2 - if multi-user is set on server first, it works

Page 3 - if the company is opened in multi-user mode on the server, the client connects fine in multi-user mode

Thank you,

Stefan

Hi sborgmt ,

Welcome to the community!

I'm sorry to hear that you are receiving an error H202 when trying to access multi user mode in QuickBooks desktop 2016.

I can see from your response that A) This is only occurring when the company file is opened from a workstation P.C, and B )That you have followed the article on the troubleshooting steps for this thoroughly.

The only thing which I can think of currently which may be worth checking if you haven't already, is when you're in services.msc can you check whether the DNS.server is set in it's properties to 'Delayed start' which is recommended.

If at all possible it may also be worth trying to change the mapping of the local files on the server to a different drive to be shared with the workstation P.C's and see if you have any more luck this way.

If neither of the above work, then I would suggest contacting our dedicated desktop support team on 0808 168 9535.

Thanks,

Hi, I found the issue to be the mapped share in DFS. If the data is opened from a mapped share in DFS the company does not switch to multi-user while if the company is opened through UNC directly \\server\share the companies switch to multi-user correctly.

The thing is that the user rarely needed a multi-user connection, and the introduction of DFS went unnoticed and the first time they needed a multi-user company it failed. Since time had passed I failed to make the connection with DFS... so the setup was fine, it's DFS that does not work well with QB.

Problem solved, so I'm letting you know in case someone else runs into the same issue with data on DFS.

Stefan.

Hello Stefan

Glad you are back on track.Thanks for letting us know how the problem was solved that is very useful for us and also we hope it helps any other Community users with the same issue

Emma

I have the exact opposite problem. I have a new Windows 10 surface pro running QuickBooks as server. I have done everything listed (firewall checked, virus software stopped, uninstalled QB on server and reinstalled, scanned with database server manager, checked that DBmgr was running in services, etc) but if the server is logged into a company file then the workstation cannot log into same file even though server is set to multi-user mode. Workstation gives error (no number) that it sees the server is set to multi-user but it cannot connect.  In a log file somewhere, I did see that the server had file locked maybe.  If the workstation logs into company file first then the server CAN log into file just fine. Very odd.

Hello wusty,

The troubleshooting steps provided on this thread help fix the multi-user issues. Since that's not your case, I'd recommend reaching out to our Technical Support Team. They can pull up your account and further review the issue.

1. Click Help at the top menu and select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact us and then enter that you get Reminder prompts. 
3. Select Continue. 
4. Choose either to Message an Agent or Talk to a Specialist. 

Let us know what are the results so we can add details if necessary.

This is exactly the issue we are facing as well. Clients can login to multi user mode if the server has not opened QB yet, and then the server can get in once everybody is in. If the server opens first nobody else can get in. When I try to open Quickbooks Database Server program, it says it was never setup on this computer even though it has been. Did you ever resolve this?

Thanks.

Hello, @book3.

At this time I recommend following the steps provided by my colleagues above to resolve the problem you're getting. If you're getting the same problem, I recommend reaching out to our Support Team so they can review and check this error further.

To contact support:

1. Open this link: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_GB/contact.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop for the product.
3. Pick the options that suit your experience under the What can we help you with? section. (Errors, Errors by code number)
4. Choose a way to connect with a representative under Here's how to connect with a QuickBooks expert about "I ...".

Post again if you have any other questions. I'm always here to help. Have a good day!

When I try this I get a message need to be in multi user mode to access database manager.

Thanks for joining the thread, @cortbennett.

When accessing the Database Manager, you'll need to be in a Multi-user set up. To turn on Multi-user Access on your server computer, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Go to the File menu at the top.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Choose Host Multi-User Access on the drop-down.
4. Click Yes on the confirmation window.

For more details about this, see this article: Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop. Once turned on, you can now proceed with setting up your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) account to multi-user mode. Check out this helpful link with detailed steps on how to do it: Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop.

Here's also some links to know more about QuickBooks Database Manager:

• Use QuickBooks Database Server Manager
• Install QuickBooks Database Server Manager
• Open a company file located on a remote computer

You can always add a comment below if you have any other questions about the Database Server Manager. I'm here to help you. Have a great day ahead!

I have found my issue is resolved when I login on the server first in multi-user, once I do that others can login and then I logout and it remains in multi-user until the next reboot. At that time I just repeat the above to get back into multi-user.