Hey there, @Kate M.
Damaged data is causing this odd behavior in your item list. Re-sorting them helps repair the damage, which sets the list back to its default order. Let me guide you through the process.
First off, update your QuickBooks to the latest release to ensure you have the most recent features and fixes. Also, create a backup copy of your company file before doing any troubleshooting steps to avoid any unexpected data loss.
- Go to the Downloads & Updates page.
- Select the country, product, & version and click the Search button.
- Click the Get the latest updates link.
- After downloading the updates, navigate to the Downloads folder of your computer and double click the update file to initiate the installation process.
- Follow the prompts on the screen to install the updates.
- Restart your computer after the update is installed successfully.
Once done, let's re-sort them from the Item List window.
- Go to the Lists tab.
- Select Item List.
- Choose the Item button below.
- Click on Re-sort List.
If your item list still disappears after the initial launch, I'd recommend running the QuickBooks File Doctor tool. To start, you'll need to install the QuickBooks Tool hub. This tool will help you to look after common errors in QuickBooks such as company file damage, and program problems.
Here's how:
- Download the QuickBooks Tool Hub file.
- Open the QuickBookstoolhub.exe file. It gets saved in the download folder.
- Accept the license agreement and hit on Install.
- Click Finish.
Once done, refer to this article and proceed to Step 3: Run QuickBooks File Doctor: QuickBooks File Doctor.
Also, check out this article for more details on how to fix missing lists in QuickBooks Desktop: Names, items, or accounts are missing from centers, reports, or transactions.
Additionally, to give you a better idea about what else you can do with your item list, refer to this article: Add, edit, and delete items.
Please let us know if you have other concerns. We're always here to help. Have a good one.