It's nice to have you back here in the Community, @brennan6524.

I'd like to provide insights on how you can enter payroll and edit employees at the same time. 

You'll need to purchase 2-user licenses of QuickBooks Desktop so you'll be able to work with your company file at the same time. This way, you can set up a multi-user network so you and the other user will be able to work on the same server. 

Here's how you can get another license on your account:

1. Open your QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Go to the Help menu at the top.
3. Choose Manage My License and then choose Buy Additional User License.
4. Select the option on how you want to purchase the new license.

You can read through this article for more details about purchasing additional license: Add a user license to your QuickBooks software.

Lastly, to give you information on everything that you need to know about QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, please read through this reference: QuickBooks Desktop Mac User’s Guide.

I'll be around to assist you further if there's anything else that you need. Thanks for dropping by.

do you know who is an authorized cloud hosting for Quickbooks Pro Desktop?

Welcome to the Community, Shan_1028. I'd be more than happy to provide a list of Intuit hosting providers.
 

Each of the following companies are Intuit-authorized and able to host QuickBooks Desktop Pro:
Standard Hosting Providers

• Cal Net Technology
• Cetrom
• CloudJumper
• CloudVara
• Coaxis
• CorKat Data Solutions
• eProcess Pros
• Fluid IT Services
• Nerds Support Inc.
• Network Alliance
• Productive Computing
• Proxios
• Supreme Servers
• Tandem CloudTop
• Virtual Systems
• XenWingo

Commercial Hosting Providers

• AbacusNext
• Ace Cloud Hosting
• Apps4Rent
• CloudRunner
• Cloud9 Real Time
• Infinitely Virtual
• InSynQ
• Itopia
• MyVao
• Netgain
• NovelASPect
• Right Networks
• SKYLINE Cloud Services
• Summit Hosting
• Swizznet
• Xcentric

While these third-party entities have authorization to host QuickBooks, Intuit doesn't endorse, sponsor, certify, or guarantee their services.
 

I've included a couple resources about our Intuit Hosting Program that may come in handy moving forward:

• Hosting providers authorized by Intuit
• What hosting providers are authorized by Intuit?

I'll be here to help if there's any questions. Have a wonderful Friday!

@Shan_1028 

This authorized hosting provider offers competitive rates

http://www.apps4rent.com/#a_aid=quickbooks

Keep in mind, you are only allowed to put a supporting version (i.e 2018-2021) on an authorized QB cloud hosting. Otherwise you should consider another option

https://partners.myquickcloud.com/?pc=fiatlux

How can I sinc 2 licenses purchased separately? I need to use the program as a multi user and I already own  licenses-  user each.

How can I get them synchronized?, I called in and they could not do it for me. 

I bough  licenses back in June and now for some reason they are not working together, so only 1 person can can work on the company file, it does not allow for 2 working at the same time. Please help!

Hello, rachelhouston.

Thank you for sharing your concern here in the Community.
I appreciate your time and patience to get this fixed. I'll make sure that you can sync licenses and have multi-user access.
 Make sure that the company file stored on the Host computer:

1. In QBDT, go to the File menu at the top to get to the Utilities and Host Multi-User Access. 
   
   
2. Click Yes on the confirmation window.

I've also added these articles that will help in setting up multi-user mode:

• General info about hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop
• Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop

You can contact our customer support team for additional help.
Feel free to reply to this thread if you have additional concerns. I'm always here to help​​​​​​​.

Thank you, It is already enabled. The thins is that I purchased 2 licenses or 2 discs and now would like to sinc them so a second user can be enabled. I used to have this working on previous versions where I bought the second user for the same license. But now I have 2 licenses with 1 user each and would like to combine them for 2 users. How can I do this? 

Thanks for posting here, @rachelhouston,

Joining the thread to share some insights about this concern you're having. If those licenses are different, it cannot be set for a multi-user system. 

If you want other people to access the same file, a hosting service will work. This will help users remotely access your PC away from your desk. We have an app website where you can find hosting tools to help you. See this: Apps for QuickBooks Desktop 

We also have a separate forum called Intuit Developers, where you can find engineers who can help recommend third-party hosting applications to use. Click this link to our website: Intuit Developers Community.

Only licenses with multiple seats can be set up in a multi-user environment. If both licenses are the same, you can install it on workstations then use the steps in this article to set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop

First, sync the licenses by going to the Help menu, select Manage My License > Sync license data online, then click OK.

If you need further help with anything in QuickBooks Desktop, let me know in the comment section. Have a nice day!

@rachelhouston 

In our experience, our clients had to contact Support and ask them to merge the licenses. Otherwise, consider canceling your second license and ask for the refund. Then you should purchase an additional seat for your first license thru a partner. 

For what it is worth, on QuickBooks Desktop for Mac you can use "ad hoc" licenses in a multiuser situation (ie - you can buy a second or third etc copy and share a file via multiuser with the all of them). 

Hi we have had this setup in our business for may years. I have a desktop and a lap top that I use to access the same company files at different times. I had to replace the desktop with a new computer. After doing so the two computers no longer sync my data. After contacting tech support and spending many hours on the phone I am now told I have to have a multi user License. What changed as the files are never accessed at the same time? 

Thanks for joining this conversation, @akefiye9.

You have to set up the multi-user mode network so both your desktop and a new computer can access your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) data. First, you'll have to turn on hosting to store the company file on the server computer:

1. Go to the File menu, click Utilities.
2. Select Host Multi-User Access.
3. Choose Yes on the confirmation window.

Once done, you'll want to follow these steps:

1. Go back to your server computer.
2. From there, open the Start menu and type database.
3. ​Select QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
4. If no folder locations are shown, click Browse and browse to the folder where you store your company file.
5. Then, click OK.
6. Click Start Scan, this will repair the firewall permissions to allow QuickBooks to communicate over your network and resolve your error.
7. Once finished, select Close and try opening QuickBooks in Multi-User mode on your workstation.

For more details about this, please visit this article: Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop. 

I've also added this helpful link to give you additional information on how you can simultaneously access your company file: Add a user license to your QuickBooks software.

If I can be of further assistance about syncing your data from both of your computers, please let me know by clicking the Reply button below. Have a great day!

We've been paying for a two user license but have only been able to use one at a time. We've spent hours with tech support but even after escalation no one has been able to fix the issue. It has wasted many hours and caused a huge disruption, yet even though quickbooks can't resolve the problem they refuse to refund the additional money that we pay for something that we've never been able to use. Like everything else with this company, be cautious because they will scam you in any way they can and they couldn't care less about loosing customers.

@AP149 

When did you purchase the license?

Which one do you have? 2 different licenses for 1 user or 1 license for 2 users? 

We have one license for two users and we've had it for almost 15 years but 8 months ago it just stopped working. Sometimes I can't access QB from my computer when the other user is logged on, and sometimes even when he isn't logged on I get an error message and can't get on. We've tried everything but Quickbooks can't get it to work. Tech support is all working from home so they can't discuss with each other and QB customer service is truly awful.

---

@AP149 wrote:

We have one license for two users and we've had it for almost 15 years but 8 months ago it just stopped working.

 

@AP149 

Are you using QB Desktop 2006? You may have problems running it on Win 8 or 10

Hi, I am totally confused. I have 1 license QuickBooks pro 2020. I presently have 2 windows laptops. Only 1 laptop has QuickBooks pro with payroll installed, mine. I'm looking to work from home or out of office more. I would like to still have full access to QuickBooks and do financials and payroll wherever I'm at. I would like to have 2 laptops in the office with access that I set and 1 for myself. all would have the ability to access all required files at same time, including running credit cards from each computer.

What is the best setup for this to run smoothly?

@TRM1313 

You need a license for 2 users to access one company file at the same time. Keep in mind, you can't use QBD 2020 after May 2023 to integrate with QB Desktop Payroll. You must upgrade your version to QBD 2021-2023 later.

Thanks for following the thread, @TRM1313.

Yes, Fiat Lux - ASIA is correct. For users to have simultaneous access to one company file, you'll need a QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) license for each. When in multi-user mode, you can log in to a company file from different computers at once if you have more than one user license. 

Furthermore, access to add-on services for QBDT 2020 will discontinue on May 31, 2023. It includes versions of QBDT Pro, Premier, and Enterprise Solutions v20. That said, we'd recommend upgrading your QBDT to the latest versions to continue using the payroll services. 

Once upgraded, we can add a company to your existing payroll subscription. Here's how:

1. Go to the Employees menu and select Payroll.
2. Click Use My Existing Payroll Service.
3. Select Add File in the Account Maintenance window.
4. Choose the Add to Subscription Number radio button. If you're unable to see that option, a payroll service has already been validated in the company file.
5. If you don't see your subscription in the list, select Other: I have an existing subscription.
6. Enter your subscription number and Zip Code.
7. Select Next twice, then select Print or Return to QuickBooks.

For further instructions, please see this article: Add a new company to your payroll subscription.

I'll also share this link if you want to access QBDT remotely from a host or workstation: Open a company file on a remote computer. This way, computers on your network can access your company files.

Please don't hesitate to get back to us if you have additional clarifications about the QBDT license. We're always around to assist you anytime.