Check alignment for Standard 3-up checks in QuickBooks Desktop

Let me share some information about printing checks in QuickBooks Desktop, @union Treasurer. Rest assured that I’ll help you fix the check alignment issue.

Before proceeding, we can update your Adobe first to make sure that it’s running the most recent version. After that, we can try printing a check again to check if the margins are aligning properly. If you get the same result, let’s fix your Adobe installation. 

Here’s how:

1. Close Acrobat/Reader and all open web browser windows.
2. Select the Start button at the bottom left of your screen.
3. Type Control Panel, and then press Enter.
4. Select Programs and Features, Acrobat or Adobe Reader, and then click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the Setup dialog box, select Next.
6. Select Repair, Next, and then select Install.
7. When the process is complete, click Finish.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Log back in to QuickBooks Online, and then try to print a sample check.

The Alignment Grid allows you to properly adjust the vertical settings and the position of printed text on your checks. To make sure that the check will fit within the envelope, you can choose Voucher (8 1/2" x 11") as the check style. I’ll show you how:

1. Select File from the top menu bar, then choose Printer Setup.
2. From the Form Name drop-down menu, select Check/Paycheck.
3. For the check style, choose Voucher.
4. Click the Align button.
5. Hit Print Sample, then compare it to your pre-printed checks.
6. Using the grid on the sample, adjust the horizontal and vertical settings, then click OK.
7. Click Align again and print another sample.
8. Compare the sample to your paycheck stock and adjust the alignment again as necessary.
9. Repeat steps 4 through 8 until you have the alignment perfect.

Once done, you can try printing checks to verify if it resolves the issue.

You’ll want to read through these articles that will help you resolve common printing issues and align your forms to print on continuous-feed printers:

• Fix print alignment of continuous-feed printers
• Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop

After giving these steps a try, let me know if your check alignment is fixed. If you have any other printing check concerns or follow-up questions, I'll be around to help you.

So, like I said, I am trying to align Standard Checks - not Voucher style.  If I go through the above process, I can choose the Standard, and then align.  But it only allows me to align vertically to the top of the first check.  There is not an option to align the second and third checks on the page.

Also, I am running this on a Mac via Parallels-Windows.

Thanks for getting back to us, @Union Treasurer . Let's get your check printing issues corrected.

The troubleshooting I’ve provided above is for QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for Windows. Since you're using the Mac version, let's perform other steps that can help us fix this.

Let’s verify and rebuild your data to isolate this issue. This process scans your company files for errors or data damage.

Here’s how:

1. Go to the File then Utilities. Select Verify Data.
2. Wait for it to load.
3. Click File again, Utilities, then Rebuild Data.
4. Press OK when you get the message "Rebuild has completed".

For other damage troubleshooting steps for Windows, feel free to check out this article: Verify and Rebuild Data in QuickBooks Desktop

If you get the same result after running those troubleshooting steps, I suggest using QuickBooks File Doctor. To begin, download and install the most recent version (1.4.0.0) of QuickBooks Tool Hub. Then let’s install the program by opening the downloaded file (QuickBooksToolHub.exe) and follow the on-screen instructions.

To open the tool hub, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop. We recommend running QuickBooks File Doctor on Windows 10, 64-bit.Then, run the Quick Fix my File utility by following these steps:

1. Select the Company File Issues tab from the tool hub.
2. Click Quick Fix my File from the drop-down menu.
3. Tap OK to launch QuickBooks.

If the issue persists, you’ll want to proceed to Step 3 to fix your company file and network issues.

Once done, you can try to adjust the alignment of your checks. If you purchased it from Intuit, see this article for the more details: Fix print alignment of continuous-feed printers.

If the issue persists, I recommend calling our QuickBooks Desktop Mac Support. They'll be able to guide you with adjusting the check alignment. They also have tools like screen-sharing that will help check the root cause and find a permanent solution to this issue.

Please let me know how it goes. I'll be looking forward to hearing back from you. Take care.

I am having this same issue. We just installed the updated version of Quickbooks Pro 2023. I'm using the desktop version on a PC, latest version of Windows. My printer is a Brother MFC-L3750CDW series. My checks are Quickbooks compatible and I'm printing a standard 3-check page with a Page-oriented (single sheets) printer type. I've updated and adobe; I've used the Quickbooks tool hub to Quick Fix my file; I've used the tool hub to also fix issues with adobe. Nothing worked. Then I spent all day with a Quickbooks rep who walked me through several steps to fix the issue, but nothing worked and they couldn't figure it out. It was suggested that the problem was with my printer, but it's not. I've been able to print just fine before we installed the updated version of Quickbooks. I've read several posts on here about other people having the same problem and followed all of the steps that were given by other people, nothing works. I've tried printing my checks to PDF, then printing that onto the page of checks, and the alignment was even worse. 

One additional issue I'm having that I haven't seen reported yet is that every time I shut down quickbooks at the end of the day, when I open it back up the next morning and go to print checks, the alignment settings go back to default and my checks print way out of alignment. So it seems like my alignment settings are not saving, however, when I shut it down and then reopened to test it, I noticed the settings have saved and my vertical alignment is still set to 20, but when I print that first page of checks, something causes it to revert back to default and my page of checks is ruined. I then have to go back in printer settings and set the vertical alignment back to 20. But I have to print that first page of checks before I can go back in and fix the alignment. Please help, I'm at my wits end and our IT guy has checked out so I'm on my own

I wish you didn't have to encounter this issue, @SmAshleyDedon.

I appreciate your effort in trying all the troubleshooting steps to resolve your concern. Getting back and forth isn't easy, so I'm here with you to ensure you'll be back to printing checks in no time.

Renaming the QBPrint.qbp file is one way to resolve printing issues in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) Payroll. The QBprint.qbp file contains information for configuring your printer and customizing your forms. Renaming this creates a new file from the default settings, and all customized settings are lost. 

First, let's find the QBPrint.qbp file.

• Windows 10 and newer: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks 20xx (20xx represents the version of your QuickBooks.)
• Server 2012 and newer: C:\Program Data\Intuit\QuickBooks YEAR and C:\Users\**remote user**\AppData\Roaming\Intuit\ YEAR VERSION\TSPrinterSettings

Note: You might have to search for files using Windows or display hidden files to find them.

Once done, let's rename the file. To do that:

1. Right-click on the QBprint.qbp file for your QuickBooks version and click Rename.
2. Insert the word old into the file name (QBprint.qbp.old).
3. Open QBDT.
4. Go to the File menu and select Printer Setup.
5. Choose any transaction in the Form Name list and click OK. Doing so will create a new QBprint.qbp file.

You also have the option the rename the QBprint.qbp file automatically by downloading the QuickBooks Tool Hub and running the QuickBooks Print and PDF Repair Tool.

For your additional concern with alignment settings not saving in QBDT, you can refer to this article: Fix print alignment of continuous-feed printers.

Moreover, you can search for other print-related issues in our collection of articles: Help Articles for QuickBooks Desktop.

You're always welcome to return to this thread if you need further assistance with printing checks. We'll be glad to lend a helping hand. Keep safe!

I had already tried this before, but I tried it again as you suggested and, again, nothing is fixed. In fact, now I can't even print the top check because now the alignment is lopsided and there is no option to fix that. I've attached a PDF so you can see what I'm talking about. The line is tilted. Also, as far as your suggestion regarding QB not changing my print settings, I don't have a continuous feed printer. I have a single sheet printer

Thank you for trying the steps, SmAshleyDedon.

I also appreciate you keeping us updated here in the Community. I'm going to let you contact our QB Desktop Support about this issue, so they can take a closer look into it again. I understand that you've already reached them, however, we have limited access here to check this further.
 

If you have any other concerns, please don't hesitate to post back here in the Community. Take care and have a  good one.

I have Mac running Monterey and quickbooks 2020 and this just happened after the last update.  NOthing will allow me to align the checks.  I can move the grid all I want, but it still prints off the edge.  WHAT THE HECK!  Let's get them to fix this   UPDATE please.  Desktops are here to stay.  I am not doing online, 

Hi there, @ppersonious.

Let me help you fix your issue with your check alignment. We'll need first to update your QuickBooks Desktop for Mac to the latest release.

Then, we can now run the verify rebuild tool to detect issues with your check alignment.

Here's how: 

1. Select File, then select Utilities.
2. Press on Verify Data.
3. Hit on OK to close all windows. If you see “Your data has failed the integrity check” you need to rebuild your file. If there are no problems with your data, you’re done.

Afterward, proceed with verifying the data:

1. Select File, then select Utilities.
2. Press on Rebuild Data, then select OK to close all windows.
3. QuickBooks will ask you to make a backup before rebuilding your company file, select OK. If you don’t want to do a backup, select Cancel to continue rebuilding your company file.
4. Once the rebuild's finished, select OK.

Feel free to read this article for more details: Verify and rebuild data in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

Let me know how it goes. I want to make sure that you're all good. Keep safe!

I am so glad I am not the only one having this issue. I was printing fine one day and the next the top check was too low but the second and third checks were perfect. So when I fix the alignment it moves the first check up 15 vertical so it is perfect but now the second and third checks are off. 

So I have resorted to having to print each check individually which is time consuming. And the alignment I save does not stay so I have to check the alignment before every run of checks. I work in 10 companies so again it is very time consuming. 

I hate that the alignment sample only has the top check. I want to see the alignment of the second and third checks as well on the sample so that I can see if any of the suggestions that are being made in this thread are working. I just have no idea until I run a full page of checks. 

Still no luck.  Went through everything.  I can align that top check just fine through the fine adjustment.  But the next two checks are way off.  

This is NOT Quickbooks for Mac.  It's running on Windows 11 via Parallels on my MacBook.  

Not sure where to turn from here.  But I'm pretty frustrated with the lack of ease in adjusting 3-up checks.  Shouldn't be hard at all to create an adjustment that can independently adjust each check.

Hi, Treasurer Steve. I know a few troubleshooting steps you can take to ensure you can print those checks without issue.

Before we proceed, we can update Adobe to ensure that it is running the most recent version. 

Also, most printers are QuickBooks-compatible. You'll want to set up and fine-tune the print alignment. This way, your forms will print the way you want them to. If you're using checks purchased from Intuit, you can use the coarse alignment adjustment.

Here's how:

1. Go to File, and then Printer Setup.
2. Pick the form you want to print from the Form name ▼.
3. Select Continuous (Perforated Edge) from the Printer type ▼.
4. Click Align, then choose a template to use.
5. Once you’ve selected a template, hit OK.
6. Select Coarse, then OK to print a sample form.
7. Check the pointer line QuickBooks printed across the middle of the sample. Note the number closest to the arrow points. Enter this number in the Pointer Line Position field, and then select OK. QuickBooks might print another sample.
   Important: If QuickBooks prints a third sample when you select OK, something's wrong with the sample test print. Check your printer settings and make sure you don’t adjust the printer manually.
8. Take note of the printer alignment position on the test form for future reference.

More information about fixing issues for continuous-feed print alignment can be found in this article: Fix print alignment of continuous-feed printers.

I've also added this link to help you fix other printing issues: Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.

If you have any further questions about printing checks, please post them in this thread or post it in the Community. I'm always here to assist.

This solution would be great if I was using continuous feed paper.  Which I am not. My checks are 3-up on a single sheet (non-perforated)

I can see how hard you tried here. No worries, I'll make it up to you to ensure you never have to deal with this again, Treasurer Steve.

When configuring your printer to line with your checks/paychecks in QuickBooks, you can use coarse and fine adjustments. However, you can only use coarse adjustments with checks or forms purchased from Intuit. This method cannot be used to adapt other continuous-feed forms.

Once you've changed the alignment for your check/paychecks, the settings should be saved. If it still doesn't remember the printer settings, rename the QBPrint.qbp file to store the printer setup and check customization. This is a recommended QuickBooks troubleshooting method for remembering the correct printing settings. Here's how it's done:

1. Find QBPrint.qbp file. Make sure to display hidden files and folders or search for files using Windows.
2. Right-click the QBprint.qbp file for your QuickBooks version.
3. Select Rename.
4. Add the word old to the file name (QBprint.qbp.old).
5. Open the QuickBooks program.
6. Go to the File menu and select Printer Setup.
7. Choose Check/Paycheck in the Form Name drop-down and click OK.

QuickBooks then generates a new QBprint.qbp file. You can print the checks/paychecks to see if that addresses the problem. For further details, see this article: print alignment of continuous-feed printers.

If the same thing happens, I'd suggest contacting our Technical Support Team. They'll pull up your account in a secure environment and help you with this one. Here's how:

1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
2. Tap Contact Us.
3. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.
   • If you don't already have an account, make sure to Create a new account.
5. We'll email you a single use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
   • If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.
6. Chat to chat with us or Have us call you.

I've also added this link that will surely help in case you encounter different printing issues: Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.

Post your concerns or click the reply button for any follow-up questions about printing checks. I'm always here to help. Take care always.

Did you ever get this fixed?

The final suggestion was just a repeat of the previous suggestions.

With the Vertical Alignment set for the top Check, my bottom stub writes on top the company name, instead of below it.

I've tried all the suggested steps, except for Reloading QB.

Ken

[email address removed]

Thanks for joining this thread, ukr2.

I want to make sure your checks are aligning correctly in QuickBooks Desktop.

If you've tried all of the troubleshooting methods mentioned and the problem is still occurring I recommend reaching out to a member of the QuickBooks Desktop Support Team. Agents have specialized tools, like the ability to share your screen, to take a more in depth look at what's causing this issue. They will also be able to get this escalated for you if need be. Here's how to get in touch with the team:

1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Give a description of your issue, then select Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.
5. We'll email you a single use code. Enter your code and select Continue. (If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.)
6. Select to chat with us or have us call you.

The following article provides these steps if you ever need them again in the future: Contact QuickBooks Desktop Support

Please feel free to reach back out in the comments below if you have any other questions. I'll be here to help in any way that I can.