Issue with Quickbooks Online conversion to Desktop

Hello there, gardenstatefurniture,

You'll want to check if your computer meets the minimum system requirements. We'll want to make sure you'll avoid any program compatibility issues.

Furthermore, there might be an interruption during the conversion which causes the data not to get imported into QuickBooks Desktop. To successfully import the data, you'll need to do the conversion again:

1. On your computer, run the Internet Explorer and Quickbooks Desktop as the Administrator.
2. Let's disable the Protected Mode on your Internet options (Alt+X).
3. Once done, add https://*.intuit.com, https://*.qbo.intuit.com and https://*.quickbooks.intuit.com to your browser's Trusted Sites Zone.
4. Open your QBO account in Internet Explorer.
5. Click the Gear icon then choose Export Data.
6. Answer the interview then click Continue.
7. Click the Learn more link below Moving to QuickBooks Desktop?
8. Review the export overview, then select Get Started.
9. Click Install for the ActiveX control, then select Install ActiveX Control Now to confirm the installation.
10. Select Continue.
11. Select the data you want to export. At the bottom right, select Continue.
12. Click Continue.
13. Enter your contact information and hit Continue.
14. Repeat step 6, then follow the prompts until you reach the screen that shows the next step.
15. Choose your preferred option then select Continue.
16. Follow the steps, then select Download.
17. On the pop-up window, select Convert Now.
18. In the Application Certificate, choose Yes, prompt each time.
19. Select Continue, then choose Done.
20. Once done, click the Finished button.

Check this article to learn more: Export and convert your QuickBooks Online data to QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know how it goes, I'd be more than willing to help if you need my assistance.

I had already done this. I got a call from QB basically stating my data is corrupt. I don't understand this and QB support wants to charge me an arm and a leg to get my data. SO disappointed in this service. 

@gardenstatefurniture 

If you hit the wall, you may have 2 options:

1. Utilize the migration tool (i.e exporter for QBO, importer for QBD)

https://transactionpro.grsm.io/qbo

https://partners.saasant.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=5051_2

2. Purchase a 3rd party migration service. It costs $450 for 2 working days

I am having the exact same problem. I want to make sure it is true, I have to purchase an outside service to convert my QBO data to QB Desktop? If so, that is not very good service. I just purchased QB Desktop Pro Plus and this is the final data I need to have all my companies in one place. Can anyone help?

Hi, cheronyproperties.

You don't need to purchase any third-party application in converting your QuickBooks Online data to QuickBooks Desktop.

You can use the following URL to initiate the download in Internet Explorer to export the data: http://qbo.intuit.com/app/exportqbodatatoqbdt.

After that, prepare to export your QuickBooks Online data by following the steps below: 

1. Click the Get Started button in the Export Overview window. 
2. Select Install under ActiveX Control Now.
3. When it's finished, click Continue.
4. Choose the data you want to export, then click Continue.
5. Review the limitations and choose Continue.
6. Enter your contact info and then click Continue.

Refer to this article to complete the process. From there, go directly to Step 4: Finish exporting your data: Export your QuickBooks Online data to QuickBooks Desktop.

For additional reference on how you can navigate the desktop version, I also suggest visiting the following article: Get QuickBooks Desktop user guides.

Stay in touch if you have any follow-up questions. Just add a comment below by clicking the Reply button below.

Thank you for your information, but I have followed all of these tips and more, but do not get the modal dialog box which it says in QBO - A communication problem with QuickBooks desktop edition has occured. Error detail: A modal dialog box is showing in the QuickBooks user interface. You application cannot access QuickBooks until the user dismisses the dialog box.

I cannot dismiss the dialog box, since it never shows. FYI... I am using QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2020 just downloaded last week

Please let me know what I should do.

I appreciate you going through the steps above, @cheronyproperties.

The possible reason you've encountered the error message " A modal dialog box is showing in the QuickBooks user interface. Your application cannot access QuickBooks until the user dismisses the dialog box" is that you may have a window open in QuickBooks that is waiting for a response.

To resolve this, you'll want to return to QuickBooks and close any dialog boxes. However, since you don't see any open dialog boxes, I suggest closing all the running programs on your computer and try again.

If the issue persists, I recommend rebooting your computer.

You can always get back to us if you have other concerns or questions. We are always here to help.

I have been having problems with this very same issue converting a QBO client to a QB 
Desktop client.   About 6 weeks ago, IE stopped working w/QBO.  It partially loads after log in, but I cannot get to my client list and I when I click the "Gear" icon, I just get a continuous spinning loading icon.   I have tried this on 2 different systems w/2 different OSs. (Win Server 2016 & Windows 10). 

Up until this time I have performed this function on a regular basis for the last 2 years. 

A recent check of system requirements and browser support (updated Feb 21, 2020) no longer mentions Internet Explorer.    

However, when I try to export QBO data for QB Desktop in MS Edge, I get the same "Only Internet Explorer supports exporting data from QBO.

Nor does it work with the QBO app. 

So are we to assume that you can no longer export from QBO to a QB Desktop file?

I would think that Intuit software engineers would have fixed this and made this work with the QBO app, if Intuit was so concerned with security.

Hi bwk_admin,

We’re still following the same process to convert data from QBO to QuickBooks Desktop. We’re still using IE in this process.

I acknowledged the fact that you’ve been doing this process for a couple of years, so I could say that you already have the correct setups. For this reason, I would recommend reaching out to our Support team. They have more tools to help you convert your data, and they can use a screen-sharing tool to guide you throughout the process.

1. Open QuickBooks Online.
2. Click on Help and choose Contact Us.
3. Enter a summary of the situation in the box provided.
4. Click Let's talk.
5. Choose Chat or Get a callback.

As always, you can run the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet reports after converting your file. That way, we can compare the amounts before and after the conversion.

Please don't hesitate to go back to this thread if you have additional questions.

This issue actually can have several causes.

First, in QuickBooks on the top menu choose Window, and close all.

Second thing to look at is the Windows Task manager to see if there is more than one instance of QBW32, or quickbooks(32) or even is QuickBooks Messenger is running. If there is more than one instance of Quickbooks, end task on them, or if messenger is running, close that. Then try again.

Those are off the top of my head.

Thanks for the responses!  An acknowledgement that this process still works today with current versions of Windows products helps me troubleshoot the problem.  Our network is pretty sensitive to incoming traffic and may be blocking some of the things that should be happening in IE.

Problem UPDATE:  

I have tried getting into QBO on more computers w/Windows 10 and Internet Explorer inside and outside of our company's network and on computers that have never been attached to our company's network.

It appears to DEFINITELY be a problem with IE as the results I get are all the same.  I do not get a list of my companies and when I click on the gear on the right side of the screen, I get a perpetual turning arrow icon indicating something trying to load but never does.  

I suggest that if you are going to respond to this message,  you try it yourself first because there's a problem.  

Thank you for letting us know the steps you've tried, @bwk_admin.

You can also try to disable or enable the pop-up blocker before exporting to QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT). 

Here’s how to disable it:

1. Open your Internet Explorer, click on Tools and select Internet options.
2. Select Privacy and go towards the bottom of the window and click the Pop-up Blocker.
3. In the Turn on Pop-up Blocker window, toggle it to Off. 

If the error persists, then I suggest reaching out to our Customer Support team to troubleshoot this error and help you in resolving this. Here’s more information on how to contact the QuickBooks Online Customer Support team. 

Let us know if you need further help with your account. The Community is always here to help. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for the reply.  

I just spent a little over an hour w/support who was NOT able to fix the problem with IE functionality w/QBO.  The reason for the problem, according to Support, IE is no longer supported, just as I had mentioned earlier.  I have multiple companies under my account and I cannot access any of them with IE. For whatever reason, IE will not take me to my clients and leaves me stuck on the page with our company file. 

If IE works for you, you are probably using an older version of IE and/or Windows.  (Chrome works fine.)

I was given a work around to get to the "Export Data" page using links from within Chrome and client ID #s and pasting it into IE.  This worked and I was able to get the export into QB Desktop I was trying to do.

I was also told that Intuit is working on getting this to work with Chrome but it is not available yet. 

I use this process as a "backup" for our larger clients who have multiple people working within their QBO file. 

Given the age of IE and the length of time MS Edge has been available (since Windows 8), I would think that Intuit would have addressed this a lot sooner.  However, I would guess that this particular feature is only used by a small number of customers so I can understand it not being a priority. 

Good luck everyone and thanks once again for your suggestions. 

I have done the conversion but my accounts don't match, I ran a P&L and Balance Sheet and the numbers are off. Is there anything I can do besides hunt for every missed transaction? 

Hello Cassandrafish,

When you move QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online, there are some reports or lists that can't be converted because of its feature differences.

You can select each link in this article to check the list of data that can and can’t be converted: What to expect when you switch from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online.

You'll want to pull up a Profit and Loss report so you can have a comparison with the income for both periods. You can choose accrual basis in QuickBooks Online, this will match your reports in QuickBooks Desktop.

To get more ideas about organizing your account in QuickBooks, please see this link: Help article.

I'm always here whenever you need help.

Could you just please suggest to your team to give QB Online the same interface as the Desktop version please? Life would just be easier.

Hi there, JYcebu.

We appreciate and have taken note of your suggestion about having the same interface for both QuickBooks Online and Desktop versions. 

You can also submit your suggestion directly inside QuickBooks Online. Our product engineers will be able to receive, along with other suggestions submitted in the form. Here's how:

1. Click the Gear icon in the upper-right hand corner.
2. Select Feedback.
3. Enter your product suggestion and click Next.

Let me also share this Getting Started guide for additional reference on how to use the product: Getting Started With QuickBooks Online.

The Community is always here if you need anything else.