Multiple user mode not working 2023 QB Premier Plus

Hi,  Rick. We understand how hard it can be when a feature you rely on is not functioning as expected, I'm here to share insight about your experience.

These are the following reasons why your QuickBooks multi-user mode is not working:

• Possibly that the hosting settings are not properly configured.
• Firewall or antivirus software is not allowing communication between user computers.
• QuickBooks is not installed on the server.
• Unable to open the company file in the database server.
• Windows file permissions are not properly set.

To better understand the issue, could you please provide us with some additional information? Specifically, we would like to know what troubleshooting steps you have already taken. This will help us to narrow down the possible causes and provide you with more targeted assistance.

n the meantime, we encourage you to reach out to our support team again if the issue persists or if you have any additional information that could assist us in resolving the problem. Our dedicated experts are available to provide you with personalized assistance and ensure that your concerns are addressed.

For additional resources, you can go over the links below. These articles provide detailed information on QuickBooks Desktop hosting and multi-user mode. You’ll also see the steps on how to troubleshoot multi-user issues.

• Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop
• Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop
• How to fix Error H202 and H505

Leave a comment below if you have additional questions on how to access and use QuickBooks remotely and in multi-user mode. I’ll be glad to answer them for you. Wishing your business continued success.

Dear Abegail S,

The problem is that I repair the connection using one method or another and the issue returns a few days later.  The can ONLY be accessed by one computer at a time, however both computers can access the file one at a time.  Below are the steps that I have checked already:

I have tried the following this time:

1. QB Database server manager is used each time I try another step/method to ensure that the network is repaired.
2. Update windows on both computers
3. Ensure multiuser mode
4. Make certain that
5. Ensure that hosting computer is set to “host multi-user access”.
1. Ensure slave computer is not set to host
6. Synch Data License Online   
1. Make sure license number is correct.
7. Back up company and restore back-up file
8. Make certain that all QB programs are allowed passthrough on Windows Defender Firewall

Error codes

1. Hosting Computer if slave computer has QB open:    
1. Error -6189, -816
2. Code 140704087491126
2. Slave computer if Hosting computer has QB open:
1. Error code H202
2. Error code -6190, -816

Thanks, Rick

@Rick-Penny 

How big is your file size? Try opening the sample file in multiuser mode. Do you encounter the same issue?

I was not able to get into Single User Mode to do some maintenance.  I connected with Intuit Tech support and after 2.5 hours of uninstalling QB Premier Plus Edition 2023, reinstalling it.  It got into Single User Mode, but now it will not go back to Multi-User Mode.  We have rebuild the database with no errors on it.  Then after all of that, the technician told me it was a known issue and the engineers are working on it.  He added my email address to the case number so I can get updates but nothing has happened yet.  Every time I attempt to go into Multi-User Mode, the entire program just shuts down.  I do not even get an error code.  The tech support said there was nothing else we can do until the engineers fix the issue.  I have a 3 user license and now, we have to schedule and coordinate between the 3 users on when we access QB.  Very frustrating that they are not fixing this issue.  Intuit is not very in to it.

@Login 

Try opening the sample file and enabling the multiuser mode. Did you encounter the same issue?

Thank you!!!

I did not open the sample company but did open another company that does not have much in it.  I was able to change that company to Multi-User Mode and then open my Login Company file, already in multi-user mode.

It seems to have something with the size of the company file or number of items or something?   Any clue what is causing that?

Thanks again!

@Login 

Next step, run the Condense Data utility. Did you encounter any error message?

Thanks for joining this thread, Login. I appreciate your detailed information.

There's a few known reasons why multi-user mode may be encountering issues:
 

• QuickBooks isn't installed on the server.
• Windows file permissions aren't set properly.
• Hosting settings being configured incorrectly.
• The database server is unable to open your company file.
• Firewall or antivirus software isn't allowing communication between user computers.

There are a few troubleshooting processes you can perform to try to get it working properly. Initially, I'd recommend checking your folder permissions on the server computer. You'll want to confirm that your folder holding the company file has permission to be on your network.

Next, make sure that the QuickBooks Database Server Manager is installed on your computer. This enables company files to be shared with other computers over the network.

After verifying your QuickBooks Database Server Manager is setup properly, you'll want to check the Windows admin rights and assure your firewall settings and folder permissions are configured properly. Once you're finished, you can scan the folder to access your file over the network.

If QuickBooks still crashes when trying to access multi-user mode, I'd also recommend confirming that you've turned on hosting on your server computer.

Here's how:
 

1. In the top menu bar, go to File, then Utilities.
2. Choose Host Multi-User Access.
3. Select Yes.

In the event your books continue crashing while trying to use multi-user mode, you'll want to continue getting in touch with our Customer Care team. They'll be able to pull up the account in a secure environment and conduct further research with you. They also have the ability to do screen-shares to see what you're seeing on your computer.

They can be reached while using QuickBooks.

Here's how:
 

1. In your top menu bar, go to Help, then QuickBooks Desktop Help.
   
   
    
2. Click Contact Us.
   
   
    
3. Enter a brief description of the issue in our Ask a question (or tell us what's wrong) field, then hit Continue.
   
   
    
4. Select We’ll contact you for a callback or Message Us to start an instant messaging session.

Be sure to review their support hours so you'll know when agents are available.

I've also included a detailed resource about QuickBooks crashing which may come in handy moving forward: While working in QuickBooks, QuickBooks closes unexpectedly (crashes with or without an error)

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

If QuickBooks Database Server Manager is having trouble detecting a QuickBooks installation on the server. You can get in touch at [removed].

ZackE,

I have seen this response on other posts.  It seems very canned.  I did go through these steps with the Intuit Tech Support and none of it worked.  

Since the other suggestion to open in the Sample (or in my case another company file that is much smaller), worked, it seems to have more to do with the company file itself than with the properties of the server.

Thanks!

Thanks for getting back with the Community, Login.

If none of the troubleshooting recommended in this thread has solved the problem of QuickBooks crashing when you try accessing multi-user mode, you'll want to continue getting in touch with our Customer Care team. They'll be able to pull up your account in a secure environment, conduct further research, and create an investigation ticket if necessary.

Detailed steps for reaching them can be found in my previous post.

You'll also be able to find many detailed resources about using QuickBooks in our help article archives.

Please don't hesitate to send a reply if there's any additional questions. Have a wonderful day!

We are having the EXACT same issue except that we cannot even open a smaller file or the sample file.  I have gone through ALL of the same steps multiple times and in multiple order trying to resolve this.  The only common denominator is the upgrade from 2021 to 2023 - we had virtually NO issues in multi-user mode in version 2021 or earlier and we have not yet been able to use 2023 in multi-user mode after installing the update 2 weeks ago.  Has anyone found a solution to this problem, which seems to be a 2023 specific issue?

I want to thank you, @drmorganjr, for all your efforts in trying to resolve the multi-user mode issue. I understand how hard it must be for you to be unable to open the sample file.

Let me provide insight on why the multi-user mode might not be functioning properly in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

Here are some possible reasons why your QuickBooks multi-user mode is not working:

• The hosting settings may not be configured correctly.
• The firewall or antivirus software doesn't allow communication between user computers.
• QuickBooks may not be installed on the server.
• There could be an issue with opening the company file in the database server.
• Windows file permissions may not be set correctly.

However, since you've already tried all troubleshooting steps to get the multi-user mode to work and are unable to open even the sample file, I recommend reaching out to our support team for further assistance in identifying and resolving this issue.

Here's how to contact them:

1. Click the Help menu.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
3. Enter a brief description of your concern, and select Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit Account, and select continue.
5. Select chat with us or Have us call you.

For reference, you can check this article: Contact QuickBooks Desktop support

I've also included a detailed resource about QuickBooks crashing which may come in handy moving forward: While working in QuickBooks, QuickBooks closes unexpectedly (crashes with or without an error)

Your patience on the matter is well appreciated. If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns regarding the issue of Multi-user mode, please don't hesitate to come back to the Community, @drmorganjr. I'll be here to assist you.

UPDATE:  I did have to reach out to QuickBooks tech support for assistance and was bumped up 3 levels (which honestly happened pretty quickly) to get to someone who could help.  The tech (Dan) does not know why this situation existed, but the problem was with the Database Server Manager (QuickBooksDB).  It appeared to be installed and configured properly AND it was running as a Windows Service (Check Services to see if it is running).  However, when we opened QuickBooks Database Server Manager and checked the Port Monitor tab, there was no port listed for QuickBooks Database Manger 2023.  The solution was to Uninstall QB2023 and as a precaution, I also uninstalled QB2021 (our previous version), then re-installed QB2023.  I then opened QuickBooks Database Server Manager again, checked the Port Monitor tab and confirmed QuickBooks Database Manger 2023 was listed and active, then went to the Scan Folders tab and conducted a scan.  This resolved the issue.

Thank you for coming back to the thread, @drmorganjr.

I appreciate you taking the time to let us know that you've figured it out. I also commend you for following the suggestions and utilizing all of your resources to arrive at the solution you have now.
 
This thread is always open if you need further help using QBO features. We're always here to assist you at any time. Have a great day ahead!