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DJMangen
Level 2

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

With the upgrade of the Mac OS to Big Sur, I have lost our ability to access the QuickBooks 2015 accounting file for my wife’s business.  I understand that as an out of support product Intuit has no intention of making modifications to the program so that it will work with the Big Sur OS.  That leaves us with a problem.

 

We are in the process of closing this business.  I would like to know if anybody has figured out a way to convert the 2015 file from the Mac version to a Windows-supported version?  I am running QuickBooks 2020 for my business.  I could import a converted file in to run reports, etc., as we prepare to shut down my wife’s business.  Does the Intuit file conversion service provide this option?  Hopefully they do.

 

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Solved
Best answer December 14, 2020

Best Answers
IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

This is not the service we want you to experience, @DJMangen.

 

Making sure you're able to convert your QuickBooks company file is my priority. Let me walk you through doing so.

  1. Update both of your QuickBooks Mac 2015 and QuickBooks Desktop for Windows 2020 to the latest version.

  2. Remove any memos longer than 50 characters or contain special characters like !@#$%^&*.

  3. Open your QuickBooks Mac 2015 company file as the admin.

  4. Go to the File menu and select Export.

  5. Select To QuickBooks for Windows.

  6. Name the file and choose the folder to save it in. Then, select Save.

  7. Enter and confirm your password and select OK.
  8. Select OK on the confirmation window.
  9. Move the file to your Windows computer.
  10. Restore the file in QuickBooks for Windows.

You can read through this article for the step-by-step instructions: Convert a QuickBooks for Mac file to QuickBooks for Windows.

 

If you encounter any errors during the conversion process, you can use this article as a reference to resolve it: Error: QuickBooks is not able to convert your Mac file to a Windows file.

 

On the other hand, yes, the Intuit file conversion service can further assist you with the process. You can check this article to learn how to send your file to our Data Services team: QuickBooks Data Services FAQ.

 

Get back to us here if you have other questions or concerns about managing your company file. I'm always here to help.

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18 Comments 18
IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

This is not the service we want you to experience, @DJMangen.

 

Making sure you're able to convert your QuickBooks company file is my priority. Let me walk you through doing so.

  1. Update both of your QuickBooks Mac 2015 and QuickBooks Desktop for Windows 2020 to the latest version.

  2. Remove any memos longer than 50 characters or contain special characters like !@#$%^&*.

  3. Open your QuickBooks Mac 2015 company file as the admin.

  4. Go to the File menu and select Export.

  5. Select To QuickBooks for Windows.

  6. Name the file and choose the folder to save it in. Then, select Save.

  7. Enter and confirm your password and select OK.
  8. Select OK on the confirmation window.
  9. Move the file to your Windows computer.
  10. Restore the file in QuickBooks for Windows.

You can read through this article for the step-by-step instructions: Convert a QuickBooks for Mac file to QuickBooks for Windows.

 

If you encounter any errors during the conversion process, you can use this article as a reference to resolve it: Error: QuickBooks is not able to convert your Mac file to a Windows file.

 

On the other hand, yes, the Intuit file conversion service can further assist you with the process. You can check this article to learn how to send your file to our Data Services team: QuickBooks Data Services FAQ.

 

Get back to us here if you have other questions or concerns about managing your company file. I'm always here to help.

DJMangen
Level 2

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Thank you @IamjuViel for your response.  Part of our dilemma is that we do not wish to incur the costs associated with the upgrade to QB 2021 Mac Desktop because we are closing that business.  That is not a prudent investment of funds; if I wanted to spend that money I would simply do so and continue to use the Mac platform while shutting down her business. 

 

What I am searching for is a cost-effective way of accomplishing this simple conversion task so that I can close down my wife's business.  I thought that getting the data into my Windows QB 2020 software could be one way to do that, paying a hopefully modest fee to get to the desired solution.. 

 

You mention toward the end of your response that the file conversion service could accomplish this task.  How much would the file conversion service cost to accomplish this task?

 

Thank you.

MichelleBh
Moderator

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Thanks for the quick reply, @DJMangen.

 

I'll share with you the conversion fees in QuickBooks Data Services (QDS).

 

Since you already have QuickBooks Desktop for Windows, I'd suggest following the steps presented by my colleague above on how to convert the data. Please make sure to follow the step-by-step instructions, so there are no charges be taken. 

 

But if you have file conversion issues or company file issues, that's the time you'll need to contact our data services support. The Assisted Data Conversion in QBD without QuickBooks Care Plan will cost you $50 per file. But if you have a plan, some of the conversions are covered and have a fee per file. For more information, check out this article and directly go to QuickBooks for Mac: QuickBooks Data Services: Standard Data Recovery Services (Price list).

 

To contact our support, please go to this article: Contact QuickBooks products and services Support. Make sure to call them within the business hour to ensure we address your concern promptly. 

 

I've also added articles about the life of your QBDT Mac after converting and other topics. 

 

 

Let me know in the comment section if you have additional questions. I'm glad to help.

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@DJMangen 

You may utilize the trial license of QBD 2015 to convert your QBD Mac 2015 file and open the file for 30 days. Should you need more time to close your wife's business, you may convert the file later on your QBD 2020. Contact us in private and we may share the trial license of QBD 2015.

DJMangen
Level 2

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@Fiat Lux - ASIA 

 

Thank you for reaching out.  However, I am a bit confused.  We currently have and were running QB Desktop 2015 for Mac on her computer,.  That computer -- the only Mac in the shop -- has just been upgraded to the Big Sur OS.  Because of the upgrade, QB 2015 Mac no longer opens the file.  Are you saying that:

 

  • A newly downloaded trial version of QB 2015 Mac will run on a Mac desktop with Big Sur OSand will open the file? 

Or..

  • A downloaded trial version of QB 2015 Windows will import the Mac file in native format, and I could do my closing the books with that program?

Regardless, thank you for any insights that you can provide.

 

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows


@DJMangen wrote:

@Fiat Lux - ASIA 

 

 

  • A newly downloaded trial version of QB 2015 Mac will run on a Mac desktop with Big Sur OSand will open the file? 

 


No. QBD Mac 2015 is an outdated version and won't support BigSur.

 


A downloaded trial version of QB 2015 Windows will import the Mac file in native format, and I could do my closing the books with that program?

 


Yes. You may install the trial license of QBD 2015 Pro on the same machine you are running QBD 2020.

DJMangen
Level 2

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

I wanted to mention that the process for transferring the file outlined in this post worked extremely well.  The clarification point, provided to me by a young lady on QB chat support (thank you Alexis!) was to download and install the trial version of QB 2021 for the Mac, use this as specified to import and export the data, and then pull in the data to my Windows program.  All data from the last run P&L and Balance Sheet match exactly.

 

Thank you.

kestelli
Level 1

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

I am trying to move from Desktop Pro 16 to Mac 19.  I have followed the suggested steps.  But I can't move past "copy company file for QB Mac".  The error message stops everything! The reason is that I am using multi-currency! How so?  Am I the only person with multi currency usage?  How do I move past this?

 

 

MJoy_D
Moderator

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

I’m here to help you get past the error so you can successfully move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks for Mac, @kestelli.

 

QuickBooks for Mac doesn’t support multiple currencies. However, you can still convert a QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for Windows file to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. It's just that any data you've used in multicurrency won’t be converted. 

 

To get past the error, you'll need to use a supported version of QBDT. Fully supported products are QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premier 2019, 2020, and 2021. 

 

I suggest using a trial version of QBDT 2019. Before doing so, make sure that that your computer's operating system, hardware, software, and other requirements are compatible to run QuickBooks Desktop 2019. See this article for more information: System requirements for QuickBooks Desktop 2019

 

To get the QBDT 2019 trial link, I suggest reaching out to our Customer Support team. They have a list of all QuickBooks versions links and provide you the license and account number. 

 

Let me show you how:

 

  1. Go to this support link and choose QuickBooks Desktop from the dropdown menu. 
  2. Click on Continue
  3. In the What can we help you with? page, provide all the necessary information and click on Continue

 

You can choose to Get a call to arrange a callback from a support agent or Start a chat to chat with them directly. Check this article for detailed guidance in reaching out to our Customer Support: Contact QuickBooks Desktop support.

 

 After upgrading to QBDT 2019 from QBDT 2016, you can now convert to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. 

 

Refer to the following article for detailed guidance in moving from QBDT for Windows to Mac: Convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac. It also provides you more information about those data that will and won't be converted.

 

Let me know if there is anything else that I can help you with moving your company file and or anything else, by leaving a comment below.​ I'm always here ready to help. Have a wonderful day!

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@kestelli 

You may have 2 ways to migrate your data:

1. Create a new file (multicurrency is disable) on QBD 2016 and utilize a migration tool.

https://transactionpro.grsm.io/qbd

 

2. Purchase a 3rd party service to disable the multicurrency feature and convert your file to be open on QBD Mac 2019. Contact us in private for details.

Bhavesh03
Level 1

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Hi, So I have the same issue as I am converting to PC Use and just brought the quickbooks pro for PC 2022, back can't switch my files from my quickbooks 2016 mac because I also upgrade my OS to Big Sur and because of that I can't export my files to window.  Where do you find the link to the quickbooks pro trail 2022 for MAC?

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@Bhavesh03 

You can utilize the trial version for QBD Mac 2021 to run on BigSur and upgrade your file prior to exporting it to QBD Windows file format. Contact us in private for details.

jojoma
Level 1

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Thank you for your help. I have attempted several exports from my Mac OS Big Sur version 11.6.2 to a Windows file without success. My accountant is unable to recover the file. My QB 18.0.13.3468 R14 is up to date. Verify failed after backup. Reloaded and rebuilt the file. Verify Data detected errors, so I'm contacting Intuit Technical Support and hoping you can help. I have the QuickBooks log of both Verify attempts. Please let me know how to provide a useable Windows QB.

On the messages, it says to eliminate any "MEMO" over 100 characters, which is difficult given that the descriptions on my invoices show up as "MEMO" when following the recommended protocol to eliminate this problem. Many descriptions are above 100 characters. To follow this suggested solution descriptions going back many years would need to be redone. Not an effective solution. In prior years, this was never a problem. 

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@jojoma 

Contact us in private for assistance. We may help to check your file.

LeizylM
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Hi there, jojoma.

 

I can see the effort and time you exhaust to exports from my Mac OS Big Sur version 11.6.2 to a Windows file.

 

Since the issue persists, I suggest contacting our QuickBooks Support Team. They have the tools to pull up your account in a secure environment which we're unable to do it here in the Community. That way, they'll be able to investigate the cause of the problem.

 

Here's how to reach them:

 

  1. Open QuickBooks.
  2. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  3. Select Contact Us.
  4. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Let's talk, and then choose a way to connect. Phone support may be limited due to volume.

 

Additionally, here's an article that'll further guide you in managing your business using QBDT for Mac: User Guide. It contains topics about banking, lists, and getting paid to name a few.

 

Please keep in touch if there's anything else I can do to help you succeed with QuickBooks. I've got your back. Have a great day!

M Simon
Level 1

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

we are preparing to convert from Quickbokks for Mac to Quickbooks Desktop for Windows. Changing the special character/longer than 100 character memos is not practical for us. Is there a workaround? Or will i really be unable to convert the data file?

LollyNino_C
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

Thanks for joining this thread, @M Simon

 

I'm here to share some details about accessing QuickBooks for Windows on a Mac computer. Aside from checking the integrity of the file, we can edit the length of entries in the memo field. Here's how: 

  1. Open the company file in QuickBooks for Mac.
  2. Generate a Transaction detail by Date report for all dates:
  3. Go to Reports, then select Transaction detail by Date.
  4. From the Dates drop-down, choose All Dates.
  5. Review the Memo column (the Item Description field on forms) for any text longer than the maximum 100 characters.
  6. Double-click the transactions with large memos or descriptions, then either delete or shorten those memos to less than 99 characters.
  7. Create a new backup file for your QuickBooks for Windows file, then do the conversion again. Also, you may utilize this resource for your reference: Convert a QuickBooks for Mac file to QuickBooks for Windows.

If the same thing happens, I recommend contacting our QuickBooks Support Team to ensure the setup is correct.

 

  1. Go to this link: Contact Us.
  2. Choose QuickBooks Mac Desktop.
  3. Click on the Company File menu.
  4. Scroll down and click either Get Phone Number

You can get additional information about fixing the error after QuickBooks for Mac to Windows company file conversion: Error: QuickBooks is not able to convert your Mac file to a Windows file

 

Should you need any further assistance with converting your file, let me know in the comments section. I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can. Have a great day! 

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

QuickBooks Mac Conversion to Windows

@M Simon 

Which QBD Mac year version do you have?

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