This didn't work for my situation even though it did add the exceptions it wasn't until I disabled Defender that it finished the install in like 30 seconds.

It would be better customer service if Intuit would fix the problem instead of offering multiple, multi step work around for the problem created by their engineers.

I agree a thousand percent! QuickBooks needs competition. We pay more now than ever before. It absolutely sucks. When I did the last update I thought it was simply because I went from 2023 to 2024 but that is definitely not my problem today. Shame on you QB. We are a small company 4computers & I despise the fact QB robs my time!!!!!! 

I read an article that Windows Defender was causing the slow down -- my install was stuck at 24-25%

Instead of stopping the install, turning off Defender and trying to reinstall, I just turned it off and voila - it finished the install in minutes!

Once the computer rebooted, Windows Defender was restarted

Done!  Took about 5 mins

Well you will be lucky if the update installs in 1 hour. It takes bloody 4- 5 hours for the update to complete. Called QB support midway through the update after 2 hours and the lady says yeah it does take 3-4 hours. And ridiculously these guys are forcing you to update in the middle of the work day where your entire system goes down for 4- 5 hours. This is ridiculous!! 

The simplest solution is to turn defender off, then it finishes in seconds....

It appears to be Windows Defender blocking the update. Switching it off (Windows Security > Virus and threat protection > Manage settings > Real-time protection) appears to allow it through at a normal pace. 

Same with me - two hours and still at 24%. My internet is high speed and this is my 3rd attempt.  Also a small business and pay a fortune just to do payroll and taxes and look at P&L. Every year this gets worse.

OMG, thank you! Working on this for over two hours. I took your suggestion and switched off WD. The update was completed within seconds.