This company file needs to be updated. Please ask your QuickBooks Administrator to update the file warning

Hi, Mike 1.

Thank for letting us know. I'm here to help ensure isolate this error so you keep your QuickBooks up and running. 

To resolve this error, you'll need to log into QuickBooks Desktop using the admin user. Once done, you can now update the QuickBooks company file.

Here's how:

1. Open you version of QuickBooks Desktop.
2. At the top menu bar, click File.
3. Select Open or Restore Company.
4. Select Open a company file then Next.
5. Highlight your data file then select Open.
6. Read the info in the Update Company File for New Version pane. Check the box to signify you understand, then select Update Now.
7. Follow the instructions on how to back up your file. Note where you save your file.
8. When You are about to open a company file using a newer version of QuickBooks...Do you want to continue? appears, select Yes.

Right after, once the file is updated you can check this article and scroll-down to Step 8 for another recommended steps: Upgrade to a new QuickBooks Desktop version. 

If you need further assistance with the steps from our live support, I encourage you to contact out QuickBooks Desktop Support Team. They have additional tools to pull up your account and do a remote session.

Here's how you can contact our live support:

1. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help from the Help menu.
2. You can also press F1 on your keyboard to bring up the same Help Panel. 
3. In order to route you to the correct support expert, we need to know what type of question you have.
4. Click Continue.
5. We’ll provide you a few options. You choose which one is best for you.

This will get you on the right track. Don't hesitate to click the Reply button below if you have any other questions about upgrading QuickBooks version. I'm always here to help. 

Sorry but this doesn't work!!  I've tried a dozen times... You cannot OPEN the file & get a dialog box "Update Company File for New Version".  QB immediately tries to restore the file, asks for a User & PW then fails, always using the same message "you must have an administrator update the company file.  We're in a nasty loop that is never ending!  Very Frustrating!!

I appreciate you for letting me know about the troubleshooting steps you've done, @Ed_Novy. I have one more step to try to get this issue fixed.

Since you're still getting the same result after the recommended steps,  I'd suggest reaching out to our Technical Support. One of our agents will help you uninstall/reinstall the program, and assist you further in resolving the error. You can follow these steps to reach out:

1. Go to Help inside QuickBooks.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Click Contact Us.
4. Enter "cannot OPEN the file & get a dialog box "Update Company File for New Version" in the description field, and hit Continue.
5. Choose Get a callback.

You might be asked about troubleshooting steps done in opening your company file, here's another reference for you: What to do if you can't open your company file in QuickBooks Desktop.

If you have other concerns, I'll be on the lookout for your reply if you need further help in opening your company file

I am having the same issues with two company files that have yet to update. I can open the file in QBE v18 Logged out of the user from another workstation still using v18 . what are the steps to repair this?

Hello @Ricahrd237,

In QuickBooks Desktop, you can repair the installation information to get rid of any error prompt messages. I want to ensure that you can successfully access your company data so you can get back to business in no time.

That said, here's how you can repair QuickBooks and make sure to close it before following the steps below:

1. Go to Start.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Under Programs and Features, select Uninstall a Program.
4. Click QuickBooks, and select Uninstall/Change.
5. Select Repair.
6. Click Finish.

Once done, you can consider restarting your computer before opening QuickBooks. In addition, here's an article you can read to learn more about how the Repair tool works: Repair your QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

Need help performing any tasks related to your business account and company settings, click here to access and browse all articles for QuickBooks products. This reference contains most resources with steps on how you can update your data and security management, to name a few.

Don't hesitate to post again here if you have other questions or concerns with QuickBooks tasks and navigations. I'm always around happy to help. Stay safe and have a good one!

Again no help - there is a choice only to uninstall - not repair.  have to do a full uninstall reinstall.  AGAIN INTUIT - YOU GUYS SUCK!.  You constantly want us to upgrade, but you are never ready with the new software to work correctly.  Now I get charged an annual license fee to have constant problems and no quick solutions.  I don't want to uninstall and reinstall once a week to fix your issues  - and be charged for the luxury of it. 

I know it wasn’t ideal, @Sherall0. I’m here to ensure everything gets taken care of.

Since you frequently encounter issues and have no options other than Uninstall, I recommend contacting our support team. They can check the issues further and help you find more solutions.  

Here’s how:

1. Open QuickBooks.
2. Go to the Help menu, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Select Contact Us.
4. Give a brief description of your issues, then choose a way to connect with us.

If you need resources, video tutorials, and tips to manage your company, especially your finances, feel free to visit our Support page. Select QuickBooks Desktop in the Select a product section to view the details.

Don’t hold back to drop a comment below if you have any other questions or concerns besides accessing your company files. We’ll always be here to help.

@Sherall0 

How big is your file size?

If you are still using QBD 2021 or another older version, you can still purchase the one time license for QBD 2021.

I'm currently having this problem. I have not yet tried to uninstall and reinstall the quickbooks application. Seems kind of ridiculous that the QB program can figure out that the current logged in user doesn't have the privileges to upgrade the company file, but isn't smart enough to provide a screen allowing the system to logout the default user and login the admin user.

I am having this issue on my Desktop Accountant version.  the client can open the file just fine.  but I cannot open the file after I convert it to an accountant's copy.  it lets me login, then tells me I need to do this.  I have updated my quickbooks, we have updated the clients quickbooks.  I don't know what else to do.  Any ideas??

@syarn064 

Just to make sure. Which year version of QB Desktop do you both have?

Hi there, syarn064. I want to ensure this gets resolved, and I appreciate you performing some troubleshooting steps.

To begin, I'd like to verify whether you see any error message while attempting to open the file.

If yes, you can check this article for more information on how to fix errors on an Accountant's copy: Resolve errors when creating or working on an accountant's copy.

If the error messages weren't found in the above article, I'd appreciate it if you can provide additional information.

As always, feel free to visit our QuickBooks Community help website if you need tips and related articles in the future.

Keep me posted how things go on your end. I'm always right here to help you get back to your business.