When does Multiuser mode no longer function in QB for Mac 2019

To my knowledge, the multiuser feature will still work when a QBD version is outdated. Make sure all machines use the same installation code. Consider reinstalling your QB on the host machine.

Hello, dypinc. 

Thank you for reaching out to the Community. Yes, the multiuser feature is still available in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac even though it is outdated. You'll need to ensure that you have the right file-sharing setup so the remote computer using your server can access the File. Also, check the multiuser setup has the company file stored and the hosting is turned on. To turn on Hosting, here's how:

1. Sign in to your company file as the admin on the host computer.
2. Go to File, then select Enable Multiuser Mode.
3. Click Yes on the confirmation window.

You can see additional details about this process and all the information you'll need to use your remote server in Use multiuser mode in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. 

If you continue to have issues with your remote computer accessing the company file, you can check this article for more troubleshooting: Troubleshoot multiuser issues for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. 

Additionally, I'd suggest visiting this website: Mac 2019 User Guide. Then, please go to pages 26-30. From there, you and your client will learn more about the QuickBooks Server and the other tasks to perform when using the multiuser mode. 

That should answer your concern for today. Post again if you have any other questions. I'll be here to help. Cheers!

After doing a little digging it appear the the certificate for QB Server 2019 expired of Aug 9, 2023. This may be to reason for the lost file error. So how can this certificate be renewed?

It worked before Aug 9th 2023 and did not work after. Nothing changed except the certificate expired.

Hi there, @dypinc.

I know that using the multi-user mode to access files is very helpful. My job is to guide you through the various troubleshooting steps so that you can quickly access your account on other computers.

Here are some of the reasons why the multi-user mode is not working: 

• It appears that QuickBooks is not installed on the server. 
• This could be due to incorrect hosting settings. 
• A firewall or antivirus software may be blocking communication between user computers. 
• The database server is having trouble opening the company file. 
• The Windows file permissions are not properly set.

First, let's review the sharing permission on the host computer and manually add the QuickBooks Desktop Security Certificate. Please note that the following steps are specific to QuickBooks Desktop for Windows. Regardless, the process to add or install the certificate remains the same.

1. Go to the Application folder and locate the application file(.exe file).
2. Right-click and select Properties.
3. Click the Digital Signatures tab and choose one of the entries in the Signature list field.
4. Select Details.
5. Under the Digital Signature Details window, click View Certificate. 
6. On the General tab, choose Install Certificate.
7. On the Certificate Import Wizard welcome screen, ensure that the Store Location is on Current User, then hit Next.
8. On the Certificate Store window, Windows already selected the certificate store based on the type of certificate. Select Next, then Finish.
9. Once done, select OK.

QuickBooks Desktop Security Certificate is essential as it contains information to protect data or to establish secure network connections. Read this resource for more details: Add QuickBooks Desktop Security Certificate manually.

Additionally, you can consider consulting an IT person or IT professional for further assistance with accessing your files.

I'm including this guide for other ways to resolve issues while sharing your company file: Troubleshoot multi-user issues for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

That should help you get back to work and fix the certificate expiration. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns, don't hesitate to post again here in the Community. I'll do everything to get to the bottom of what's going on to get you back into your QuickBooks Account.

Did you not read anything I posted? How clueless are?

Quickbooks for Mac 2019 will not find the file in multiuser mode because the security certificate for the QuickBooks 2019 Server expired on Aug 9, 2023.  And that includes on the same computer that is running the server.

If you don't or can't find out how the security certificate can be updated why post your nonsense that is not related to this issue?

This sure smells like another one of Intuit dirty tricks to force us to upgrade. 

@dypinc 

Have you tried reinstall QB on the server as I mentioned earlier?

I tried that. It still installs the same expired security certificate.

@IntuitBrooks 

Any advise?

The certificate encrypts the communications between the server and the client copies of QuickBooks Mac. The encryption is required for security compliance (Intuit has to comply with a lot of security stuff due to the financial nature of the software).  

Apple limits certificates to a 2 year period. After that they expire. Expiration of the certificate will cause multiuser communication to fail. We update the supported products with new certificates in slipstreams to avoid them timing out.

Unfortunately 2019 is no longer a supported version and has not been for some time. There's no user way I know of to update the certificate. The only solution to retaining Multiuser is to move to a supported version of the product. It should still be possible to use iCloud sharing if all you need is one user at a time in different locations.