Updating ancient QB 2010 for Mac to QB 2013 or...?

AT_Ltd · ‎December 29, 2020

Okay this may be impossible but hear me out.

I am still running QB 2010 for Mac (version 11.0. 12 R13) on my 2009 Mac Pro, OS 10.11, El Capitan.

For many reasons, I want to bring my OS a bit more up to date, esp as my laptop is running a more recent OS. The computer itself is quite capable of getting to Mojave as these 'cheesegrater' Mac Pros are upgradeable. I already made some changes and went to OS 10.12, Sierra, but lost QB, so had to restore; no damage was done.

This ancient version of QB works fine for me: I'm a sole proprietor and only need very basic features, none of them online. I would only update QB in order to be compatible with a more recent Mac OS. I'm also nearing retirement so am not interested in buying the latest-and-greatest QB.

I have a disk for QB 2013, with license; I just never got around to installing it. As I see you need to go incrementally, I thought that 2010 to 2013 might be a good 'lily pad' step, but the box for QB 2013 says it requires OS 10.7 or 10.8...which would be a step backward! I don't understand that at all--how is QB 2010 working for me with OS 10.11 yet QB 2013 won't--or maybe it would?

So...sorry for the long intro. Here's my basic question: how can I get to a version of QB for Mac that will work with OS 10.12 Sierra and hopefully 10.13 High Sierra and maybe 10.14 Mojave?

Thanks for any help!

IamjuViel · ‎December 29, 2020

I appreciate the complete details you've shared, @AT_Ltd.

You can purchase and download the QuickBooks for Mac 2020 version. Here are the minimum system requirements:

At least macOS 10.14 (Mohave); supported by macOS 10.14 (Mojave).
Intel processor, Core 2 Duo or higher.
Multi-user Server: Intel Core 2 Duo or higher processor to run a server.
2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM recommended).
250 MB of available disk space.
CD/DVD drive or Internet connection for downloaded installation.
Printer: 100% Macintosh-compatible printer, if you plan to print invoices, checks, deposit slips, lists, purchase orders, mailing labels, reports, or graphs.
Checks: Use Intuit Checks if you plan to print checks. Canadian Image Ready Checks are not supported.
Product registration required.

Once downloaded, you can follow these steps on how to install QuickBooks:

Run your downloaded QuickBooks 2020.
Click Yes pop-up messages.
Select Next to begin the installation.
Click I accept the terms in the license agreement box and click Next.
Enter your License and Product numbers, then select Next.
Continue the prompts.

I'm adding these articles as an additional reference about QuickBooks for Mac 2020:

Stay in touch with us here if you have other questions or concerns. I'm always here to help.

AT_Ltd · ‎December 30, 2020

This is not helpful in the least. I KNOW I could buy the latest version of QB for Mac and update to that IF I also updated my Mac to the latest. That would be many steps and I'm not going to do that all at once, if ever.

Also, from all I've read here on this forum, if I jumped directly to QB 2020, it wouldn't even open my files from QB 2010.

And as I noted, spending $400 or whatever it is on QB 2020/2021 is simply not happening. Don't need it, don't want it.

I'd still be grateful for any answers or suggestions related to the questions I actually asked.

AT_Ltd · ‎December 30, 2020

[duplicate post]

AT_Ltd · ‎December 30, 2020

[duplicate post]

Fiat Lux - ASIA · ‎December 30, 2020

@AT_Ltd

QBD Mac 2019 and 2020 support Mojave, and you may consider purchasing one of it with the lower cost than QBD Mac 2021. You should install the trial license of it to convert your old file prior to purchase it.

AT_Ltd · ‎January 04, 2021

Thank you, FiatLux. I see that you're not only a QB vendor, but someone who routinely is helpful on these community boards.

For anyone else having the same kind of issue I was describing:

I found this page, from which you can download earlier versions of QB, including updates, and use them on a trial basis (ie open the app 15 times) to see if they'll work with your OS, and if they can work with your existing QB files.

https://downloads.quickbooks.com/app/qbdt/products

New versions of the QB application do not overwrite the old version, however once they open your company files, they do change them so you can't go back. So if you're going to experiment with this, you must keep a backup copy of your company file and NOT convert that one, just in case you need to 'go back.' I'd keep the backup company file on a flash drive or external, just so it's 100% out of the way.

Also of course, in Mac land, a regular Time Machine backup is essential.

If you have a very small business like mine, you might only need to open QB once a month or so, so the trial version might last you quite a while, certainly long enough to figure out a longer term solution!

What I've found is that QB 2016 works on my MacBook Pro running High Sierra, and opened my QB for Mac 2010 company file with no problem. High Sierra, or maybe Mojave, may be as far as I go with my Mac Pro, so if I can get a license for QB 2016 I'll be set.

Fiat Lux - ASIA · ‎January 04, 2021

What I've found is that QB 2016 works on my MacBook Pro running High Sierra, and opened my QB for Mac 2010 company file with no problem. High Sierra, or maybe Mojave, may be as far as I go with my Mac Pro, so if I can get a license for QB 2016 I'll be set.

You may find someone at the marketplaces (e.g Amazon, Etsy) offering a license of QBD Mac 2016, 2019 or 2020 with a huge discount. Make sure you got a worked validation code (not only a pre-registered installation code and product code) from the seller.

Good luck!

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Updating ancient QB 2010 for Mac to QB 2013 or...?