We have been adding attachments in our 2020 Contractor edition of Premier desktop (specifically scans of vendor insurance certificates).

When you try to click on an attachment it says "failed to open file" then a file location then "specified file not found".  I followed the instructions here, navigated to our company file, to the attach folder.  There are 2 subfolders - list and inbox.  Within the list subfolder there is another folder called name.    I find some attachments there but they are saved with an alpha number code separated by a dash 800009D8-1526598597 for example... and it's certainly not all of them as the vendor I was trying to use has 3 attachments showing in the vendor file and you can't open any of them.

Why did this happen and how can I "reattach" them without finding the paper copy to scan back in... we are trying to go paperless but events like this make me want to go back to hard copy files for everything.

QB 2021 desktop. Went to Company File. There is no attachment folder. Why are attachments not immediately available when clicking on the attachment associated with the specific client? I had a service contract with AB but cancelled it since no one at even Level 2 knew the answer. If QB wants to save face call me in California at 415 382 6170

Folks. Don't hold your breath. Regarding attachment I see only copy and paste from the "team". The disappearing attachments has not been resolved. Not even level 2 offered up an answer.

The attachment folder is not in the company file.... and I did not direct the attachment to go elsewhere. 

Dealt with only Intuit robots and levels 1 and 2.  I cancelled the support contact.

Anthony

While emailing bulk invoices through "Send Forms " option the attached files for the respective invoice is not getting attached along with the invoice. 

If emailing customers from the invoice using "email invoice with attachment", the email has the invoice along with the attached files. Also, I noted the attached files are not shown in the list, there are available in the TXN folder though.

I want to email all customers all the invoices along with the attached files using "Send Forms". Email Later option is already selected. Can someone help solve this.

I clicked by following this path as the following in QuickBooks desktop Company > Documents > Repair Attached Documents Links and "Relinked" the documents.

Sincerely,

AlcompCo

I have a situation where we moved hosted servers 3 weeks ago.  We did backup and restore and just found out last week that the attachments were not manually copied over to new server.  So now we have new attachments that can be viewed but the old attachments can not be viewed.  I have read about the 

What you need to do is reattach the files by going to Doc Center. Here's how:

1. Browse to the location where your company file is stored.Default location: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files
2. Make a new Attach folder.
   a. Rename Attach folder by adding "_OLD" to it.
   b. Create a new folder and name it Attach.
3. Copy the contents from the old folder.
   a. In the new Attach folder, create a folder that matches the name of the company file. Open the new folder.
   b. Create new sub-folders named Inbox and TXN.
   c. Copy and paste contents over to respective new folders from their old counterparts.
4. From the QuickBooks Company menu, select Documents > Repair Attached Documents Links.
5. Select Repair Links.

If I copy the old attach folder(Inbox and TXN) contents into the newer attach folders and do a repair will it merge both new and old attachments

Thanks for joining the thread, HollowayEmp.

When you use QuickBooks Attached Documents, an Attach folder is created and saved alongside the QuickBooks company file. The steps provided are for re-linking the Attached Documents to resolve the issue when you rename or relocate the company file. Since this breaks the connection between the Attached Documents and the company file.

As to copying the old attach folder(Inbox and TXN) contents into the newer attach folders, it will not merge both files. You can attach it again. However, we recommend our users to make a manual backup of the Attach folder which can be found in the same location as your QuickBooks company file before doing troubleshooting steps.

Then, to save a copy of an attached document to your desktop, just navigate to the Doc Center. You can also click the paperclip icon on the QuickBooks transaction or item. Once done, right-click and select Save Copy to Desktop. 

For additional reference, you can check this article to learn more about attaching files: QuickBooks Document Center: FAQs and common issues. This includes troubleshooting steps for common issues like missing attached documents, issues with scanning or attaching documents, or being unable to email transactions or send forms.

Know that our door is open 24/7 if you need assistance performing specific tasks in QuickBooks. You can also utilize the REPLY button below if you have any additional questions about moving the file and attachments. 

Will I lose the 3 weeks of new attachments if I do this method. Also the old attachments is 10 or more years of attachments. Are you suggesting reattaching each old attachment one at a time or does QB attach old attachments in bulk?

thanks tim 

Hello there,

You will not lose the attachments. However, they will be unlinked. As my colleague stated, an Attach Folder is created and stored in a matching location as the QuickBooks Company file. Moving the company file to a different location will break the connection between the Attcahed Documents and the company file. To resolve this, you'll want to re-link the Attached Documents. Here is how:

1. Browse to the location where your company file is stored and open the Attach folder.

2. Follow the steps that apply to your situation:
 

• If there is NO folder with the new company file name, change the name of the folder to match the new name of the company file.
• If there is a folder with the new company file name:

                a. Open the folder with the OLD company file name.

                b. Copy and paste the contents of the Inbox folder into the Inbox sub-folder of the folder with the new company file name.

                c. Copy and paste the contents of the Txn folder into the Txn sub-folder of the folder with the new company name.
 

3. From the QuickBooks Company menu, select Documents, then Repair Attached Documents Links.

4. Click Repair Links.

Moreover, QuickBooks will attach the attachments in bulk upon repair link. You can visit this article for more details: QuickBooks Document Center: FAQs and common issues.

Feel free to visit this article in the future for your reference: Can't open your company file in QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know in the comments below if you have a follow-up about QuickBooks-related concerns. We're always available in the Community to lend you a helping hand. Stay safe, and have a great day!

I am doing an invoice and attaching a separate PDF to it. Hit email later. When you email later the invoice is only there not additional attachment?

Welcome to the Community, @ngorzkiCEA.

Let me help and provide information about the missing attachments in sending an email later in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

To start, I recommend verifying if the invoice has successfully attached the file. Also, ensure that the attachment meets the required file size for it to appear on the send form page.

Once you have verified all the information, you can proceed with verifying and rebuilding your data.

For future reference, you can check this article to guide you through the process of customer payments for invoices and in-person sales: Take and process payments in QuickBooks Desktop.

Please don't hesitate to leave a comment below, if you have further questions about the missing attachments or other QBDT-related concerns. We're always happy to help you out.

I need help bad we moved our company file to new computers. Lost all of our attachments for 15 yrs! We don't keep paper copies as it is 2024! I have went all the way up to tier 3 support in QB they say there is no way to do this. There has been 15 different people Glanced into my computer having me do so many things I am lost! I am going crazy and can't get any work done because I am on the phone with them daily for 2 wks trying to fix our attachments to each customer. I am horrified and exhausted. I know it can be done as a lady from Kentucky that works for QB called me when I had the same issue on March 5th and she did it in 5 minutes! They have no record of her calling me and do not know how to get in touch with her. She was so great! I am devastated at this point and really and grasping at straws praying someone can help me. The same thing happened in 2018 and I was on the phone for over 3 weeks until they finally had it done again in 5 minutes! Now I am at a loss. The entire reason for calling in March was my back up was not properly working. During that process they lost my attachments trying to fix that. THen I finally got the Kentucky lady that was remarkable. Can anyone please help??? Please????

Did you find anybody to help you? I am having the same problem and I have lost 15 years worth of attachments. I've been on the phone with QuickBooks for over two weeks every single day. I'm about to have a nervous breakdown nobody can help me

@loretta2 

Can you still open your company file with attachments on the old machine without any issue?

I was able to before they were replaced. Everything was moved to the new computer because the wonderful lady in Kentucky that reattached my attachments on March 5th recommended that I get no computers because I'm running out of RAM. That was the entire reason I lost my attachments on March 5th is because I called into QuickBooks to find out why my online backup wasn't working and it was then when they got into my system and had me click around everywhere and lost my attachments. Here I am now brand new computers and no attachments again. In the last month and a half I've spent over 98 hours on the phone with QuickBooks with no resolve except the wonderful lady in Kentucky that they have no record of? I have proof that she called me on the 5th and they're saying they have no record of her calling on March 5th no documentation. She had it fixed in 5 minutes. Everything attached back where it was supposed to go. That was on the old computers now on the new ones I am having the same issue. The attachments are there but they cannot reattach them or at least I haven't found anybody that can. This is 15 years worth of progress and each customer has several attachments to them. I am scared to death. I am so backlogged with work it is insane. I spent 9 hours on the phone with them alone today please if anybody can help I'm begging

Whatever you do do not format your old computer until this piece of data has been backed up and transferred to somewhere safe or the new machine.

Our offices will be closed until Thursday.  I will get in touch with you on Thursday.

If I could just find this woman from Kentucky I know she had a daughter we talk more about personal stuff than it took time for her to fix my machine and attachments. I'm at a loss I'm broken

I have not reformatted anything except we put it on a hard drive

I cannot look up one single customers invoice for over 2 weeks now I'm going crazy. I'm so backlogged with work and out of answers for customers when they call

Thursday seems like a lifetime away at this point. I've been living this nightmare for 2 weeks I really am desperate

Hi there @loretta2.

I see how challenging for you to lose 15 years worth of attachments in your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) and not find a way to retrieve them.

Before anything else, I'd like to appreciate your effort in reaching out to our support to help you fix it. 

As much as the Community wants to help, we recommend contacting our support team again. They have all the necessary tools to check the issue of your data. Then, provide your case number to our representative so you won't repeat the same information. 

You might want to learn more about organizing your QBDT data. Check out this article: QuickBooks Document Center: FAQs and common issues.

Feel free to express your questions here about managing your attachments and data. I'll be willing to help. Keep safe always.

I have been all the way up to tier 3 in their it department. They have not done anything but made everything so confusing for the next person inside the system. Nobody I mean nobody can seem to do this except this lady from Kentucky. I have had a case number for days in fact so long that they are going to have to close it out tomorrow. Now you see my desperation?

These computers are only 2 weeks old?

Please let me know if you get an answer to this I'm having the same issue it's been a nightmare for me