I get this error message when trying to change an account detail type. These were sub accounts. "Cannot change the type of an account with subaccounts."

Hi there, @jepto.

Welcome to the Community. I'm here to help you get past the error that you received when changing an account detail type in QuickBooks Online.

When changing the account type of the accounts, you'll need to start it with the sub-accounts. If all of them have been changed, you can go ahead and change the parent account.

Here's how:

1. Select the Gear icon.
2. Under Your Company, select Chart of Accounts.
3. Locate the first sub-account to change.
4. From the Action column drop-down menu, select Edit.
5. In the Account dialog, clear the Is sub-account checkbox.
6. Select the new Account Type from the drop-down menu.
7. Select the appropriate Detail Type from the drop-down list.
8. Select Save and Close.
9. Select Yes in the prompt to change the account.

Repeat these steps for the remaining sub-accounts, and then change the account type of the parent account.

For more details about this process, please refer to this article: How to change the type of an existing parent account or sub-account. 

That should it. If you have any questions about this or anything else regarding QuickBooks, feel free to reach out to me here in the Community. Have a great week ahead!

Still get this error message after clearing sub accounts. How can this be fixed?

Thanks for joining this conversation, @Nolstev.

Just to confirm, are you also trying to change detail type of a parent account? If so, you should be able to do it after clearing the sub-accounts.

As an initial troubleshooting step, try to use a different or a private browser. There are times that the browser is full of frequently accessed page resources, thus causing some unusual responses. To use a private browser, here's how:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Google Chrome).
• Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox or Internet Explorer).
• Control + Option + P (Safari).

Once logged in, change the account detail type again. Here's how:

1. Go back to the Chart of Accounts and locate the sub-account to change.
2. Click Edit under Action column drop-down menu.

3. Change the Detail Type.
4. Hit Save and close, then Yes.

If it works, return to your default browser and perform clear cache. Clearing it will refresh the system, and you'll be able to work with a clean slate.

I'm also adding these articles for additional resources:

• How to view or change account detail types.
• How to change the type of an existing parent account or sub-account.

That should get you fixed right up. Keep me posted on how everything goes in the comment. I'll be happy to answer if you have any follow-up questions. Have a good one.

Thanks but that did not work. I've changed and unlinked all the sub accounts types but it won't let me change the parent. It was a credit card set-up as bank account in error

Hey there, Nolstev.

Allow me to take over and help you change the account detail type via QuickBooks Online.

To better isolate the issue, you may want to unlink the sub-accounts and make them inactive for the meantime. After that, try to change the account type again. If none of these steps work, let's run some basic troubleshooting steps to isolate the problem. We can start by accessing QuickBooks Online in a private browser. This usually resolves any browser-related issues.

Here's how to open a private window in different browsers:

• Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N.
• Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P.
• Internet Explorer: press Ctrl + Shift + P.
• Safari: press Command + Shift + N.

If you're able to change the account type via the private browser, let's go back to your regular browser and clear its cache.

However, if the problem persists, I'd suggest reaching out to our QuickBooks Online Support. Agents have the necessary tools, like screen-sharing to get you back up and running. 

You may find this article helpful: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/How-to-change-the-type-of-an-existing-parent-a....

Let me know how it goes so I can look further into this. I want to make sure you'll be able to change the account type.

Has anyone else figured out a solution to this problem? I'm having the same problem... can't change a parent account type even after unlinking all the sub-accounts... it gives an error saying it can't change the account because it has subaccounts (although it doesn't).

Hello @MiG21,

The error message appears when you change the Account Type of the parent account. Let me add more details about this.

When changing a type of an account, you’ll only need to change the Details Type. Doing this prevents you from getting an error.

Thus, you’ll only need to change the detail type to successfully change the parent account.

But if you still get the error, I suggest reaching out to our QuickBooks Online Customer Care team. This way, they can investigate further on why you’re unable to change your account.

Here's how you can contact them: 

1. Log in toy our QuickBooks account.
2. Click on Help.
3. Choose Contact Us.

Feel free to get back to me if you have any other questions or concerns. I’ll always be here to help.

I ran into this not too long ago.  The account you are trying to change most likely has a subaccount that is "inactive" so you don't see it.  

Go to the account and change settings to show inactive accounts.

Find the inactive subaccount and hit edit

Uncheck the "is sub-account" box 

Go back to the account you want to change and it will work.

Hope this helps

-Kyle W

This worked for me. Remember to not only show the inactive account, but to reactivate it as well. Thank you Kyle!

Thank you. This worked. 

Hello gabrielcamarena!

Good to know that the steps shared in this thread work for you. We're more than happy to help you if you need more assistance.

I'll help in any way I can if you have other concerns in QuickBooks Online. Good day!

This did not help me. I have looked and looked for subaccounts. Ive run reports for all time to try to see if I could find an old stray inactive account and there is really nothing. I have tried clearing cache. I have tried private browsing. I have tried multiple different browsers. This one account will not switch over. there are no active or inactive subaccounts.

Good evening, @megdog. 

Thank you for taking the time to follow all the steps that have been shared above. 

Since it sounds like you've tried all of our basic troubleshooting steps and they aren't working for you, I recommend contacting our Technical Support Team. This way, one our agents can review your account in a secure environment and investigate this matter further. If needed, the agent can escalate this concern to our Engineering Team. 

You can use the link I've included below to connect with an agent.

• QuickBooks Online Support

Please let me know how it goes. I'm here if you have any additional questions or concerns. Have a great weekend! 

I was having this same problem and couldn't find the answer anywhere but I figured it out.  Let me walk you through it. You have a parent account, then you have subaccounts and you may also have subaccounts of the subaccounts, like me.

1.Your going to start with the lowest of the hierarchy (the subaccounts of the subaccounts).  Go into edit account and remove the check mark, no longer making them a subaccount of the subaccount, and save.  This will cause them to move on your chart list.  They will move depending on how you have them either by numbered account or alpha.

2. Then your going to go to your subaccounts and remove the check mark, no longer making them a subaccount of the parent account, and save.

3. Now, you can change the type and save the parent account.

4. Since, you removed you subaccount from the parent account, you will have to go back and find them on your chart list and check mark subaccount of the original parent account and save.  You will have to do the same for the subaccount to subaccount, if you have any.

I hope this works for you.  I was wrecking my brain trying to figure it out.

I was having this same problem and couldn't find the answer anywhere but I figured it out.  Let me walk you through it. You have a parent account, then you have subaccounts and you may also have subaccounts of the subaccounts, like me.

1.Your going to start with the lowest of the hierarchy (the subaccounts of the subaccounts).  Go into edit account and remove the check mark, no longer making them a subaccount of the subaccount, and save.  This will cause them to move on your chart list.  They will move depending on how you have them either by numbered account or alpha. 

2. Then your going to go to your subaccounts and remove the check mark, no longer making them a subaccount of the parent account, and save.

3. Now, you can change the type and save the parent account.

4. Go back to the subaccounts and change the to the new type to match the parent account and save.

4. Since, you removed your subaccounts from the parent account, you will have to go back and find them on your chart list and check mark subaccount of the original parent account and save.  You will have to do the same for the subaccount to subaccount, if you have any.

I hope this works for you.  I was wrecking my brain trying to figure it out.

Thanks, Kyle.  This worked.  Apparently, QBO does not really handle subaccounts very well...

Nope.  Does not work.  The "parent" account has no sub account anymore yet I still get an error message that I can't change an account type with sub accounts.

QB sucks and intuit are thieves

I appreciate the additional context surrounding the challenge you face with updating an account type in QuickBooks Online (QBO), Kirkwood. Rest assured that I'll help you with this.

Sometimes, an inactive account can prevent you from changing the account details, which can be easily overlooked. In such a case, I suggest you review and check if you have a subaccount that you may have missed. 

To check for an inactive account, here's what you can do: 

1. Go to Chart of accounts and select the mini setting icon. 
2. Select the Include inactive box.

Then, you can proceed to make that account active by clicking the Make active option in the Action column. Once done, you can proceed to edit the account, remove the checkmark, to no longer making them a subaccount of the parent account. Then, hit Save and Close.

However, if you have checked, and the account is active, let's run some basic troubleshooting steps to isolate the problem. We can start by accessing QuickBooks Online in a private browser. This usually resolves any browser-related issues. 

Here's how to open a private window in different browsers:

• Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N.
• Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P.
• Internet Explorer: press Ctrl + Shift + P.
• Safari: press Command + Shift + N.

If you're able to change the account type via the private browser, let's go back to your regular browser and clear its cache.

If the problem persists, I'd suggest reaching out to our QuickBooks Online Support. Agents have the necessary tools, like screen-sharing to get you back up and running. 

I'm also adding these articles for additional resources:

• How to view or change account detail types.
• How to change the type of an existing parent account or sub-account.

Keep me posted on how everything goes in the comment. I'll be happy to answer if you have any follow-up questions. Have a good one.