Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop for Windows and Mac

Reinstallation is required when QuickBooks unexpectedly freezes and crashes. Installing QuickBooks is a simple process, but it requires patience with the product and license numbers. Do not mistake the reinstallation process with the Clean Install of QuickBooks. Both processes are a bit different and give different results. Since we have to fulfil specific requirements for this blog, we head on towards the reinstallation process.

To Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop is simply an easy process. Additionally, in this blog, we have shared an important solution for transferring QuickBooks Desktop to another computer. 

Common Reasons Why You Need to Reinstall QuickBooks

• QuickBooks Crashing or Unresponsive.
• Compatibility Issues with the host or any workstation.
• Missing Files
• QBWUSER.INI File Issues
• Antivirus Interference
• Corrupt Installation Files
• Reboot Loop
• Outdated QuickBooks Version
• Corrupt .NET Framework

These nine reasons are the most common, which is why “QuickBooks Software needs to be reinstalled”. Now, let’s focus on the solution part that is easy to follow for QuickBooks reinstallation. 

Three Simple Installation Guides to Reinstall QuickBooks for Windows 

Solution 1: Uninstall and then Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop

Step 1: Uninstall QuickBooks

• Click on the “Windows Start” menu
• Type “Control Panel” in the “Search” box.
• Enter the “Control Panel” and navigate to “Programs and Features”.

• Within the section, right-click on “QuickBooks”.
• Now, you will be getting an option “Uninstall/Change”.

• Click on “Uninstall” and proceed to complete the uninstallation process.

Now, you have uninstalled the QuickBooks application. Let’s proceed to step 2 and reinstall QuickBooks for Windows.  

Step 2: Reinstall QuickBooks for Windows 

• For reinstalling QuickBooks Desktop, you need an installation CD or the setup file.
• You must have “License Information and a product key” is also needed.
• Proceed with the installation process and follow the prompts to complete it.
• You also have the option to buy QuickBooks from Intuit’s Official Website. For installation, use your login credentials to download the QB Desktop setup files.
• In the last installation step, you will be required to enter the “License Number” and the “Product Number”.
• And, you are required to choose the installation type that is “Express or Custom and Network” that you chose for your accounting process.

• Finally, click “Next” and now, open “QuickBooks”.

System Requirements for QuickBooks Premier 2024, Pro, and QB Enterprise 24.0

Operating System

• Windows 11, 64-bit, natively installed.
• Windows 10, all 64-bit editions, installed natively.
• Windows Server 2022, Standard and Essentials.
• Windows Server 2019, Standard and Essentials.
• Windows Server 2016, Standard and Essentials.

Database Servers

Windows (natively installed)

• Windows Server 2022 Standard and Essentials.
• Windows Server 2019 Standard and Essentials.
• Windows Server 2016 Standard and Essentials.

Browser Requirements

For QuickBooks Desktop 2024, you will require internet access and Google Chrome.  

Hardware and Workstation Requirements

Processor	2.4 GHz minimum
RAM (workstation)	8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
RAM (server)	• 1-5 Users: 8 GB • 10 Users: 12 GB • 15 Users: 16 GB • 20+ users: 20+ GB
Disk Space	• 2.5 GB of disk space (additional required for data files). Additional software: • Microsoft .NET 4.8 Runtime – 60 MB, provided with the installation files. • Intuit Data Protect in QuickBooks Connected Services offerings: • Requires a minimum of 4.0 GB RAM • Twice the size of the largest file set to back up + 100MB or twice the size to restore. The space is Only required from the work folder LocalApplicationData+”Intuit\Intuit Data Protect”. Note: For the best performance, store your QuickBooks data file on a solid-state drive (SSD).
Windows	• North American version of Windows. • Regional settings are supported when set to English. • Administrator rights are required for the server computer when hosting multi-user access. • Natively installed and doesn’t need to run in a virtual environment or emulation software.
Optical drive	A 4X DVD-ROM drive is required for physical CD installations.
Screen resolution	• Display optimized for 1280 x 1024 resolution or higher with up to 2 extended monitors. • Best optimized for the Default DPI setting for a given computer.

Solution 2: Uninstall QuickBooks Desktop Manually and Rename the Installation Folder Manually 

Step 1: Renaming the Folder

• Click the “Start” menu and type “File Explorer”.
• Open the Explorer and fetch the folder that has your QB Company Files.
• We have shared with you some of the file locations. You may find them in one of the locations shared in the table: 

C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)

C:\Users\(current user)\AppData\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)

C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)

64-bit version C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks (year)

• Just right-click on the folder and click “Rename”.

• While “Renaming”, add “Old” at the end of the name.
• We are adding the extension “Old” to prevent it from opening while reinstalling QuickBooks.

Error when Renaming the Folder, Close the Folder using Task Manager

• You need to right-click on the “Windows Taskbar”.  
• Now, select “Task Manager”.

• Select the “Name” column and sort the running application list. 
• Choose the processes that need to be closed and click “End Process” for each file:
  • QBDBMgrN.exe
  • QBDBMgr.exe
  • QBCFMonitorService.exe
  • Qbw32.exe  
• Click “Yes” when the message states, “WARNING: Terminating a process can cause undesired results.” 

Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop When You Move QuickBooks from One Computer to Another

If you are looking to move QB Desktop, you need to use the “Migrator Tool”. Also, you must have “Company Admin Credentials”.

Step 1: Old Computer

• Within the QuickBooks Window, navigate to the file and select “Utilities”.
• Now, choose the option “Move QuickBooks to another computer”.

• Click on “I’m Ready” and then create a “one-time password”.
• You need to follow the instructions and choose “USB Flash Drive”.
• Now, let the files be copied.

Step 2: New Computer

• In the new computer, insert a “USB Flash Drive”. It may happen that the “Migrator Tool” won’t work due to Windows security restrictions.
• To view files, open “Flash Drive” and click twice on the file “Move_QuickBooks.bat”.
• After this second step, you can start the “Migrator Tool”.
• Now, enter the password you created in step 1 and click on “Let’s go”.
• Let the “Migrator Tool” finish the task

Note: It may happen that the “Migrator Tool” does not copy some of the information; you are required to apply further steps to complete the migration.

• Sign in to “Payroll and Payment Services”.
• Sign in to “Intuit Data Protect” to back up the data.
• From your old computer to the New computer, you can now move over any additional QuickBooks company files.
• Now, create a backup file.

Note: We are sharing with you the file details that the Migrator tool certainly copies: 

QuickBooks Desktop details (version and other details) are needed to install QuickBooks Desktop on your new computer.

The three recent company files that you opened on the old computer.

Related files, custom templates & forms

QuickBooks letters and templates

Scheduled and memorized reports

Local attachments

Printer Setting (PrintEng.ini, wpr.ini, and QBPrint.qbp)

Spell Checker (spell.ini and UserDictionary.tlx)

Financial Statement Designer (FSD clients)

Financial Statement Designer (FSD data)

Cash Flow Projector (.cfp)

Business Planner (.bpw)

Loan Manager (.lmr)

Statement writer (for QuickBooks Accountant)

Advanced reports (for QuickBooks Enterprise)

“Migrator Tool” do not copy: 

Multi-user configuration: The Migrator tool will not copy the configuration to your new computer.

Payroll & Payment setup: You are required to sign in again on your new computer to protect your data.

Intuit Data Protect: You need to uninstall the QuickBooks Desktop application from your old workstation. And, you are required to sign in to your new computer. Backups will be available for further use.

Older Company Files: The company files that you did not open recently will not be copied. QuickBooks is designed to copy the three most recently opened files. Other files will require manual work, or you can restore them from “Intuit Data Protect”.

Backup files: No manual backups created will be copied.

Reinstall or move your QuickBooks Desktop installations

• You need the “Product and License number”.
• Then, uninstall the existing QuickBooks application
• On the new computer, download the installation files, or you can insert the CD to install the QuickBooks Desktop application.

Or, you can follow the “Solution 1 –Step 2” for installation. 

Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop for Mac

Uninstall QuickBooks Mac Desktop 

Before uninstalling Desktop, ensure you have QuickBooks Desktop downloaded file or the installation CD with the license number. 

• Close QuickBooks.
• Click on the Finder menu and choose Applications. 
• Drag the QuickBooks icon to the Trash. 

Step 2: Remove QB PLIST files

You are required to remove PLIST files from both the folder User and System. 

User PLIST

• Click on the Finder menu.
• Click on the Library while holding the Option key.
• Open the Preferences folder and PLIST files with the name com.intuit.QuickBooks20XX. 
• Move them to the Trash and then empty it. 

Note: XX is your current QuickBooks version.

System PLIST

• Open the new Finder window and open the Macintosh HD.
• Click on the Library and select Preferences.
• Find PLIST files with the name format com.intuit.QuickBooks20XX. 
• Move the files to the Trash.

Note: XX is your QuickBooks current version.

In case you do not see the Macintosh HD icon in Finder.

• Navigate to the Finder and click on Preferences.
• Now, select the General Tab.
• The hard disk option must be checked. If not, please click on the checkmark box. 
• Empty the Trash. 

Step 3: Restart your PC.

Step 4: Reinstall QuickBooks 

• Launch the installer or insert the disc into the Mac CD drive. 
• The installation window will appear automatically.
• You can now drag the QB icon to your Applications folder. The Applications folder opens by itself.
• Launch the QuickBooks application. 

Use Intuit QuickBooks Free Tools

• Invoice generator
• Payments cost calculator
• Sales tax calculator
• Paycheck calculator
• Timesheet calculator
• Balance sheet template
• Income statement template
• Invoice templates

Conclusion

It is sometimes necessary to reinstall QuickBooks Desktop to fix a few application and system-related issues. We have tailored this blog so that users understand how “QuickBooks Software needs to reinstall” with easy steps. If you are looking for a QuickBooks expert for further queries, you can contact us at: +1(866)500-0076.

FAQs on Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop

1. What are the system requirements for QuickBooks Desktop 2024?

If you do not want any issues with the compatibility for QB Desktop 2024, here are some system requirements: 

• You should have Windows 10 or 11 with a 64-bit edition.
• Windows server must be 2016, 2019, and 2022.
• You must have updated Google Chrome and have proper internet access.

2. What should I do if my system is not compatible with the QB Desktop application?

In case there is an incompatibility between the system and the QB Desktop application, we advise you to upgrade the system or go for “QuickBooks Online”.

3. Is it possible to migrate QuickBooks data from one system to another?

Yes, you can easily migrate the data from QuickBooks. We have provided an easy solution in this blog with simple steps. You can also bookmark this page for future use.