Looking to download QuickBooks Desktop? Many QuickBooks users worldwide have shared their concerns regarding the concrete steps to fix the issue of downloading, installing, and activating QuickBooks. You are at the right place for everything you need to complete the task of activating QuickBooks Desktop 2024.
The surprise is that we have managed to convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac. We have shared the system requirements you should know for both Windows and Mac to run QuickBooks.
You can bookmark this guide for future use! It covers the information you won’t find anywhere in a single place.
System Requirements for QuickBooks Desktop for Windows and Mac
Knowing the system requirements is important before you use QuickBooks Desktop program. Now, you can check if you system is fulfilling the required space, RAM and more.
What is my device’s name and model?
To find your device name and model, use these steps:
- Click on the Windows Start menu
- Type Settings and enter the folder
- Select System and then click on About.
- You can see the device name and the version of Windows.
Which version do I have?
- Click on the Windows Start menu.
- Search for Settings in the search box.
- Now, in the Settings app, select System.
- Click on “About” to view your Windows version.
Confirm Your Device Specifications
You can use these steps to find your Windows version and edition.
- Search Setting in the Windows search box.
- Select System in the Settings.
- Click on “About” to view the specifications.
Check details about your device under device specifications, including:
- Processor type.
- RAM installed.
- If your system is running a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows version.
Steps to Check System’s Storage
- Search for Settings in the search box of Windows Start menu.
- Select System.
- Click on Storage.
- Now, you will have all the information regarding the storage of the PC.
If you are using multiple drives,
- Click on Advanced storage settings
- Select Storage used on other drives to see the available storage on all drives at once.
Download QuickBooks Desktop for Windows
These are steps and a link to download QuickBooks.
- Go to download and Updates.
- Select your country, product and version as shown in the image.
- Click on Download.
- Save the file to the folder.
Even if you are looking for QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2024 Download, you can follow the same download pattern.
How to install QuickBooks Desktop?
- Locate the download file.
- Open the setup.
- Keep your license and product number handy
- Select Express Install or Custom and Network Options.
- Click on Install and launch QuickBooks.
Activate QuickBooks Desktop
- Launch QuickBooks
- Click on the Help menu
- Click on Activate QuickBooks
- Follow the on-screen instructions and verify your details.
Now, we are moving forward to learn how to Download QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
Install and set up steps for QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
Step 1: Check Requirements and ensure QuickBooks Desktop for Mac will run on your computer
Check the system requirements above and confirm.
Step 2: To find your License and Product Numbers
- Digital Copy: If you bought QuickBooks digitally, then you must have the license and product number in your email.
- Physical Box: You could find the license and product number in the scratch-off label on the package.
Step 3: Now, download and install QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
- Click on the link to download your QuickBooks Desktop for Mac version.
- Close all the applications in the background.
- You need to open the installer or insert the CD into the drive.
- Automatically, the QuickBooks installation window will open
- You are required to drag the QuickBooks icon to the Applications folder.
- The Applications folder would open automatically.
- Now, open QuickBooks on your Mac.
While setting up your QuickBooks Desktop, if you need to know further details regarding your Desktop, we have covered steps that will direct you to the information.
Download and Install QuickBooks Desktop 2024 multiple versions on one computer
If you are a consistent user of QuickBooks or you have lots of QB clients, you can use both the newer and older versions of the accounting application.
You can use multiple versions, such as QuickBooks 2024, 2023, or 2022, and any or all editions (Pro, Premier, or Enterprise) on the same computer. Apply these specific steps to install each version or edition one at a time. Before you start
Here are some important points you must know:
- If you wish, you can use multiple versions of QuickBooks Desktop simultaneously. For example, you can work in QB Pro 2023, and you can use QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2024.
- On the other hand, if you are using the Accountant edition, you can only use the same version of Premier and Enterprise.
- However, you are allowed to install different versions of QuickBooks Pro and Premier. For example, QuickBooks Pro 2018 and QuickBooks Premier 2019. To install the QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premier, you can use the same install file.
- In your system, you can install the same version of QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, or Enterprise.
- You cannot install both the industry-specific edition of QuickBooks for each version. For example, you can either install QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2023 Retail or QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2023 Contractor.
Note: You need to know that QuickBooks Desktop Accountant is an industry-specific Edition. If you are an accountant, you can switch to any other specific industry editions of QB Desktop.
- Do not try to mix and match different editions of QuickBooks and different regional versions on the same PC. You can use a virtual machine or a web hosting method to create such an environment for each region.
- It is difficult to share data or company files between the QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise and Pro or Premier. You also cannot share data between different versions of QuickBooks
Install multiple versions of QuickBooks Desktop
Use the steps to install each version and edition of QuickBooks Desktop.
If you have not already, download your version or edition.
- You can save the file where you can easily find it, like your Windows desktop.
- Open the downloaded file QuickBooks.exe.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- When you get to the installation type, choose Custom and Network options.
- In this case, do not choose Express.
- Click on a custom network option.
- If you are planning to use QuickBooks only on this computer and not share your files over a network, click on I’ll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer.
- If you are going to use a multi-user network, select either I’ll be using… And or I will NOT be using depending on your setup.
- While proceeding to install multiple versions or editions of QuickBooks, the installation wizard will ask you to replace the already installed application.
- To avoid overwriting the data, you can create unique install folders for each edition and version.
- Moreover, choose Change the install location when you are asked Upgrade or Change Installation Location window.
- Now, click on Browse.
- Right-click on the window’s screen and create a new folder.
Note: – Do not select the existing QuickBooks folder or any folders that have QuickBooks info.
- Follow the on-screen steps to finish installation.
You need to repeat these steps for each QuickBooks edition and version and edition. Ensure to have a separate folder for each installation.
After the installation of QuickBooks, you need to run an update for the latest release of the accounting application:
- Go to Help menu.
- Click on Update QuickBooks.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
If you wish for automatic updates, schedule automatic updates so you do not have to do it manually.
Note: There is a possibility that QuickBooks may not run updates automatically if you have multiple editions like Pro, Premier, Enterprise for the same version (year). You need to update each version manually to get the latest updates.
Update QuickBooks 2024 to the latest release
Unable to install the update
It is possible that an update may not advance to the next release number. Or you may face an error during the installation update.
Solution 1: Download the update again
Reapply these steps a couple of times to see if the release number advances.
- Go to Help
- Select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
- Click on Update Now > Get Updates.
- Close and re-launch the QuickBooks to install the update again.
- If the release number does not appear advance, try Solution 2.
Solution 2: Use Task Manager
- Close the QuickBooks application
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Del
- Task Manager window will open.
- Navigate to details tab and select each background process to close it.
- QBW32.exe or QBW.exe
- QBCFMonitorService.exe
- qbupdate.exe
- QBDBMgr.exe or QBDBMgrN.exe
- QBMapi32.exe
- Right click on the QuickBooks Icon.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Now, again run the update.
- Convert a QuickBooks for Windows file to QuickBooks for Mac
Steps to Convert QuickBooks for Windows File to QuickBooks for Macintosh-compatible
Looking to move from QB Desktop Windows to QB Desktop Mac? If yes, apply the steps. Also, note that you can only move a QuickBooks company file from Desktop Pro, Premier, or Enterprise Accountant editions.
Step 1: On your Windows PC
Update to the latest version of QB Desktop for Windows.
- Open the file as admin
- Go to the File menu
- Select Utilities
- Click on Copy Company File for QuickBooks Mac and follow the on-screen instructions.
- QuickBooks will create a backup file with the name MAC.qbb.
- A message will pop up, “QuickBooks for Windows might be a better fit for your company”.
Note: You are required to check the data list that will not be converted from Windows to Mac. We have shared the data list for both that will get and not be converted.
- Click on Yes if you want to continue.
- Click on Save and name the file in the folder.
Note: – Use of special characters is not recommended.
Now, you need to move the concerned files to your Mac system. You can use any storage device to do so, such as a USB flash drive.
Step 2: Restore the MAC.qbb backup on your Mac system
For your awareness, let us inform you that the MAC.qbb file is a copy of a QuickBooks Desktop company file. You can restore it in QuickBooks for your Mac system.
- Update Mac’s QuickBooks Desktop for the latest version.
- Close the QuickBooks
Note:- Ensure to copy the backup to the Documents folder in your Mac.
- Re-launch the QB Desktop on Mac.
- Click on the File.
- Select Open Company and choose the Mac.qbb file.
- Click on Open.
- Select OK if you are looking to restore the QuickBooks for Windows file.
- Name a restored file and save it.
Data this is converted to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
- 1099 categories
- Account list (chart of accounts)
- Admin password
- All list reports
- Audit trail
- Budgets
- Classes
- Contacts data
- Custom field definitions
- Customer list
- Customer message list
- Customer type list
- Employee list (notes will not be converted)
- History of QuickBooks versions used with the data file
- Income and expense tracking by class (available in QuickBooks for Mac using Profit & Loss by Class reports)
- Item list
- Job costing data (available in QuickBooks Desktop Mac using Job Profitability reports)
- Job types list
- Links between pay items and other items
- Memorized transactions
- Multiple estimates per job
- Notes
- Other names list (without notes)
- Payment method list
- Payment terms list
- Vendor list (notes will not be converted)
- Shipping via list
- Vendor type list
- To do list (alerts will not be converted)
- Preferences
- Company name and address
- Which features are enabled
- Reconcile
- Reminders (alerts will not be converted)
- Shipping via list
- Time and activity records
- To do list (alerts will not be converted)
- Transaction statistics
- Transactions and their links:
- Bills
- Deposits
- Invoices
- Payments
- Transfers
- Vehicle list
- Vendor list (notes will not be converted)
- Vendor type list
Data that would not be converted from QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Windows to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
Important: QuickBooks for Mac does not support multiple currencies. It is because accounts and balances are affected by the multiple and home currency settings.
- These settings cannot be changed in QuickBooks for Windows once they have been set.
- It has been noticed that if any user has used multiple currencies in the Windows company file, then the user will not be able to convert their data to QuickBooks for Mac.
- From Windows to Mac, some features and data won’t be converted, including (but not limited to) the following:
- If you have used multiple currencies in QuickBooks for Windows, please provide any data.
- Intuit integrated payroll and payroll list items.
- For QB Desktop Mac, Online banking transactions that have not been accepted into a register would not be converted. However, the transactions that have been accepted will appear as payments, deposits, and transfers with associated links.
- Online banking aliases
- Data that would not be converted includes customized settings for forms, including statements, invoices, estimates, and purchase orders.
- It would not transfer multi-user data, such as usernames.
- User passwords (QuickBooks for Mac supports administrator password)
- Memorized reports
- Data that will not convert includes business planning, expert analysis, and business optimization tools.
- Customized price levels
- Integration with third-party applications, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and ACT
- Merchant account services (you’ll need to set this up again in QuickBooks for Mac)
- Sales order and back order tracking (available in Premier versions of QuickBooks for Windows)
- Assembly items (available only in Premier versions of QuickBooks for Windows) will be converted into non-inventory part items.
- Budgets created without an associated account
- Transaction type “EFP payroll” (will convert into a payroll liability check)
- Workers comp list
- Fixed asset item list
- Multiple “ship to” addresses, Preferred Send method, and payment information for Customer: Jobs.
- User-added columns to lists
QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Updates and more
Microsoft Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
For Windows 10, Microsoft will stop providing free software updates from Windows Update, security fixes, and technical assistance from October 14, 2025. You are recommended to use Windows 11.
Conclusion
Thanks for being with us! We are excited to know that you must have set up your QuickBooks accounting application. Now, you are all set to boost your business growth. We would like to inform you that if you need any further help, contact a QuickBooks expert at +1(866)500-0076. Also, a quick reminder, you can bookmark this blog on Download QuickBooks Desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What should I do if my system does not meet the minimum requirements?
If your system fails to meet the requirements of the QuickBooks application Desktop 2024, you can upgrade your PC. In case you do not have an option to upgrade your PC, you can move to QuickBooks Online.
2. How to download and install QuickBooks Desktop 2024?
- Go to download and Updates.
- Select your country, product, and version in the boxes.
- Click on Download.
- Save the file to the folder.
- Locate the download file.
- Open the setup.
- Keep your license and product number handy.
- Select Express Install or Custom and Network Options.
- Click on Install and launch QuickBooks.
3. How to download QuickBooks Desktop to a new computer?
Within QuickBooks
- Go to the File menu,
- Click on Utilities.
- Then click on Move QuickBooks to another computer.
- Now, click on I am Ready and create an OTP.
- Finally, follow the instructions and choose a USB flash drive.
- Let the files be copied.
4. Can I put my QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2024 on my laptop?
Yes, you are just required to install QuickBooks Desktop on your laptop and restore your company file as a backup.
5. How can I activate QuickBooks Desktop?
- Download and launch QuickBooks
- Click on the Help menu
- Click on Activate QuickBooks
- Follow the on-screen instructions and verify your details.