How to Fix QuickBooks Error 502: Access Denied or Bad Gateway? 

Whether you are trying to log in to QuickBooks Online, run payroll, or view or download forms, you may encounter QuickBooks error 502 due to a server connection failure. Your access to the website might be denied with a message, “Bad Gateway.”

This usually happens when the proxy server, such as your website, receives an invalid response from the server they are trying to connect with, such as Intuit’s servers. This comprehensive guide discusses more about error 502, why it occurs, and what you can do to rectify it. 

What is Bad Gateway Error 502? 

A 502 Bad Gateway is an HTTP status code that shows a communication error between the two web servers. This error typically occurs when a website attempts to connect with another and receives an invalid response from the host, or due to issues such as server overloads, network problems, or configuration errors.

Or we could put it this way: whenever we enter a website address and press Enter, it sends a request through several computers before reaching the primary computer hosting the page. Any of these intermediaries that have difficulty fulfilling your request will return an HTTP code 502 Bad Gateway error to your browser.

Read More – QuickBooks Error 404

What Causes Bad Gateway Error 502 in QuickBooks? 

As discussed above, the Access Denied error code 502 mainly occurs due to an invalid response from one server when connecting to the host. Let’s explore other possible reasons:  

• Expired data in the browser or Intuit, such as cookies and caches
• Intuit might not be a trusted site
• DNS cookies 
• VPN or antivirus software might be blocking the server connection 
• Other background processes or third-party software might be lingering with the browser 

Rectify QuickBooks Error 502: Access Denied When Running QB Online 

In this section, we will explore the various steps to resolve QuickBooks error 502 so that you can enjoy uninterrupted web-based processes.

1. Restart your computer 

Restarting your computer can fix QuickBooks error 502 because it clears temporary glitches in memory, closes frozen processes, and re-establishes network connections.

2. Clear your browser’s cache

Your browser stores files in its cache to speed up website loading on future visits. However, these files can become outdated, leading to problems. Follow the steps below to clear your browser’s cache:

a. Firefox

• Select the menu button and click on Settings. 
• Go to the Privacy & Security panel.
• Click on Clear Data… in the Cookies and Site Data section
• This will open the Clear browsing data and cookies dialog.

• Choose Everything next to When: under the drop-down. Make sure to select only temporarily cached files and pages.
• Hit on Clear.
• Exit the Settings page. 
• All the changes you make will be saved automatically. 

Also Read – Transfer QuickBooks Desktop to Another Computer

b. Google Chrome

• Open Google Chrome on your computer. 
• Select More at the top right and click Delete/Clear browsing data.

• Choose a specific time range, such as Last hour or All time.
• Select the types of information you want to remove. 
• Click on Delete data.
• If you remove cookies when signed in to Chrome, you won’t sign you out of your Google Account. 

c. Safari for Mac

• On your Mac, open the Safari app. 
• Go to History. 
• Select Clear History, then click the pop-up menu.

• Select the date for which you want to clear browsing data. 

d. Safari for iPad and iPhone

i. Delete history, cache, and cookies

• Go to Settings. 
• Select Apps > Safari. 
• Move down the page and select Clear History and Website Data.
• Select the timeframe for clearing, then tap Clear History. This won’t affect your AutoFill details. If the button is gray, there may be no data to delete, or you might need to review your Screen Time web content restrictions.

ii. Clear cookies and cache, but keep your history

• Go to Settings in Safari. 
• Choose Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
• Hit on Remove All Website Data. If this button is gray, it means either there is no data to clear or you might need to check the web content restrictions in Screen Time.

• Select Remove Now. This will clear the data that you used for tracking, and any websites for which you saved the login information for faster loading and browsing.

e. Microsoft Edge

• Go to Settings and More in Microsoft Edge. 
• Select Settings > Privacy, search, and services.

• Hit on Clear browsing data, then select Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
• Choose a specific time range from the drop-down menu under Time range. 
• Select the types of browsing data you wish to clear. For example, you might want to remove the browsing history while keeping the passwords and form fill data.
• Click on Clear now.
• When done, restart your computer. 

Read Also – Verify and Rebuild Data in QuickBooks Desktop

3. Clear Intuit-specific cookies

Resolve technical, web-based issues, such as loading pages or signing in to services like QuickBooks Online:

a. Google Chrome

• Open Google Chrome. 
• Select the More icon at the top. 
• Choose Settings.
• Click on Privacy and security.
• Hit on Cookies and other site data.
• Select See all cookies and site data.
• In the search bar, type “Intuit” and press Enter to find the Intuit-specific cookies. 
• Click on Remove all shown or the trash can icon.
• Restart Google Chrome to save the changes. 

b. Mozilla Firefox

• Open Mozilla Firefox. 
• Select the Menu icon at the top.
• Choose Settings > Privacy & Security.

• Click on Manage Data under Cookies and Site Data.
• In the search field, type “Intuit” in the search bar and press Enter to find Intuit cookies.
• Hit on Remove All Shown > Save Changes.
• Restart Mozilla Firefox for the changes to take effect.

c. Safari

• Open Safari. 
• Choose Safari beside the Apple icon to the top left.
• Go to Preferences.
• Select Privacy and click on Manage Website Data.

• In the search field, type “Intuit” and find Intuit cookies.
• Select Remove All > Remove Now.
• Click Done.
• Restart your Safari browser to save the changes and take effect.

4. Clear the DNS cache 

Clearing the DNS cache can help resolve connectivity issues, fix problems with websites not loading, and enhance your online security and privacy.

• Go to your desktop. 
• Right-click the Start button in the bottom taskbar. 
• Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
• When prompted to allow Command Prompt to make changes, click Yes.

Note: If an administrative login is requested, reach out to your system administrator.

• Enter ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.
• Enter ipconfig /registerdns and hit Enter.
• Enter ipconfig /release and hit Enter.
• Enter ipconfig /renew and hit Enter.
• Enter netsh winsock reset and hit Enter.

• Restart your computer.

5. Add Intuit as a trusted site 

Adding Intuit as a trusted site in your web browser primarily prevents browsers from blocking content and features from Intuit’s websites and services, such as QuickBooks and other Intuit applications. 

a. Add Intuit: Google Chrome

• Open Google Chrome. 
• Select the Customize and control Google Chrome icon. 
• Choose Settings.

• In the left pane, select Privacy and security > Third-party cookies.
• Click Add next to Allowed to use third-party cookies.
• Type intuit.com and click Add to save.

b. Add Intuit: Safari

• Open the Safari app. 
• Type intuit.com
• Press Enter.
• Click on Bookmarks and select Add Bookmark…

• Select Favorites under Add this page to: drop-down. 
• Finally, click Add.

c. Add Intuit: Microsoft Edge

• Open Microsoft Edge. 
• Select the Settings and more … icon. 
• Choose Settings.
• In the left pane, choose Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data.

• Click Add in the Allow section. 
• Type intuit.com. 
• Click Add to save.

6. Try the private window 

If nothing works, try using a private window to avoid cookies and cache stored on the web browser:

a. Google Chrome 

Windows: Ctrl + Shift + N
Mac: ⌘ + Shift + N

b. Edge

Windows: Ctrl + Shift + N
Mac: ⌘ + Shift + N

c. Firefox

Windows: Ctrl + Shift + P
Mac: ⌘ + Shift + P

7. Disable VPN or antivirus software 

A VPN acts as an intermediary that connects your browser and the website’s server, particularly in cases where the server is overloaded, misconfigured, or has a poor connection, thereby interfering with communication between the two. To fix this, disable the VPN temporarily and reconnect once the process is complete.

The server can also be blocked by an antivirus that misidentifies its legitimate server’s traffic as a threat, leading to a blockage due to an overly strict firewall. For the instructions, visit the official website of the antivirus software to configure it for QuickBooks. 

8. Disconnect an account connected to online banking

Disconnecting your bank account won’t cause any of your existing QuickBooks Online data to be lost or deleted.

Feel free to disconnect the account and reconnect with a new one to fix the issue, knowing that no data will be lost during the process.

Follow this link to complete the steps in the product.

• Choose the tile for your bank account. 
• Click on the pencil icon and select Edit account info.
• Toggle settings for the Disconnect this account on save checkbox.

Note: If QuickBooks is busy downloading new transactions, you won’t see this option. Wait a moment for the update to complete and try again.

• Finally, click Save and Close.

Conclusion 

A good server connection allows you to share data between different servers, websites, or to do so seamlessly. Resolve QuickBooks error 502 by clearing the browser’s cookies & caches, DNS caches, and other steps as mentioned above.

If you get stuck or require further help, we recommend consulting with QuickBooks professionals. Dial +1(866)500-0076 to talk to a QB ProAdvisor now!

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Does 502 Bad Gateway mean I’m blocked?

No, error 502 Bad Gateway does not mean you’re blocked; it just indicates a problem between servers, not an issue with the user’s browser or internet connection. This occurs when a server acting as a gateway proxy receives an invalid response from an upstream server.

2. What is a 502 Bad Gateway error? 

A Bad Gateway error 502 means one server has received an invalid response from the other server it was trying to communicate with, such as a gateway or proxy server failing to get a valid reply from an upstream server.

3. What is the root cause of 502 Bad Gateway?

The root cause of a 502 Bad Gateway error can be caused by several factors, including server overload, network connectivity problems, server misconfigurations, DNS issues, or bugs in the website’s code.

4. Does clearing my cache fix a 502 error?

Yes, clearing your browser’s cache can fix a 502 error because it removes outdated or corrupted data that may be causing the problem. If it doesn’t work, try refreshing the page, flushing your DNS cache, or checking your network connection.