The qbregistration.dat file is essential for storing QuickBooks Desktop’s product registration and license information, ensuring the software is properly authorized. When you encounter a qbregistration.dat file error in QuickBooks, it typically means this file has become corrupted, damaged, or is missing altogether. This can lead to various error codes, such as Quickbooks Error 3371, and prevent the software from functioning correctly.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the troubleshooting process, helping you address the qbregistration.dat error swiftly and get your QuickBooks back on track.
What Causes the qbregistration.dat Error in QuickBooks?
Read the factors responsible for the qbregistration.dat error in QuickBooks Desktop:
- The license data may be corrupted or damaged
- Incorrect or corrupted installation of QuickBooks Desktop
- Not having enough permissions to QuickBooks for reading the qbregistration.dat file
- Damages or corruption to the Windows MSXML components
- Antivirus might be blocking QuickBooks Desktop processes
What to Do to Fix the qbregistration.dat Error in QuickBooks Desktop?
Below are several ways to fix the qbregistration.dat error in QuickBooks Desktop. If these steps don’t fix the error, contact us at +1(866)500-0076.
1. Re-create the qbregistration.dat file
| Important Note: If you use more than one version of QuickBooks Desktop, you’ll need to add a copy of the italicized text to the qbregistration.dat file. Always paste the additional copy later. Here, you’ll need to replace the bolded items in the new section with the appropriate values for each QuickBooks version. |
- Locate to the QuickBooks file folder and browse the qbregistration.dat file.
C:\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
Quick tip: If you don’t see the file, display hidden files and folders.
- If the qbregistration.dat already exists, rename the file as qbregistration.old.
- Launch a Notepad.
- Press the Windows+R keys, open the Run command.
- Type Notepad in the Run field and press Enter.
- Type this in Notepad:
Note: In Notepad, the red bold text will appear normal. Once you type everything in the Notepad, replace the bold items accordingly:
xx.x
- Replace with 33.0 if you have QuickBooks Desktop 2023
- Replace with 32.0 if you have QuickBooks Desktop 2022
- Replace with 31.0 if you have QuickBooks Desktop 2021
- Replace with 30.0 if you have QuickBooks Desktop 2020
version
- Replace with Pro if you have QuickBooks Pro.
- Replace with SuperPro if you have QuickBooks Premier (not Accountant Edition).
- Replace with an accountant if you have QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition.
- Replace with Bel if you have QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions (not Accountant Edition).
- Replace with belacct if you have QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions Accountant Edition.
000-000
- Replace with your QuickBooks installation product number.
0000-0000-0000-000
- Replace with your QuickBooks license number.
- Name the file as qbregistration.dat and save it.
- Navigate to File and click Save.
- Select All Files in the Save as type list.
- Select the same directory as mentioned in Step 1 (C:\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks).
2. Enable or disable UAC settings
Make sure QuickBooks has the proper permissions to read or write to the qbregistration.dat file:
| Note: Turning off UAC can help troubleshoot QuickBooks Desktop issues, but it’s important to re-enable it afterward to maintain your computer’s security. |
Learn how to modify UAC settings (Windows 10).
- Press the Windows+R keys on your keyboard.
- In the Run window, type Control Panel.
- Click OK.
- Choose User Accounts and then User Accounts (Classic View).
- Hit on Change user account control settings.
Note: Click Yes to continue when prompted by UAC.
- Move the slider:
- Turn UAC OFF by setting it to Never Notify and select OK.
- Turn UAC ON by setting it to Never Notify and select OK.
Note: Click Yes to continue when prompted by UAC.
- Restart your computer so the changes can take effect.
3. Repair the Windows MSXML components
MSXML is a core component of Windows, allowing you to install and run software smoothly. Any damage to it can trigger different errors, such as the QuickBooks qbregistration.dat file error. Repair this component with the following steps:
Register MSXML (64-bit operating system) using the steps below
- Launch the Windows Start menu.
- Type CMD in the search field.
- Right-click on CMD and choose Run as Administrator.
- In the C: prompt, type cd\windows\syswow64.
- Now, type regsvr32 MSXML6.dll and press Enter.
- Try installing QuickBooks Desktop.
Register MSXML (32-bit operating system) using the steps below
- Press the Windows+R keys to open the Windows Start menu.
- In the search field, type cmd.
- Press Enter.
- Type regsvr32 MSXML6.dll, then press the Enter key.
- Try installing QuickBooks Desktop.
4. Modify the antivirus settings
Antivirus software on your computer may accidentally block QuickBooks Desktop.
See where antivirus lists the blocked files, sometimes also known as “quarantine“. You must create exceptions for all the QuickBooks programs to ensure you have the right permissions.
Find the specific steps on your antivirus program’s official site for configuring permissions.
Some software also includes an email filtering feature; you might need to disable it.
5. Manually uninstall QuickBooks and rename installation folders
Manually uninstalling QuickBooks completely removes everything related to the specific version of the program and ensures a clean installation of QuickBooks Desktop, preventing interruptions to software processes.
a. Remove QuickBooks
- Launch the Windows Start menu.
- Type Control Panel in the search field and press Enter.
- Go to Programs and Features or click on Uninstall a Program.
- Choose the version of QuickBooks Desktop you wish to remove from the list of programs.
- Hit on Uninstall/Change, Remove, and then Next.
If you don’t see the same option, make sure to sign in to your computer as an administrator.
b. Rename the folders
- Launch the Windows Start menu.
- In the Windows search, type File Explorer and press Enter.
- Look for the company file folder and open it. Usually, you will find the file in your default QuickBooks folders. These locations would be:
- 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)
- Right-click on the file folder and choose Rename.
- Rename the file by adding .OLD at the end of the folder name. This prevents QuickBooks from opening this folder when reinstalling.
- Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope this detailed guide has helped you understand the cause of the qbregistration.dat file error in Quickbooks and provided you with clear, step-by-step instructions to resolve it. By following these solutions, you should be able to get QuickBooks up and running smoothly.
For further assistance, we recommend reaching out to a QuickBooks expert. Dial our +1(866)500-0076 to connect with QuickBooks ProAdvisors, available 24/7!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the QBRegistration.dat file?
The QBRegistration.dat file is located in the C:\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks folder on your computer. To access it, you may need to enable hidden files and folders in your File Explorer settings because the ProgramData folder is hidden by default.
What is the QBRegistration.dat file?
The QBRegistration.dat file is a critical component of QuickBooks software that stores license and registration information to authenticate the program.
Why does QuickBooks have a problem studying the file qbregistration DAT?
QuickBooks has trouble reading the qbregistration.dat file due to corruption in the file itself, damaged components needed by QuickBooks, or issues with your computer’s settings. Common causes include a corrupted installation and problems with Windows User Account Control (UAC) settings.
How do I create a QBregistration DAT file?
To create a qbregistration.dat file, navigate to C:\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks, open Notepad, and copy the specific code provided by Intuit into it, replacing the bolded placeholders with your QuickBooks version and product details. Save the file as qbregistration.dat in the QuickBooks folder, ensuring the “Save as type” is set to “All Files“.