QuickBooks Desktop is one of the most reliable and flexible accounting software that offers many benefits. It has simplified the way accounting and bookkeeping tasks get handled while also being prone to errors users may find frustrating. One difficulty with QuickBooks Desktop is it won’t open, or starts up in an unstable state often enough to give you a headache.

Resolve QuickBooks Desktop many times won’t open or you are not able to run it properly. You get the error message on your screen as “QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error”.  This happens when the installation of QuickBooks has some issues or there is an issue related to the company file.

Many reasons are here that cause you this error while running QuickBooks Desktop. Let’s resolve it. Know below given solutions according to the causes to perform and fix QuickBooks wont open error.

When a QuickBooks Error Occurs, You Need to Remedy it by Opening an Issue.

There are multiple causes to the QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t start or won’t open error. The first thing you need to do is understand how the error occurs and what you can do to make it stop happening.

Sometimes the system freezes or there are errors that appear on the screen, but you might witness issues with your computer. You might be experiencing this due to a variety of situations, discussed further in the section that follows.

What are the Causes that Lead to QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error?

Here are the causes that lead your QuickBooks won’t open or start an error. These causes are mentioned here:-

1. The QuickBooks Desktop Installation is not done properly
2. Windows Operating System is corrupted
3. QBWUSER.ini file is damaged, corrupted, or missing
4. Check the name of the company file that must not be too long
5. The hard drive is corrupted.

Signs and Symptoms of QuickBooks Won’t Open Error

There are a few points that help you to identify the error that is going to happen:-

1. The system got freezes sometimes
2. The input is responding slow
3. The QuickBooks application freezes while working
4. A company data file is not opening
5. You are using the older version of QuickBooks Desktop
6. The installation done is incomplete.

What are the Solutions to fix QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error?

All the solutions are mentioned in detailed steps that help you easily fix the error. First, identify the cause and then go with a suitable solution to fix the error. The solutions are as follows:-

Solution 1- End the process of QBW32.exe

You have to end the file running in the background to help you in fixing the error and proceed further. For this, the steps are:-

1. Go to the Window’s taskbar
2. Right-click on it and select the option Task Manager
3. The Task Manager window opens up
4. In this, click on the tab Processes
5. Then locate the QBW32.exe file
6. Click on the file to select it
7. Now, hit on End Process button to end this process
8. The background process ended; check for the error now.

Solution 3- You have to suppress the installation of QuickBooks Desktop

Suppress the installation of QuickBooks by opening the no company open window. To do this, follow the below steps then check for errors:-

1. Go to the QuickBooks icon on your Desktop screen
2. Press the Ctrl key from the keyboard until you open up the QuickBooks no company open window
3. Right-click on the QuickBooks icon
4. From the further options, click on the option Open
5. In QuickBooks software, you get the screen of No Company Open window
6. After that, release the Ctrl key from the keyboard.

Also Read: QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop Client Workstation Won’t Open

Solution 4- Add a new Windows Admin User

Sometimes the user has no admin rights it won’t able to fix the error then try to fix it by creating or adding a new Windows user with admin rights. The steps are:-

1. To add a new admin user, go to the search field from the Windows Start menu
2. Type Control Panel and then press enter button
3. It opens up the Control Panel window on your screen
4. Click on the User Account option
5. Choose the Manage User option
6. Click on the Add button
7. In the open-up window, mention the name you want to give for the new user and the domain of the administrator
8. After that, hit on the OK button to save the details
9. Click on the Finish button
10. Then it takes you back to the User Account window
11. Again, click on the Ok button and you are done.

Solution 5- Repair QuickBooks Desktop

You are required to repair the QuickBooks Desktop program if you want to give it a try before doing the reinstallation. Follow the repair steps:-

1. Go to the search field from the Windows Start menu
2. Type Control Panel and then press enter button
3. It opens up the Control Panel window on your screen
4. Click on the Programs option
5. Again click on Programs and then choose to uninstall a program option
6. In this, you will see the list of programs that are installed into your Windows system
7. Go to the QuickBooks Desktop
8. Right-click and then choose Uninstall option
9. When the uninstall Wizard opens up it again shows you options to be performed
10. Choose the Repair option
11. Then follow the other steps shown to you one by another
12. When it got repaired then click on the finish button to get it done.

Solution 6- Run Quick Fix My Program

If there are any program problems that cause QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error then it will be resolved after running this tool. Follow the below-mentioned steps:-

1. Make sure that you have close all the programs that are running on your system
2. Now, download the QuickBooks Tool Hub
3. Save the file and wait for a successful download
4. Install the saved .exe file of the QuickBooks Tool hub by double-clicking on it
5. You have to follow all the instructions that you get on your screen to properly install the QuickBooks Tool Hub
6. When the installation is done, click on the Finish button
7. When done go to the Desktop and then right-click on the QuickBooks Tool Hub icon
8. Choose option Run as administrator to open up the tool
9. Further, choose the Program Problems option
10. Under this option, choose the Quick Fix My Program
11. It starts scanning the program to analyze the problem
12. After that, it fixes the issue and notifies you
13. When done you are able to use QuickBooks Desktop.

Solution 7- Run QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool

This tool helps in resolving installation issues facing in QuickBooks Desktop; so you have to run this tool by following below mentioned steps and then check for the error again.

1. Make sure that you have close all the programs that are running on your system
2. Now, download the QuickBooks Tool Hub
3. Save the file and wait for a successful download
4. Install the saved .exe file of the QuickBooks Tool hub by double-clicking on it
5. You have to follow all the instructions that you get on your screen to properly install the QuickBooks Tool Hub
6. When the installation is done, click on the Finish button
7. When done go to the Desktop and then right-click on the QuickBooks Tool Hub icon
8. Choose option Run as administrator to open up the tool
9. Further, choose the Installation Issues option
10. The tool runs and scans for the error
11. After that, it starts fixing the issue to resolve the error
12. When it is done restart your system
13. Now, run QuickBooks and start working on it.

Solution 8- Run Clean Install Tool

You have to run the clean install tool from QuickBooks Tool Hub to properly uninstall and again install the QuickBooks Desktop software. Follow the mentioned steps below:-

1. Make sure that you have close all the programs that are running on your system
2. Now, download the QuickBooks Tool Hub
3. Save the file and wait for a successful download
4. Install the saved .exe file of the QuickBooks Tool hub by double-clicking on it
5. You have to follow all the instructions that you get on your screen to properly install the QuickBooks Tool Hub
6. When the installation is done, click on the Finish button
7. When done go to the Desktop and then right-click on the QuickBooks Tool Hub icon
8. Choose option Run as administrator to open up the tool
9. Further, choose the Clean Install Tool
10. Then it performs the process in which you have to uninstall, repair, and then reinstall the QuickBooks Desktop into your Windows system
11. Here are the steps to get it done easily using the steps mentioned here:-
    1. Uninstall the QuickBooks Desktop
       • In the Windows Desktop
       • Open the Control Panel
       • Then click on the Programs option
       • In Programs, choose the option Programs and Features
       • You will  access the list of installed programs on your Windows screen
       • Search for QuickBooks Desktop, right-click the QuickBooks program after finding it
       • Choose the option Remove or Uninstall from Uninstall/change option
       • The uninstall wizard opens up on your screen
       • Now fully uninstall the QuickBooks Desktop program, follow the Uninstall process through
       • When the uninstall process is finished entirely then you are ready to do the next step of the clean install process.
    2. Rename the folder or files name
       • Open the File explorer
       • Then search for QuickBooks files that you locate in the C drive
       • After locating the file right-click on it
       • Choose option Rename
       • Then you have to add the old at the end of the file or folder name
       • Save the file or folder and then proceed with all other files and folders
       • When done proceed with the re-installation process.
    3. Reinstall the QuickBooks Desktop
       • Reinstall QuickBooks Desktop on your Windows computer after uninstalling and renaming it
       • Download the file on your computer and save it in the location where you can remember it easily
       • You have to double-click on the installer file that is with the .exe file extension
       • The installation process appears, assisting you in successfully installing QuickBooks Desktop
       • One by one, process the instructions displayed to you on your screen
       • Click the Finish button once you’ve completed all the instructions
       • You have now successfully reinstalled QuickBooks desktop on your computer
       • Open QuickBooks and the company file simultaneously to check for errors.

This Read: What to do when QuickBooks database server manager windows firewall is blocking?

Solution 9- Rename or Delete the QBWUSER.ini file

You have to rename the file as sometimes the old file may interrupt your running QuickBooks that causes QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error. For renaming or deleting the file follow the below steps:-

1. Open the File Explorer and to open it you can double-click on the File explorer or you can press and hold Windows + E keys together
2. Go to the left side panel of the window
3. Click on the View tab
4. Further, select the option Show hidden files or you have to make the selection of checkbox that says Hidden files so it shows you
5. You are able to see the hidden files in which you can search for the file QBWUSER.ini file
6. After this, click on This PC or My Computer
7. Further, double-click on the C drive
8. Open the Documents folder and then go to your user name
9. Open the Local Settings and then click on the application data
10. Go to the intuit folder and then open the QuickBooks folder
11. In the folder, locate the QBWUSER.ini file and then right-click on it
12. Choose Rename option and then add the old at the end of the file name
13. If rename process works then ok if not then delete it by clicking on the delete option instead of rename option.

Solution 10- Restart Your Computer

 To refresh all the settings and configurations, restart your system and the steps are:-

1. In your Windows system, go to the Windows Start menu
2. Click on the power button icon
3. Then select the Restart option; now wait for your system to restart
4. After restarting the computer, open the QuickBooks system and check for errors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you get all the reasons and solutions that help you to fix the QuickBooks Desktop Doesn’t Start or Won’t Open Error. You have to perform the solution properly to get it fixed as soon as possible and get back to your work. Still, if you have any glitches then connect with the QuickBooks Desktop helpdesk team. The team members are experts in fixing the issues in meantime. They are available 365 days a year for you so that you won’t face any issues for so long.

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