Upgrading your QuickBooks Company File

Applies to: All version and editions of QuickBooks.
Prerequisites: None.

Here’s how to upgrade your older company file to work in a newer version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Step 1: Prep your company file

1. Open your original version of QuickBooks. Then open the company file you want to upgrade.
   You must open the company file as the Admin User and in Single-User Mode.
2. Run the Rebuild Tool for your company file. This preps it for the upgrade.
   Select File, then Utilities > Rebuild Data
   
   
   
   In order for you to Rebuild your File, It will perform a Backup.
   
   
3. Save the Backup file in your company's Z: Drive, in a folder named "Backups"
   If no folder exists, please create a folder named "Backups"
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Once the Rebuild is complete, select File > then Exit QuickBooks. 

Step 2: Upgrade your company file

1. Make sure all users are logged out of your company file.
2. Open your new version of QuickBooks Desktop.
3. Select Open or Restore Company if you don't have a company file open. You can also go to the File menu and select Open or Restore Company.
4. Select Open a company file, then Next. If you have a backup company file (QBB) instead of a company file (QBW), select Restore a backup copy and then Local backup.
5. Browse your computer for your company file. You wrote down the file location in Step 1. Select it and then select Open.
6. Sign in to your company file as an admin user.
7. Before you upgrade, QuickBooks automatically creates a backup of your existing company file. You can select Change this default location to save the backup in a specific folder.
8. Select Update Now to start the upgrade.
   
   
9. When QuickBooks is finished, select Done.