QuickBooks Has Stopped Working? Fix It Now
Is your “QuickBooks has stopped working,” and you are unable to accomplish your accounting tasks? Well, this issue usually appears with the QuickBooks installation or damage in the QBWUSER.INI file. Other factors that trigger this issue involve damage or corrupt sectors on the hard disk, a damaged Windows operating system, and a long company file name. So, it’s essential to address the QuickBooks has stopped working error message with the troubleshooting methods explained in this post.
What Do You Understand By QuickBooks Has Stopped Working Error?

The “QuickBooks Has Stopped Working” error usually appears when the software fails to open or crashes unexpectedly. Users may see an error message on their screen stating that QuickBooks has encountered a problem and needs to close. This issue can be frustrating and disruptive, especially when you are in the middle of critical accounting tasks. Now, understanding the root causes of this issue is essential to permanently fix this problem. So, let’s move to the next section and find out the reasons.
Why do users Strike With the QuickBooks Not Responding Error?

The ” QuickBooks not responding error often appears while trying to launch the QuickBooks Desktop application. However, this issue may arise due to numerous other reasons, which are discussed below. So, let’s know about all of them to rectify the problem smoothly.
- Damage or corruption is present in the QBWUSER.INI file.
- The availability of damaged or corrupt sectors on your hard disk.
- Inappropriate installation of the QuickBooks Desktop on the Windows operating system.
- If the name of your data file exceeds the required character limit.
- Sometimes, this issue may be due to the presence of damage in the Windows operating system.
- An outdated QuickBooks Desktop may also trigger the ” QuickBooks has stopped running error.
How to Identify the QuickBooks Not Opening Error?
The following are the indications you may experience when the QuickBooks not opening error arises.
- The users may get the warning messages on their screen, such as “QuickBooks has stopped working” or “QuickBooks is not responding.”
- When QuickBooks fails to open, it starts flashing a blank or white screen without loading any content.
- Sluggish performance of the QuickBooks application as it takes a long time to load.
- Users might receive prompts from the operating system indicating that QuickBooks has encountered a problem and needs to close.
- Clicking on QuickBooks’ icon or menu options may result in no response, indicating that the program is not functioning correctly.
Top Methods to Fix the QuickBooks Has Stopped Working Error
If you are struggling with the ” QuickBooks has stopped working error and are unable to run the QuickBooks program, then fix it soon. For that, you must carry on with the troubleshooting methods listed below for immediate resolution.
Method 1: Provide a New Name to the QBWUSER.INI file
The QBWUSER.Ini file in QuickBooks is used to keep the initialization information. In case this file is either missing from Windows or it is damaged, then you may get the ” QuickBooks has stopped responding issue. Therefore, to address the issue, you may change the name of the QBWUSER.INI file. For that, use the procedure given below.

- Exit from the QuickBooks application if it’s already running on your system.
- Now, access the folder holding the QBWUSER.ini file. You will get this file in the following location: “Users[Your user name]AppDataLocalIntuitQuickBooks [year].”
- If you couldn’t get the folder, you must enable hidden files and folders.
- Now, right-click the QBWUSER.ini file and tap on Rename.
- Thereon, insert.OLD at the end of the file name (as in QBWUSER.ini.old).
- Next, change the name of the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file.
- Finally, relaunch the QuickBooks Desktop application and see if it’s working.
Suppose you are able to launch the file after renaming either QBWUSER.INI or EntitlementDataStore.ecml, try accessing the sample data file.
After this, if you are able to launch the data file but not on your own, copy the file to a distinct folder. Try launching the file from a new location. If you are able to access the file, then the issue is due to the damaged folder or inappropriate folder permissions.
Method 2: Get Ready to Use QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
The ” QuickBooks Desktop won’t open issue may arise when there is damage or corruption with the installation of the QuickBooks software. So, to configure the damage with the QuickBooks application, you may run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.

Method 3: Repair the QuickBooks Program With Quick Fix My Program
By running the Quick Fix My Program in QuickBooks, you can put an end to the background running processes. After this, it will run a Quick Repair on your QuickBooks application to address the issue.

- Initially, launch the latest QuickBooks Tool Hub 1.6.0.8 .
- Now, open the Intuit Tool Hub and then click the Program Problems tab.
- Choose the highlighted Quick Fix My Program option.
- Finally, launch the QuickBooks Desktop and then access your data file to see if the application is running properly.
Method 4: Perform Scanning and Repairing Bad Sectors on the Disk
Bad sectors present on the disk may also prevents users from running the QuickBooks Desktop application. Thus, it results in a QuickBooks Desktop not working issue. To scan and repair the bad sectors on the hard drive, carry on with the following steps.
- Access the Windows File Manager and then right-click on C drive.
- After this, tap on the Properties option and browse to the Check Now option below the Tools menu.
- Tick-mark the box next to the Automatically fix file system errors and scan. Then attempt for recovery of bad sectors on the hard disk.
- Press the Start menu and then wait unless the Windows complete the scanning and repairing process.
Method 5: Generate a New Windows User
If you notice that QuickBooks is not opening after the Windows update, try creating a new Windows user. Creating a new Windows user account can help resolve issues caused by a corrupted user profile. Take a look at the steps to do so:
- Access the Settings app using the Windows + I keys.
- Next, click Accounts in the Settings app window.
- From the Accounts section, select Family & Other Users from the menu on the left.
- Tap on the Add someone else to this PC under the Other users tab.
- Now, mention an email or phone number for the new account.
- For creating a local account, choose the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option.
- Thereon, hit the Add a user without a Microsoft account alternative and enter a username, password, and password hint for the new account.
- Finally, hit the Next option to create the account. After completing all these steps, try opening your QuickBooks application. If it’s still not opening, perform the following method.
Method 6: Use Compatibility Mode to Run QuickBooks
By running QuickBooks in Compatibility Mode, you can resolve issues related to compatibility with your operating system. Maybe these compatibility issues caused your QuickBooks has stopped working. Perform the instructions carefully:
- Search for the QuickBooks desktop shortcut or the executable file (usually QBW32.exe or QBW64.exe, depending on your version).
- Once you find the file, right-click the QuickBooks icon or executable file.
- Tap on the Properties alternative from the context menu. Then, choose the compatibility tab from the Properties window.
- Now, tick-mark the checkbox next to the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” option.
- Choose an earlier version of Windows that is known to be compatible with your QuickBooks version by clicking the drop-down menu.
- Finally, tap on Apply and then click the OK option to save all the above changes.
Method 7: Scan for Malware when QuickBooks Isn’t Opening after the Windows Update
If your QuickBooks is not opening after the Windows update, you must scan for malware and virus infections. Such scanning attempts ensure QuickBooks remain secure and well-functional. Have a look at the following steps:
- Ensure that you are running the most latest version of the antivirus software. For this, open your antivirus program and check for updates.
- Next, disconnect your computer from the internet to prevent malware from communicating with external servers during the scan.
- You must run a full system scan and then open your antivirus software.
- Choose either the full or comprehensive system scan option. Running this scan will thoroughly review all files and folders on your computer.
- Now, start the scan. The scanning process may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of system files.
- Thereon, if your antivirus software detects any threats, it will prompt you with options to remove the malicious files.
- Next, use the on-screen instructions to address the detected threats.
- Finally, after completing the scanning and removal process, restart your computer to apply all the changes.
Conclusion
QuickBooks has stopped working is a complex issue that may prevent users from accomplishing their ongoing business. To fix this issue, you must repair the damaged hard disk sectors. You can do this by using Quick Fix My Program or the Install Diagnostic Tool. If the error persists, seek help from our BizBooksAdvice professionals for quick assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):-
Question 1: Why is QuickBooks crashing?
Ans. You can resolve the QuickBooks crashing issue by running the Quick Fix My Program through the QuickBooks Tool Hub. If it won’t help, then try running the Verify & Rebuild data utility.
Question 2: How do I know if my QuickBooks file is corrupted?
Ans. To verify that your QuickBooks file is corrupted, you must run the QuickBooks Verify data function. By this, it will confirm the corruption in QuickBooks and then use the rebuild data.
Question 3: How to fix the QuickBooks Desktop crashing issue?
Ans. To address the QuickBooks Desktop crashing issue, do the following:
- Firstly, right-click on the QuickBooks icon on the desktop and click Properties.
- Select “Run this program in compatibility mode” from the Compatibility tab.
- Now, tap on Windows 7 and mark the Run this program as an administrator checkbox.
- Finally, hit the Apply and then the OK tab to complete.
Question 4: How can I address the “QuickBooks has stopped working” error?
Ans. You can fix this error by performing the following steps:
- renaming the QBWUSER.INI file,
- running the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
- updating QuickBooks.
Question 5: QuickBooks has stopped working. What should I do?
Ans. If QuickBooks has stopped working, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:
- Restart QuickBooks and Your Computer: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening QuickBooks or restarting your computer can fix temporary issues.
- Check for Updates: Ensure that both QuickBooks and your operating system are up to date. Go to the “Help” menu in QuickBooks and select “Update QuickBooks Desktop” to check for the latest updates.
- Run QuickBooks as Administrator: Right-click the QuickBooks icon and select “Run as Administrator.” This ensures that QuickBooks has the necessary permissions to operate properly.
- Verify Company File: A damaged company file can cause QuickBooks to stop working. Use the QuickBooks File Doctor tool to diagnose and repair file issues.
- Disable Antivirus or Firewall: Sometimes, antivirus or firewall software can interfere with QuickBooks. Temporarily disable them to see if QuickBooks starts working. Be sure to re-enable them afterward.
- Check for Conflicting Programs: Some third-party programs may conflict with QuickBooks. Try running QuickBooks in Safe Mode to see if that resolves the issue.
- Reinstall QuickBooks: If none of the above steps work, you might need to uninstall and then reinstall QuickBooks to restore it to its default settings.
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