How to Upgrade from an Older Version of QuickBooks Desktop

To create a backup of your QuickBooks company file:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop and sign in as an Admin User.
2. Click File > Back Up Company > Create Local Backup.
3. Select Local Backup, then click Next.
4. Choose a location to save the backup file (preferably an external drive or cloud storage).
5. Click Save It Now and then Finish.

💡 Tip: Save the backup file in a secure location to avoid accidental deletion.

QuickBooks Desktop allows you to schedule automatic backups to ensure your data is always protected.

To enable automatic backups:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences.
2. Select Backup from the left panel.
3. Click Automatically Back Up and choose the backup frequency.
4. Confirm the location for backups and click OK.

💡 Tip: Store backup files on an external USB drive or cloud service for extra security.

Before proceeding with the upgrade, make sure your backup file is valid:

• Locate your backup file (ends in .qbb).
• Open QuickBooks and click File > Open or Restore Company.
• Select Restore a Backup Copy and follow the prompts.
• If the file opens correctly, your backup is successful.

Once the backup is verified, you're ready to proceed with the upgrade.

Before installing, you’ll need to download the official QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 installer.

For most users: Download QuickBooks directly from Intuit’s official page:

1. Visit the official Intuit QuickBooks download page.
2. Select your QuickBooks version and edition.
3. Enter your license key and product number (provided at purchase).
4. Click Download and save the file to your computer.

For customers who purchased from BuyQuickBooksLicense.com:

1. Uninstall any old version of QuickBooks before proceeding.
2. Download QuickBooks using this link: Download QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024.
3. Use the license key and product number sent to your email to activate.
4. If you need help, contact our support team.

If you haven’t purchased a license yet, visit our QuickBooks License Store for a one-time purchase license with instant delivery.

Once the download is complete, follow these steps to install QuickBooks:

1. Locate the downloaded QuickBooksSetup.exe file.
2. Double-click the file to begin installation.
3. Click Yes when prompted for permission.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions and accept the license agreement.
5. Enter your QuickBooks license key when prompted.
6. Choose Express Install for standard setup or Custom Install for advanced settings.
7. Click Install and wait for the process to complete.

Note: If you're upgrading from a much older version, you may need to uninstall the previous QuickBooks version first.

After installation, verify that QuickBooks is working correctly:

• Open QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024.
• Click Help > About QuickBooks to confirm the installed version.
• If prompted, allow QuickBooks to update to the latest release.

Once installation is complete, you're ready to activate QuickBooks and upgrade your company file.

When you first launch QuickBooks, you’ll be prompted to enter your license key and product number.

Follow these steps:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop 2024.
2. Go to Help > Activate QuickBooks Desktop.
3. Enter the license key and product number provided during purchase.
4. Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you purchased QuickBooks from us but haven't received your license key, check your email inbox or visit our contact page for support.

Once you enter your license details, QuickBooks will verify them with Intuit’s activation servers.

If QuickBooks does not activate automatically, follow these steps:

• Ensure you have an active internet connection.
• Go to Help > Manage My License > Sync License Data Online.
• If verification fails, restart QuickBooks and try again.
• For activation errors, visit our FAQ page for troubleshooting steps.

If you experience activation errors, try these solutions:

• Error 3371: Delete the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file and restart QuickBooks.
• Invalid License Key: Double-check the product number and license key.
• Activation Server Unavailable: Wait a few minutes and try again.

If activation issues persist, visit our support page for help.

Before upgrading your company file, ensure that you have a backup copy:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop (older version).
2. Go to File > Back Up Company > Create Local Backup.
3. Save the backup file to an external drive or cloud storage.
4. Verify that the backup file (.QBB) has been created successfully.

💡 Tip: If you experience errors opening your backup file later, visit our support page for troubleshooting.

Once you've backed up your company file, follow these steps to upgrade it:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024.
2. Click File > Open or Restore Company.
3. Select Open a Company File and click Next.
4. Browse to locate your existing QuickBooks company file (ends in .QBW).
5. Click Open, and QuickBooks will prompt you to update the file.
6. Read the on-screen instructions and click Update Now.
7. Wait for the process to complete, then click Done.

💡 Note: The upgrade process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of your company file.

After upgrading your company file, verify that it opens correctly:

• Open QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024.
• Go to File > Open Recent Company and select the upgraded file.
• Check that your transactions, accounts, and reports are intact.
• If anything is missing, restore from your backup and try upgrading again.

💡 Tip: If you experience errors, refer to the FAQ page for troubleshooting help.

After upgrading, review your QuickBooks settings to confirm that everything is configured as needed.

To check company settings:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences.
2. Review Accounting, Sales Tax, and Payroll settings.
3. Confirm that the correct company name and contact details are listed.
4. Check multi-user mode settings if applicable.
5. Click OK to save changes.

💡 Tip: If you use QuickBooks Multi-User Mode, ensure that all users have the correct access permissions.

If you use QuickBooks Online Banking or QuickBooks Payment Processing, you may need to reconnect your accounts after the upgrade.

To reconnect bank accounts:

1. Go to Banking > Bank Feeds.
2. Click Set Up Bank Feeds for an Account.
3. Select your bank and enter your login credentials.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to sync transactions.

To re-enable QuickBooks Payment Processing:

• Go to Customers > Credit Card Processing.
• Verify that your merchant account is linked correctly.
• Run a test transaction to confirm payment processing is working.

💡 Tip: If transactions fail to sync, check your bank’s security settings or visit our support page.

After upgrading, run financial reports to verify that all data transferred correctly.

To test your reports:

1. Go to Reports > Company & Financial.
2. Run a Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet report.
3. Compare the reports with your pre-upgrade backup data.
4. If discrepancies are found, restore the backup and retry the upgrade.

💡 Tip: If account balances appear incorrect, run the Verify & Rebuild Data Tool under File > Utilities.

To improve workflow efficiency, customize QuickBooks for your business needs:

• Set up custom invoice templates under Lists > Templates.
• Adjust chart of accounts if needed.
• Enable QuickBooks Receipt Scanner to digitize expenses.
• Configure user roles and permissions for team members.

💡 Tip: If you need further assistance setting up QuickBooks, visit our contact page for expert support.