I’m Donna, and I’m seriously losing patience over something that should be simple check printing calibration. In QuickBooks Desktop Accountant, I’ve gone through the check alignment process multiple times. I get everything adjusted perfectly top margin, vertical shift, print test and it finally prints correctly.
But the problem is, the moment I log out and log back in, all those settings disappear. It’s like the calibration never saved. The checks are back to printing misaligned too high, cut-off amounts, and even missing signature lines. I’ve tried saving the printer settings, checked for admin rights, and even tested on a different user account, but nothing sticks.
This isn’t just a minor annoyance it’s affecting our ability to issue professional checks to clients and vendors. I can’t afford to waste pre-printed checks or go through the alignment process every single day. It’s eating into time I should be spending reconciling and closing out monthly reports.
I need a solid fix now. Whether it’s a permissions issue, a corrupted printer config file, or a setting deep inside QuickBooks, I need the check alignment settings to stay saved permanently across sessions. This isn’t sustainable, and I need immediate guidance to get it resolved once and for all.
Hi Donna, you’re not the only one facing this frustrating issue. Many QuickBooks Desktop Accountant users find that even after aligning their checks perfectly, top margins, signature lines, and spacing, the settings reset every time they log out and back in.
Instead of saving your check alignment preferences, QuickBooks reverts to its default layout. This leads to misaligned prints, cut-off fields, and wasted check stock, affecting your ability to issue clean, professional payments.
If you’ve already:
- Used the Check/Paycheck Printer Setup multiple times
- Printed successful test checks
- Verified printer settings and admin permissions
Even after trying several methods, you still lose the check alignment settings, which disappear in QuickBooks Desktop Accountant.
Let’s break down why QuickBooks Desktop doesn’t retain your check alignment and what you can do to fix it permanently, so you don’t have to realign checks every day.
Why Does QuickBooks Desktop Keep Resetting Check Alignment?
This issue typically happens due to one or more of the following:
| Common Causes for Check Alignment Reset | |
| Cause | Description |
| Corrupted QBPrint.qbp File | This file saves QuickBooks printer and alignment preferences. If it’s damaged or overwritten, alignment settings reset when QuickBooks is closed and reopened. |
| Insufficient Admin Permissions | Without full administrator rights, QuickBooks may not have permission to write changes to system configuration files, causing alignment settings to be lost. |
| User-Specific Profile Settings | Check alignment may be saved per QuickBooks or Windows user profile. If you switch users or devices, the settings may revert to default for that profile. |
| Outdated or Mismatched Printer Driver | An incompatible or outdated driver may prevent QuickBooks from properly applying saved alignment margins, causing misprints or ignored formatting changes. |
How to Permanently Save Check Alignment in QuickBooks Desktop Accountant?
The following steps target these issues so QuickBooks can save your alignment settings properly, no more daily recalibrations or wasted checks.
Step 1: Run QuickBooks as Administrator
- Close QuickBooks completely.
- Click the QuickBooks Desktop icon.
- Select Run as Administrator.
- Log in and realign the check using File > Printer Setup > Check/Paycheck.
- Print a test check and confirm alignment.
- Log out and log back in to verify it saved.
Note: Admin access is required to write printer config settings to the QBPrint.qbp file.
Step 2: Delete and Regenerate the QBPrint.qbp File
If your alignment keeps resetting despite admin access, your printer configuration file can be corrupted.
To fix it:
- Close QuickBooks.
- Go to:
C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks - Locate and rename the file QBPrint.qbp to QBPrint.old.
- Reopen QuickBooks.
A fresh QBPrint.qbp file will be auto-created.
- Now, go to File > Printer Setup > Check/Paycheck.
- Realign and test print your checks.
- Log out, log back in, and test again.
Step 3: Set Default Printer and Check Compatibility
- Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
- Make sure the correct printer (used for checks) is set as default.
- Click on Properties > Advanced
- Confirm the latest driver is installed.
- Avoid using “virtual printers” (like PDF tools) for check setup.
Note: Using an outdated or mismatched driver can interfere with how QuickBooks applies margin shifts or paper settings.
Step 4: Check If Alignment Resets for All Users
If you’re in a multi-user environment, test alignment across:
- Admin account
- Standard user account
- Another Windows profile
If alignment resets only for one user:
- That user’s QuickBooks preferences or Windows printer mapping needs to be reset.
- Try creating a new Windows user profile as a workaround.
Best Practices to Prevent Alignment Reset in Future
- Always run QuickBooks as admin when changing printer settings.
- Avoid changing check alignment while running QuickBooks in hosted mode or remote desktop.
- Print checks from a single workstation to avoid printer mapping conflicts.
- Back up the QBPrint.qbp file after a successful setup.
FAQs
Does this issue affect QuickBooks Online versions too?
No, QuickBooks Online does not support printing on pre-printed checks in the same way. It uses fixed alignment formats and PDF preview tools, which do not rely on saved printer config files.
Will reinstalling QuickBooks fix the issue?
Only if the problem is due to corruption in your config files. Try deleting and regenerating the QBPrint.qbp file first. Reinstalling should be a last resort.
Can I transfer alignment settings to another computer?
You can copy the working QBPrint.qbp file to the same location on another computer. Make sure QuickBooks is closed during the transfer.
Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “How to Stop QuickBooks Desktop Accountant from Resetting Check Alignment Settings Every Time You Log In?” is applicable to all supported versions, including QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Accountant, and Enterprise. It is designed to work with operating systems such as Windows 7, 10, and 11, as well as macOS.