Hi, this is Catherine. I’m currently handling payroll and workforce time tracking for our mid-sized contracting business, and I’ve run into a serious problem that’s slowing everything down. We use TSheets (QuickBooks Time) to track employee hours in the field, and normally it syncs seamlessly with our QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise system. But lately, it’s just not working.
When I run the sync using the QuickBooks Web Connector, it tells me it’s completed, but when I open QuickBooks, none of the hours show up — not in the weekly timesheets, not under individual employees, and definitely not in the payroll module. It’s like the sync is happening in name only. I’ve already made sure that both apps are logged in using admin credentials, our company file is open, and no background processes are blocking the Web Connector.
I’ve tried updating both programs, rebooting the system, and even unchecking and rechecking the TSheets integration in the preferences. Still nothing. And the worst part? Payroll is due tomorrow morning. I can’t process paychecks if the time data doesn’t come in, and manually entering hours for 35+ employees is just not a reliable or sustainable solution.
We depend on this integration every week to ensure accurate payroll, cost tracking, and compliance reporting. At this point, I need someone who understands this sync mechanism inside and out. I don’t want temporary workarounds I need a fix that ensures this doesn’t happen again next week. Please help me get this resolved before it impacts my team’s paychecks.
Hi Catherine,
You’re not the only one dealing with this frustrating payroll disruption where QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) just won’t sync hours into QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, even though the Web Connector says everything went through. The sync appears to complete without errors, but when you open QuickBooks, the time data is nowhere to be found.
You’ve already taken all the right steps:
- Logged in with admin credentials
- Made sure your company file is open
- Updated both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Time
- Even rebooted the system and reset the integration preferences
Yet still, no employee hours show up, not in the weekly timesheets, not under individual employees, and not even in the payroll module. It’s like the sync happens in name only, right when you need it most.
With payroll scheduled for tomorrow morning and over 35 employees relying on precise paychecks, this situation represents a significant operational failure rather than a mere technical glitch.
This problem arises due to different reasons such as hidden mapping error, a damaged sync file, or time entries in QuickBooks Time that haven’t been exported. It’s important to find a solid solution right away that fixes the current issue and keeps things working smoothly in future payroll periods.
Lets walk you through the common causes and permanent fixes to get QuickBooks Time syncing properly with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise so you can stay compliant, accurate, and on time with payroll.
Why This Sync Fails Even When It Says ‘Complete’
The sync completes because the Web Connector handshake is successful, but:
- Time entries are not approved or exported from QuickBooks Time
- Employee names or job mapping don’t match between QuickBooks Time and Desktop
- .QWC file is outdated or corrupted, silently breaking the data push
- Company file permissions or file access block proper data entry
How to Fix It Before Payroll Is Due
To fix the issue follow the necessary steps:
Step 1: Approve and Export Time in QuickBooks Time
- Go to Time Entries > Approvals
- Approve all entries for the pay period
- Navigate to QuickBooks > Export Time
- Make sure there’s no pending export, then click Export
Unapproved or unexported time won’t sync into QuickBooks Desktop
Step 2: Check Employee and Job Mapping
- In QuickBooks Desktop:
- Go to Employees > Employee Center
- Confirm every employee is active and marked to use payroll
- In QuickBooks Time:
- Go to My Team and verify names exactly match QuickBooks (case-sensitive)
- Ensure employees are not duplicated or unmatched
Mapping mismatches cause silent sync failures
Step 3: Rebuild the Web Connector Integration
- In QuickBooks Desktop:
- Go to File > App Management > Manage Web Apps
- Remove the QuickBooks Time integration
- In QuickBooks Time:
- Go to Feature Add-ons > Manage Add-ons
- Open QuickBooks Desktop Integration
- Download and install the new .QWC file
- In Web Connector:
- Add the new .QWC file
- Check the box next to it and run Update Selected
This clears any background corruption from the Web Connector or .QWC file
Step 4: Confirm Time Data Appears in QuickBooks
- Go to Employees > Enter Time > Use Weekly Timesheet
- Check if synced time entries now appear
- If they do, run a test payroll to validate totals and employee hours
Prevent This from Happening Again
Once your QuickBooks Time sync issue is resolved, it’s important to prevent this from derailing future payroll cycles. These best practices will help you maintain a stable connection, reduce sync errors, and catch issues before they affect paycheck accuracy.
| Best Practice | Why It Matters |
| Approve and Export Time Weekly | Unapproved or pending time in QuickBooks Time won’t sync, always finalize before payroll day. |
| Audit Employee Name Matching | Even small mismatches (extra spaces, initials, casing) can silently block syncs. |
| Perform a Test Sync Before Payroll | Running a test export and sync mid-week helps detect issues early, not at the last minute. |
| Refresh .QWC File Quarterly | Reauthorizing the Web Connector ensures you’re using a clean, up-to-date sync link. |
| Use Single-User Admin Mode for Sync | The company file must be open in QuickBooks as an Admin in single-user mode during sync. |
| Schedule Weekly Sync Check-ins | Assign a team member to confirm sync success ahead of every payroll cycle. |
| Keep Backup of Company File | Always back up your company file before syncing or running payroll to avoid data loss. |
FAQs
Why is my Web Connector log showing “No errors,” but time entries still don’t appear in QuickBooks?
Even if no errors are logged, the sync may not bring in data if the export from QuickBooks Time includes zero hours, skipped employees, or jobs that don’t exist in the QuickBooks company file. Reviewing the export summary in QuickBooks Time can help identify what was (or wasn’t) included.
Can syncing issues occur if time is entered through the mobile app instead of the web version?
Yes. Time entered via the QuickBooks Time mobile app does not appear if it hasn’t been submitted, approved, or if mobile users are misconfigured in the employee list. Always confirm that mobile timesheets are approved before exporting.
Is there a way to receive alerts when a sync fails or when time wasn’t exported properly?
QuickBooks Time does not send automated sync failure alerts, but you can set up custom email notifications under Company Settings > Notifications, or schedule periodic audit reports to catch missing data before payroll.
Will switching to multi-user mode impact the sync process?
Yes. The Web Connector sync with QuickBooks Time should be run in single-user mode with the Admin logged in. Running it in multi-user mode may prevent time data from being written to the company file correctly.
Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “Why Isn’t QuickBooks Time (TSheets) Syncing with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise?” 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.