Why Won’t QuickBooks Connect to My Bank Anymore?

Hi Reymon,

You’re definitely not the only one dealing with this. Many QuickBooks users encounter frustrating connectivity issues, even when everything appears to be in order. You may log in to the correct bank, input valid credentials, and follow the necessary connection steps, yet still experience the dreaded message: 

“We can’t connect to your bank right now.”

Despite trying different browsers, clearing your cache, and using another network, the problem persists. This is particularly confusing since the same bank account functioned properly just last month. 

Without a live connection, importing transactions, categorising expenses, and reconciling become impossible, stalling your bookkeeping workflow.

Having ruled out the basics, the problem can occur due to deeper issues, such as expired authorisation tokens, changes in your bank’s MFA or API settings, a partial disconnect behind the scenes, or a backend aggregator timeout, like Plaid or Yodlee.

This guide outlines practical fixes to know the common reasons that cause this and help you solve your issue.

Why Does QuickBooks Say “We Can’t Connect to Your Bank Right Now”?

Even with valid credentials, your connection fails due to one or more of the following causes:

• Expired bank authorisation

Many banks require reauthorization every 90 days. Even though QuickBooks remembers your login, it cannot access updated data without a fresh token.

• MFA or security changes at the bank

If your bank updated its MFA or login protocols, QuickBooks may no longer pass those checks successfully.

• Partial connection break

QuickBooks may appear linked to your bank, but silently fail due to outdated credentials or missing permissions.

• Aggregator issues (Plaid/Yodlee)

QuickBooks relies on Plaid or Yodlee to retrieve data. If those services have outages or API failures, your connection may break without warning.

• Browser conflicts

Saved cookies or autofill data may interfere during reauthentication, especially if MFA is involved.

Fixes to Reconnect Your Bank in QuickBooks Online

Since your bank connection in QuickBooks has broken despite multiple attempts, the following fixes will help you to stop falling behind on reconciliation and expense categorisation:

Fix 1: Disconnect and Reconnect the Bank (Force Refresh)

This clears any broken tokens or sessions tied to your current setup.

• Go to Banking > Transactions in QuickBooks Online.
• Select the problematic account.
• Click the Edit (✏️) > Edit account info.
• Check Disconnect this account on save and hit Save & Close.
• Now reconnect:
  • Go to the Link account
  • Search your bank, and follow the steps.
  • Re-enter login credentials and complete MFA if required.

Note: This won’t delete your past transactions. It only resets the sync link.

Fix 2: Reauthorise Access on the Bank’s Website

Some banks (especially Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo, etc.) require periodic reauthorization.

• Log in to your bank’s website.
• Find the third-party apps or account access section.
• Look for QuickBooks or Intuit and reauthorise it.
• Return to QuickBooks and try linking again.

Fix 3: Use an Incognito Browser Window

This bypasses browser extensions and cached cookies that might block MFA popups or session scripts.

• Open Chrome > press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac)
• Sign in to QuickBooks Online
• Try linking your bank again from there

Fix 4: Wait and Retry After 24 Hours (If It’s a Known Outage)

QuickBooks may post bank-specific outage notices at the top of your banking dashboard.

• Go to Banking > Transactions
• Look for any warning banners about service disruptions
• If your bank is listed, retry after 24 hours

Fix 5: Use Web Connect (.QBO File Upload) as a Manual Workaround

If automatic sync is blocked, use the manual method:

• Log in to your bank’s website
• Download a .QBO file (QuickBooks Web Connect format) for the account
• In QuickBooks, go to Banking > Upload from file
• Upload the .QBO file to import recent transactions

This is the fastest workaround while the sync issue is being resolved behind the scenes.

Fix 6: Contact Support and Share Your Log Files

If none of the above works:

• Press F2 in QuickBooks Online to view your version and company ID.
• Go to Help > Contact Us and provide the following:
  • Company ID
  • Error message
  • Last successful sync date
  • Steps you’ve tried (mention reconnect, cache clear, incognito, .QBO, etc.)

This will help support teams escalate the issue with Intuit’s bank feed aggregator partners like Plaid or Yodlee.

FAQs

How often do I need to reauthorise my bank connection in QuickBooks?

Reauthorization frequency depends on your bank, but many require it every 90 days due to regulatory rules (such as PSD2 in Europe or similar U.S. guidelines). Some banks may even prompt reauthorization more frequently if there are changes in MFA or login settings.

Will disconnecting my bank account delete historical transactions in QuickBooks?

No, when you disconnect a bank account in QuickBooks Online, your historical transaction data remains intact. However, new transactions will not import until the connection is restored.

Can I connect the same bank account to multiple QuickBooks companies?

Yes, but you must complete the connection process separately for each QuickBooks company. Some banks limit how many simultaneous connections can exist, which can cause sync interruptions.

Does enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on my bank increase connection issues?

Not necessarily. QuickBooks supports MFA/2FA, but if your bank modifies how MFA is presented, like via app-only prompts or biometric verification, it temporarily breaks the integration until reauthorised.

Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “Why Won’t QuickBooks Connect to My Bank Anymore?” 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.