Most Common QuickBooks Company File Errors & Issues – Process of Fixing Them

In Quickbooks, the company file is where all the business’s important financial data and account information is stored. The user can choose to save multiple company files for multiple businesses (one dedicated company file for each business) as per their needs.

File extension	File type	Description	Example
QBW	QuickBooks Company file	The company file in QuickBooks is created with the .qbw extension.	If the user creates a company file for the Venture1, QuickBooks saves it as:  Venture1.qbm
QBB	QuickBooks Backup Company  File	When you create a backup file for the company file in QuickBooks, it is created with the .qbb extension.	If the user creates a backup for the company file for Venture2, QuickBooks saves it as:  Venture2.qbb
QBM	QuickBooks Portable Company File	When the user needs to share or move the company file, a portable company file is created with the .qbw extension.	If the user creates a portable company file for Venture3, QuickBooks saves it as:  Venture3.qbm

The company file holds such crucial information and records it is password-protected. Using the appropriate credentials, it can be accessed only by the admin or by the users to whom the admin has granted access.

When naming or renaming the company file, the user must follow a strict character limit of 210 characters. Exceeding this limit can cause problems with the functioning of QuickBooks.

The company file has limited storage space that varies depending on the QuickBooks versions. The QuickBooks Pro and Premiere versions have a storage capacity limit of 250MB, and the QB Enterprise version has a storage capacity limit of 1.5GB. In case the data in the company file exceeds the above-given limit, there can be instances of complete or partial unrecoverable data loss from within the company file.

QuickBooks Company File Problems/Issues 

QuickBooks company file problems/errors can occur due to various possible issues, including damage to the company file and connection issues, data entry errors, or even software bugs.

QB company issues can significantly impact the functioning of QuickBooks. This can have negative effects on the organization’s financial health and even cause permanent damage or data loss. 

To ensure the company file does not face any permanent damage, the user needs to understand and resolve QuickBooks company file-related problems and errors when they are encountered. This can be achieved by carefully diagnosing the specific problem, understanding its root causes, and implementing the most appropriate solutions.

1. QuickBooks Company File Password-Related Problems

The Company file contains all the financial information about the user’s business or the company. Therefore, it is password protected, and the user is permitted to access the company file by the administrator. Both admin and user have their credentials to log in and have their permissions.

A user may be unable to access the company file in QuickBooks due to an incorrect password, a wrongly entered password, a password change by the administrator, or the user forgetting the company file password.

The following are the most common problems that arise due to password-related issues:

• QuickBooks Company File Incorrect Password Issues: Occurs when the password for the company file is entered incorrectly or when password data is corrupted.

2. File Opening Errors

• Unable to Open Company File in QuickBooks: Issues preventing the company file from opening due to corrupted files, network problems, or QuickBooks configuration errors.
• QuickBooks Error 6189 77: Typically happens when the company file is being used in a multi-user setup and the file is not accessible due to network or configuration issues.

3. Communication Errors

QuickBooks users attempting to access their company file often encounter issues with connectivity and communication, which can eventually result in the software stopping responding.

The following are the most common problems that arise due to connection-related issues:

• Unable to Communicate: Errors when QuickBooks cannot communicate with the company file due to network issues or firewall settings.
• Connection Has Been Lost in QuickBooks: Happens when the connection to the server is unexpectedly interrupted, usually due to network failures or timeouts.

4. Backup and Restore Errors

• Unable to Backup Company File: Errors while backing up the company file due to corruption, lack of space, or issues with the backup location.
• QuickBooks Error 6000 95: Often occurs during backup or when trying to restore a company file, usually related to file path issues or incorrect permissions.

5. Unexpected Errors

• QuickBooks Unexpected Error 5: Occurs when QuickBooks faces an unexpected issue while opening or working with the company file, often due to a corrupted file or software conflict.

6. Error Code 6000 Series

• QuickBooks Error 6000: A general error indicating issues with the company file path, often caused by network-related problems or file corruption.
• QuickBooks Error 6000 77: Usually occurs when the file is damaged, or the system cannot access the file due to file path issues.
• QuickBooks Error 6000 83: A network-related error that occurs when QuickBooks cannot access the company file due to configuration issues or network settings.
• QuickBooks Error 6000 80: Typically arises when there’s an issue with the folder where the company file is stored.
• QuickBooks Error 6000 301: This error is a result of file or network damage, or permission issues preventing access to the company file.

7. Multi-User Mode Errors

• QuickBooks Error 6190 and 816: Occurs when QuickBooks is unable to open the company file in multi-user mode, usually due to incorrect setup or corrupted files.
• QuickBooks Error 6073: Happens when the file is being used by another user or application in multi-user mode.
• QuickBooks Error 6073 0: Can appear if the company file is being accessed by another user or program, preventing proper communication.
• QuickBooks Error 6129: A multi-user error indicating that QuickBooks cannot locate the company file due to network issues or improper installation.
• QuickBooks Error 6123: Another multi-user error that typically happens when the company file is corrupted or the computer configuration is incorrect.

8. File Corruption or Damaged File Errors

Businesses need frequent access to crucial information such as sales data and regular transactions stored in company files to carry out operations ideally. The inability to access data in the company file due to damage or other reasons can halt the operations of the entire operation.

The following are the most common problems that arise due to QuickBooks damaged company file and accessibility issues:

• QuickBooks Error 6130: Indicates a damaged or corrupted company file that prevents QuickBooks from accessing or opening it.
• QuickBooks Error 6105: Occurs when the system cannot find the company file due to file corruption or incorrect file path.
• QuickBooks Error 6150: Caused by corrupt company files or problems with the QuickBooks installation.
• QuickBooks Error 6147: Happens when there is a corruption issue with the backup file, preventing successful restoration.
• QuickBooks Error 6143: Similar to other corruption-related errors, affecting users during the restore process or while opening the company file.
• QuickBooks Error 6144 82: Occurs when a damaged file or network issue prevents QuickBooks from accessing the company file.
• QuickBooks Error 6147: Happens during file restoration when the system cannot find or load the file.
• QuickBooks Error C343: Often due to a corrupted company file or an issue with QuickBooks installation files.

9. Code-Specific Errors

• QuickBooks Error 6175 0: Network error that happens when QuickBooks cannot communicate with the company file on a server.
• QuickBooks Error 6176: A related error indicating problems with the company file location or a damaged network setup.
• QuickBooks Error 6177: Usually occurs when QuickBooks cannot locate or open a company file stored on a server or in a shared location.

10. System or Configuration Errors

• QuickBooks Error 6073: A network or multi-user setup error, commonly seen when the program cannot access the company file due to network misconfigurations.
• QuickBooks Error 6010: Installation issue or failure to recognize the correct configuration for opening the company file.
• QuickBooks Error 6094 0: Configuration issue when attempting to open a company file or connect to a multi-user setup.

11. General Company File Access Issues

QuickBooks users, while managing company file, may encounter occasional malfunctions that can affect the disrupt certain processes and actions. These issues may surface when users are attempting to backup, rebuild, export, or create new company file and more.

The following are the most common problems that arise due to company file management issues:

• QuickBooks Error C387: An issue typically related to company file access or file corruption.
• QuickBooks Error 213: Usually caused by data file corruption or incorrect file setup.
• QuickBooks Error 195: Can appear when the company file or QuickBooks program encounters issues like corruption or incorrect settings.

These categories highlight common issues users may encounter with QuickBooks company files, often related to file corruption, network settings, password issues, or incorrect file configurations.

Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “Most Common QuickBooks Company File Errors & Issues – Process of Fixing Them” 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.