# How to Update QuickBooks Desktop to the Latest Release > Check your QuickBooks Desktop release, turn on automatic updates or update by hand, cover the server and every workstation, and fix common update errors. - URL: https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/update-quickbooks-desktop/ - Section: QuickBooks Desktop Guides, Setup, users & reports - Applies to: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Premier, Pro - Steps checked against: Intuit's QuickBooks Desktop help articles, updated August and September 2026 - Updated: 2026-10-20 **Short answer:** To update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release on Windows, go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop, open the Update Now tab and select Get Updates. Restart QuickBooks and select Install Now when asked. Press F2 to check your release in Product Information. If QuickBooks can't update itself, download the update from Intuit's Downloads & Updates page instead. ## Before you start - An update installs the latest maintenance release for the version you already have, such as QuickBooks 2024. Moving to a newer year is an upgrade, which Intuit treats separately. - List every computer that runs QuickBooks, plus the server that holds the company file. Each one needs its own update. - Sign in to Windows as an admin. Intuit's first fix for several update errors is to run QuickBooks as an administrator. - Pick a quiet time. When Enterprise moves to a new version, Intuit suggests doing it after hours or over a weekend. - We suggest making a fresh backup of the company file before you change software on the server. Not sure which year you have, or whether it's still supported? See the [latest QuickBooks Desktop version](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/quickbooks-desktop-2025-2026-latest-version/) and [QuickBooks Desktop support end dates](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/quickbooks-desktop-support-end-dates/). For the backup, see how to [back up and restore a QuickBooks Desktop company file](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/back-up-restore-company-file/). ## Step 1: Check which release you have 1. Open QuickBooks Desktop. 2. Press F2, or Ctrl+1, to open the Product Information window. 3. Note your version and release number. 4. Compare it with the latest release in Intuit's article on updating QuickBooks Desktop. When we checked in October 2026, Intuit's update article listed QuickBooks 2024 R21_65 as the latest Windows release. Newer releases will replace it, so compare against the article itself. Intuit's release notes for QuickBooks Desktop 2024 and Enterprise 24.0 explain what's new in each update. ## Step 2: Turn on automatic updates 1. Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop. 2. Open the Options tab. 3. Select Yes to turn on automatic updates. 4. Select Close. According to Intuit's 2024 release notes, QuickBooks shows a prompt when a new update is ready. Accept it to install the update. One catch applies to a computer with more than one edition of the same year, such as Premier 2024 and Enterprise 24.0. Intuit says automatic updates may not run there, so update each edition by hand. ## Step 3: Update now from inside QuickBooks 1. Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop. 2. Open the Update Now tab and select Get Updates. 3. When the download finishes, close and reopen QuickBooks. 4. When QuickBooks asks to install the update, select Install Now. 5. We suggest pressing F2 again to confirm the release number changed. ## Step 4: Update by hand from Intuit's download page Intuit offers this route for when QuickBooks can't install the update from inside the program. 1. Close QuickBooks Desktop. 2. Go to Intuit's Downloads & Updates page and choose the standard setup. 3. Select your Country, Product and Version (year), then select Search. 4. Select Get the latest updates. 5. Open the file you downloaded to install the update. 6. Restart the computer when the install finishes. ## Step 5: Update the server and every workstation Repeat Steps 1 to 4 on each workstation. Then look at the server, which depends on how it was set up: - Server with the full QuickBooks program: update it like a workstation. Intuit says Database Server Manager updates automatically when you update QuickBooks Desktop. - Server with only Database Server Manager: Intuit says to download the QuickBooks Desktop installer. Database Server Manager is part of that file, not a separate download. - Server that hosts more than one year: Intuit notes that each QuickBooks version has components that must be updated for multi-user mode to work. Update every version you host. For the server side in detail, see how to [use QuickBooks Database Server Manager](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/database-server-manager/). ## If you're moving Enterprise to a new version Installing a new Enterprise version across a network takes more steps than a release update. Intuit's order is company file first, then the server, then the workstations: 1. Sign in as the Admin. Intuit says the Admin account must have a password; check it under Company > Users > Edit the Admin user. 2. Remove special characters such as :, & and / from the company file name, and make sure it ends in .qbw. 3. Restart QuickBooks, select Window > Close All, then run File > Utilities > Verify Data. Fix what it reports until it finds no problems. 4. On the server, close all running programs and run the new installer. Select Server Install, then Database Server and QuickBooks Application. 5. Open the company file in the new version and sign in as the Admin. QuickBooks backs up the file before it updates it. 6. Open Database Server Manager, add the company file's folder on Scan Folders, and scan it. 7. Install the same version on every workstation. Intuit warns that a workstation on an older version can't open the company file once it's updated. For reading Verify Data results, see how to [verify and rebuild data in QuickBooks Desktop](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/verify-rebuild-data/). Moving from Pro or Premier instead? See how to [upgrade Pro or Premier to Enterprise](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/upgrade-pro-premier-to-enterprise/). ## Common update errors - Error 15106: Intuit says antivirus software blocked the update, or you aren't signed in as the Windows admin. Right-click QuickBooks, select Run as Administrator, and update again. - Other 15xxx errors, such as 15222 or 15241: run QuickBooks as an administrator first. If that fails, Intuit's next step is the QuickBooks Tool Hub: under Program Problems, run Quick Fix my Program. - Errors 12002, 12007, 12009, 12029 and 12031: QuickBooks can't reach the internet. Check that a secure website opens outside QuickBooks, then check your firewall and security software. - Errors 12037, 12038, 12045 and 12157, or no error code: check the computer's date and time first. Then reset the internet connection settings, as shown below. - Firewalls: Intuit says ports 80 and 443 must be open for updates. - Two installs of the same year on one computer, such as Enterprise 18.0 and Premier 2018: Intuit says this can cause update errors. Download and install a manual update for one or more of them. ### Reset the internet connection settings 1. In QuickBooks, go to Help > Internet Connection Setup. 2. Select Use my computer's Internet connection settings, then Next. 3. Select Advanced Connection Settings. 4. On the Advanced tab, select Restore Advanced Settings, then OK. 5. Select Done and run the update again. ### Reset the update Intuit's article on 15xxx errors includes these steps for resetting the update: 1. Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop and open the Update Now tab. 2. Check Reset Update, then select Get Updates. 3. When the download finishes, close and reopen QuickBooks. 4. Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop, select Overview, then Update Now. For errors 12002, 12007, 12009, 12029 and 12031, Intuit says to restart the computer before you reset updates. Keep the company file in single-user mode while you do. ## Where QuickBooks Desktop leaves the work to you - Each computer is updated on its own. Someone has to check the release number on every workstation and the server. - Automatic updates may not run on a computer with more than one edition of the same year. - Firewall, antivirus and Windows admin rights problems fall to whoever runs your IT. - A move to a new year or a new Enterprise version is a separate project with its own steps. - Release notes say what changed. Checking that your own workflows still behave after an update is up to you. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I know if my QuickBooks Desktop is up to date? Press F2 or Ctrl+1 to open Product Information and note the release number. Compare it with the latest release in Intuit's update article. ### What's the difference between updating and upgrading QuickBooks Desktop? An update installs the latest release for the version you own. An upgrade moves you to a newer version year, such as 2023 to 2024. ### How do I turn on automatic updates in QuickBooks Desktop? Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop, open the Options tab and select Yes. Then select Close. ### Do I have to update every computer on the network? Yes, each computer has its own QuickBooks install, so update each one. Intuit says Database Server Manager updates when you update QuickBooks Desktop on the server. ### Why does my QuickBooks Desktop update keep failing? Common causes are blocked internet access, firewall or antivirus settings, and not running QuickBooks as a Windows admin. If it still fails, download the update from Intuit's Downloads & Updates page. ### What causes error 15106 when I update QuickBooks? Intuit says antivirus software blocked the update, or you aren't signed in as the Windows admin. Run QuickBooks as an administrator and try again. ## Sources - [Intuit: Update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/update-quickbooks-desktop-latest-release/L7qUzlW1k_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Release notes for QuickBooks Desktop 2024](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/release-notes-quickbooks-desktop-2024/L7oRK8JCw_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Manage your QuickBooks Desktop: Download, update, install, or upgrade](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-delivery/download-quickbooks-desktop/L0TkDC77z_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Using the QuickBooks Database Server Manager to share your company files](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/install-products/install-quickbooks-database-server-manager/L2ORySIYh_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Set up folder and Windows access permissions to share company files](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/multi-user-mode/set-folder-windows-access-permissions-share-files/L48wAdDGX_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Install multiple QuickBooks Desktop versions on one computer](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/download-products/install-multiple-quickbooks-desktop-versions-one/L8bWMJ0iU_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Update QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise to the latest version](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/install-products/update-quickbooks-desktop-enterprise-latest/L7HvXPpR2_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Fix QuickBooks Desktop Update Errors](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/fix-quickbooks-desktop-update-errors/L8OG9bAqs_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Fix error 15106 in QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/download-products/fix-error-15106-quickbooks-desktop/L8fnuHvcx_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Fix error 15XXX when updating QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/fix-error-updating-desktop-payroll/L2VNWeHAd_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Get help with errors 12002, 12007, 12009, 12029, and 12031 when updating QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-delivery/get-help-errors-12002-12007-12009-12029-12031/L0a88OqE3_US_en_US)