How to Update QuickBooks Desktop to the Latest Release

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 and QuickBooks Desktop support end dates. For the backup, see how to back up and restore a QuickBooks Desktop company file.

Step 1: Check which release you have

1. 1Open QuickBooks Desktop.
2. 2Press F2, or Ctrl+1, to open the Product Information window.
3. 3Note your version and release number.
4. 4Compare 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. 1Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. 2Open the Options tab.
3. 3Select Yes to turn on automatic updates.
4. 4Select 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. 1Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. 2Open the Update Now tab and select Get Updates.
3. 3When the download finishes, close and reopen QuickBooks.
4. 4When QuickBooks asks to install the update, select Install Now.
5. 5We 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. 1Close QuickBooks Desktop.
2. 2Go to Intuit's Downloads & Updates page and choose the standard setup.
3. 3Select your Country, Product and Version (year), then select Search.
4. 4Select Get the latest updates.
5. 5Open the file you downloaded to install the update.
6. 6Restart 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.

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. 1Sign in as the Admin. Intuit says the Admin account must have a password; check it under Company > Users > Edit the Admin user.
2. 2Remove special characters such as :, & and / from the company file name, and make sure it ends in .qbw.
3. 3Restart QuickBooks, select Window > Close All, then run File > Utilities > Verify Data. Fix what it reports until it finds no problems.
4. 4On the server, close all running programs and run the new installer. Select Server Install, then Database Server and QuickBooks Application.
5. 5Open the company file in the new version and sign in as the Admin. QuickBooks backs up the file before it updates it.
6. 6Open Database Server Manager, add the company file's folder on Scan Folders, and scan it.
7. 7Install 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. Moving from Pro or Premier instead? See how to upgrade Pro or 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. 1In QuickBooks, go to Help > Internet Connection Setup.
2. 2Select Use my computer's Internet connection settings, then Next.
3. 3Select Advanced Connection Settings.
4. 4On the Advanced tab, select Restore Advanced Settings, then OK.
5. 5Select Done and run the update again.

Reset the update

Intuit's article on 15xxx errors includes these steps for resetting the update:

1. 1Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop and open the Update Now tab.
2. 2Check Reset Update, then select Get Updates.
3. 3When the download finishes, close and reopen QuickBooks.
4. 4Go 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.