# How to Upgrade From QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier to Enterprise > Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier to Enterprise: install Enterprise, back up, update the company file, then set up users, roles and activation. - URL: https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/upgrade-pro-premier-to-enterprise/ - Section: QuickBooks Desktop Guides, End of support - Applies to: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Premier, Pro - Steps checked against: Intuit's QuickBooks Desktop help articles, updated August 2026 - Updated: 2026-10-20 **Short answer:** To upgrade from QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier to Enterprise, install Enterprise and back up your file. Then open the file in Enterprise as Admin and select Update Now. Intuit warns that Pro and Premier can't open the file afterward. Your lists move across, and Intuit says Enterprise allows up to 30 users at once, or 40 on Diamond. Then set up user roles and activate Enterprise. Intuit suggests doing this after hours or over a weekend, so the switch disrupts as little work as possible. It points to an IT professional for network setup and an accountant for help with the company file. ## Before you start - Plan for a one-way move. Intuit says that once your file moves to Enterprise, you can't open it in Pro or Premier. - Check each computer and the server against Intuit's system requirements. QuickBooks Desktop 2024 and Enterprise 24.0 need 64-bit Windows, such as Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016, 2019 or 2022. - Size the server for your users. Intuit lists 8 GB of memory for 1 to 5 users and 12 GB for 10. It lists 16 GB for 15 users and 20 GB or more for 20 or more. - Count users. Each person needs a license, and all copies must be the same version year. Enterprise allows up to 30 people at once, or 40 on Diamond. - Press F2 and note where the file is saved under File Information. If it's on a server, Intuit's update steps say to move it to the local hard drive first. We suggest running Verify Data on the Pro or Premier file before you start. Intuit's steps for updating an Enterprise file begin with it, to check for data damage. Our guides cover how to [back up and restore a company file](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/back-up-restore-company-file/) and how to [verify and rebuild data](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/verify-rebuild-data/). ## Step 1: Install QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 1. Download Enterprise and have its license and product numbers ready. Intuit says you can get both from CAMPs. 2. Close other programs, then open the QuickBooks.exe file you downloaded. 3. Select Custom and Network Options if you want to keep Pro or Premier installed as a fallback. Intuit says Express installs over your previous version. 4. On a server that will share the file, choose the option to use QuickBooks Desktop on this computer and store the company file here. 5. On each workstation, choose I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer. 6. When the install finishes, select Open QuickBooks. ## Step 2: Back up the Pro or Premier file 1. Open the file in Pro or Premier and go to File > Switch to Single-user Mode. 2. Go to File > Back up Company > Create Local Backup. 3. Select Local Backup, then Next. 4. Select Browse and choose a safe place, such as another computer or a folder named Pre-Conversion Backup. 5. Select OK, then Save it now and Next. ## Step 3: Update the company file in Enterprise 1. Make sure everyone has signed out of the company file. 2. Open QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, then open the company file. 3. Enter the Admin password and select OK. 4. Check I understand that my company file will be updated to this new version of QuickBooks, then select Update Now. 5. Select OK to make the backup QuickBooks asks for, and follow the prompts. 6. Select Yes to update the file. If you moved the file off a server for the update, move it back once it opens in Enterprise. ## Step 4: Set up users and roles Your lists, such as customers, vendors and items, transfer to Enterprise. Pro and Premier store up to 14,500 names, counting customers, vendors, employees and other names together. Intuit says that limit doesn't apply to Enterprise. 1. Sign in as the admin. In Enterprise, only admins can create and manage users. 2. Go to Company > Users > Set Up Users and Roles and enter the admin password. 3. On the Role List tab, review the 14 predefined roles, or select New to build your own. 4. On the User List tab, select New, enter a user name, add one or more roles, then select OK. 5. To check who can do what, select View Permissions on the Role List tab, choose the roles and select Display. Intuit's company file update article adds a step for files updated to 2024 or Enterprise 24.0: set a temporary password for each non-admin user. Each person sets a permanent one at their next sign-in. Our guide to [users, roles and permissions in Enterprise](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/users-roles-permissions-enterprise/) goes further. ## Step 5: Activate and update Enterprise After the install, QuickBooks asks you to activate and update it. Intuit says activation gives you benefits such as technical support. Then install the latest release on every computer, so they all match. ## If the update fails Intuit's recovery is to restore the backup in your old version, rebuild it there, then open it in Enterprise again. 1. In Enterprise, go to File > Utilities > Restore Backup For Earlier QuickBooks Version. 2. Select the three dots next to Backup filename and open the backup made during the update. 3. Select the three dots next to Restored filename. Choose a folder, such as your desktop, and enter a new file name so nothing is overwritten. Select Save, then OK. 4. Open the restored file in Pro or Premier with File > Open or Restore Company > Open a company file. 5. Run File > Utilities > Rebuild Data. Save the backup it asks for under a new name. 6. Close Pro or Premier, then open the rebuilt file in Enterprise with File > Open or Restore Company. ## Company file compatibility - Pro and Premier files open in each other without changing the data. - Pro and Premier files upgrade to Enterprise, but an Enterprise file can't be opened in Pro or Premier. - A file updated to a newer version year can't be used in the older one. - Industry editions, such as Manufacturing & Wholesale, open each other's files without affecting the data. - A file from another country's QuickBooks, such as Canada's, won't open in the US version. - Going back to Pro or Premier means re-entering every later transaction in your old backup. Intuit notes that QuickBooks Desktop can't merge company files. - Every computer that opens the file should run the same version and release. ## Switching licenses without reinstalling Intuit's license manager, under Help > Manage My License > Switch to, changes between Pro and Premier products in the same version year. Its list of switches doesn't include Enterprise, so plan on installing Enterprise as in Step 1. ## Your subscription On Pro Plus or Premier Plus, Intuit says you're eligible for a prorated refund on the months left when you upgrade to Enterprise. Contact Intuit to request it. For the other cancellation rules, see [what happens when a QuickBooks Desktop subscription ends](https://logistify.ai/guides/quickbooks-desktop/quickbooks-desktop-subscription-renew-cancel/). ## Where QuickBooks Desktop leaves the work to you - The upgrade is one-way. Going back to Pro or Premier means restoring a backup from before the update and re-entering later work. - Every computer needs Enterprise installed and on the same release before people can work in the file. - Enterprise starts you with 14 predefined roles. Someone has to match each person's access to a role, or build a custom one. - Intuit's upgrade articles don't cover apps connected to your company file. We suggest listing them and testing each one in Enterprise. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I go back to QuickBooks Pro or Premier after upgrading to Enterprise? Not with the same file. Pro and Premier can't open an Enterprise file, so you'd restore your pre-upgrade backup and re-enter later work. ### Will I lose data when I upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise? Intuit says your lists transfer, and the update converts your existing file. Back up first so you have a copy if the update fails. ### How many users can QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise have? Intuit's upgrade article says up to 30 at the same time, and Intuit says Diamond supports up to 40. Each user needs a license. ### Do I need to uninstall QuickBooks Pro before installing Enterprise? No. A Custom and Network Options install keeps prior versions installed, while Intuit says Express installs over them. ### Can I switch from Pro to Enterprise with the license manager? Intuit's Switch to option only lists Pro and Premier products. For Enterprise, install it and open your company file in it. ### Do I get a refund on Pro Plus when I move to Enterprise? Intuit says you're eligible for a prorated refund for the months left. Contact Intuit to request it. ## Sources - [Intuit: Upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise from Desktop Pro/Premier](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/install-products/upgrade-quickbooks-enterprise-desktop-pro-premier/L3etBHGkP_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Company file compatibility with QuickBooks Desktop when upgrading](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/convert-files/company-file-compatibility-quickbooks-desktop/L6NA0i2iZ_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Update your company files to a new version of QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-delivery/upgrade-company-files-switch-new-version-desktop/L8KvjTj97_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Install QuickBooks Desktop](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/install-products/install-quickbooks-desktop/L3Fpsoqvj_US_en_US) - [Intuit: System requirements for QuickBooks Desktop 2024](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-system-requirements/system-requirements-quickbooks-desktop-2024/L3PMFJBjS_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/back-data/back-quickbooks-desktop-company-file/L9qYBI54v_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Create and manage users and roles in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/manage-users/create-manage-roles-quickbooks-desktop-enterprise/L9z3XdBcQ_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: Switch QuickBooks Desktop versions without uninstalling](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/license-information/switch-quickbooks-desktop-versions-without/L6I9YxpZP_US_en_US) - [Intuit: Common QuickBooks Desktop questions on subscriptions and support](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/new-subscriptions/common-quickbooks-desktop-questions/L6qndvmPy_US_en_US) - [Intuit: QuickBooks Desktop cancellation policies](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/cancel-products-services/quickbooks-desktop-cancelation-policies/L34kSFKjU_US_en_US)