When you encounter the “QuickBooks has stopped working” or “QuickBooks is not opening” error, it’s usually due to one of these common causes:
- Damaged or corrupted Windows operating system files.
- Bad sectors or damage on your hard drive.
- Damaged QuickBooks Desktop installation files.
- An incomplete or incorrect installation of QuickBooks on Windows.
- A missing or damaged QBWUSER.INI file (which stores program initialization data).
- A company file name that exceeds the character limit.
Since you’ve already tried the basic troubleshooting steps, I recommend performing a clean install of QuickBooks. This will remove any damaged installation files that could be causing the persistent error when your user logs in.
Learn how to resolve common issues that prevent QuickBooks Desktop from opening or cause it to freeze.
Common Symptoms:
- QuickBooks crashes or displays an error on startup.
- The program freezes or becomes unresponsive.
- QuickBooks fails to open without any error message.
Potential Causes:
- A company file name that is too long.
- A damaged or missing QBWUSER.INI file.
- Corruption on your hard drive.
- Damaged QuickBooks program files or installation.
- Issues with your Windows operating system.
Follow the solutions below, in order, to diagnose and fix the problem.Solution 1: Use Quick Fix my Program (QuickBooks Tool Hub)
This tool quickly repairs common program issues.
Step 1: Download & Install the Tool Hub
- Close QuickBooks completely.
- Download the latest QuickBooks Tool Hub (version 1.4.0.0 or newer is recommended).
- Save the file (QuickBooksToolHub.exe) to an easy-to-find location, like your Downloads folder or Desktop.
- Run the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install.
- Open the Tool Hub from your Desktop icon or by searching for it in Windows.
Step 2: Run the Quick Fix
- In the Tool Hub, select the Program Problems tab.
- Click Quick Fix my Program.
- Once complete, try opening QuickBooks and your company file.
Solution 2: Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool
This tool automatically finds and fixes problems with Microsoft components required by QuickBooks.
- Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
- Select Program Problems.
- Click QuickBooks Program Diagnostic Tool.
- Allow the tool to run (this may take up to 20 minutes).
- Restart your computer and launch QuickBooks.
Solution 3: Rename the QBWUSER.ini File
A damaged QBWUSER.ini file can cause startup errors. Renaming it forces QuickBooks to create a new, fresh file.
⚠️ Important: Renaming this file will clear your list of recently opened company files. You will need to manually reopen your company file afterward.
Navigate to the folder containing the QBWUSER.ini file:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Intuit\QuickBooks\[Year]
(You may need to enable "Hidden items" in Windows File Explorer to see the AppData folder).Find the QBWUSER.ini file.
Right-click it and select Rename.
Add .old to the end of the filename, so it becomes QBWUSER.ini.old.
Also find and rename the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file to EntitlementDataStore.ecml.old.
Restart your computer and try opening QuickBooks again.
Next Steps After Renaming QBWUSER.ini
If QuickBooks Opens: Try opening a sample company file.
If the sample file opens but YOUR file doesn't: Copy your company file to a new, local folder (not a network location) and try opening it from there. If it works, the original folder may have permission issues.
If you still cannot open your file: The company file itself is likely damaged. Restore it from an earlier backup.
If QuickBooks or the sample file STILL won't open: Your QuickBooks installation is likely damaged. Proceed with a clean reinstall of QuickBooks Desktop.
If the QuickBooks has stopped working error persists, I recommend contacting our Technical Support Team. One of our agents can review your account in a secure environment and investigate this further.
