You may encounter the “QuickBooks already has a company file open. If you want to open another company file, close this one first” error while opening a company file. QuickBooks does not allow to open two company files simultaneously, except in QuickBooks Accountant and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. However, this error may also occur if you’re opening only one company file. There could be various reasons behind this error. In this article, we will discuss different methods to resolve the error.
Causes of the “QuickBooks already has a Company File Open” Error
You can get this error if multiple company files are opened or multiple users are accessing the same file. The error can also occur if there is an issue with the folder permission where the company (QBW) file is stored. It can also occur if the QuickBooks company file is corrupted. Sometimes, conflict between background running QuickBooks processes can also lead to this error.
Methods to Fix the “QuickBooks already has a Company File Open” Error
Sometimes, a simple restart of your computer helps resolve various issues. So, try to restart your system and then open the company file. If the problem persists, then follow the below methods to fix the issue.
Method 1: Check and Download the QuickBooks Updates
An outdated QuickBooks version can create issues while opening the company file. So, first check if your QuickBooks Desktop version is up-to-date. If not, then install the latest updates. Here are the steps:
- Open your QuickBooks Desktop.
- Press Ctrl+1 to open the Product information
- Check your current QuickBooks version and release.
- If QuickBooks is not updated, then click the Help
- Choose Update QuickBooks Desktop.
- Click Update Now and then choose Get Updates.
- When the update process is complete, then close and re-open your QuickBooks.
- A dialog box will open asking you to install the updates. Click Yes.
- When the installation completes, follow the instructions on the screen.
Method 2: Close QuickBooks-related Processes
The “QuickBooks already has a company file open” issue can also occur when some QuickBooks-related processes continue running even after closing the QuickBooks. To address this issue, you can check and end the processes via Task Manager. Follow these steps:
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open Task Manager.
- Click the Details tab to check the running applications.
- If there are multiple QuickBooks applications running, then click Processes.
- Click on the QuickBooks application and then click End Task.
Method 3: Check the Folder Permissions
You can also get the “QuickBooks already has a company file open” error if you are trying to open the company file from a folder that does not have the necessary file permissions. You can check and modify the folder permissions to fix the issue. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the Windows Start button, enter File Explorer, and then press Enter.
- In the File Explorer window, search the folder where the company file is stored and right-click on it.
- Select Properties, click Security, and then select Advanced.
- Verify that Full Control is enabled. If not, then select Security and then click on the Edit
- Under Permissions for Authenticated Users, select Full Control and then click OK.
Method 5: Rename.ND Files
If you are getting the issue in a multi-user environment, then it might be due to corruption.ND files. These are configuration files that consist of network information required to establish a network connection. To fix this, you can rename the.ND file.
Method 6: Check and Enable Hosting Settings
Sometimes, the error occurs when the “hosting setting” is disabled on the server system. In a multi-user environment, make sure the server system that is hosting the company file should have the multi-user mode enabled. To check and enable multi-user mode, follow the below steps:
- Navigate to the File and then choose Utilities.
- Click Host Multi-User Access.
Method 7: Repair the Company File
Corruption in the company file can also be the reason for the errors, like QuickBooks already has a company file open. If your QBW file is corrupted, then you can use the QuickBooks File Doctor to fix common company file issues. To use this tool, download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub and then follow these steps:
- Once the installation process is complete, launch the tool.
- In Tool Hub, choose Company File Issues.
- Select the Run QuickBooks File Doctor
- In the QuickBooks File Doctor window, click on the dropdown to select the affected company file.
- Select Check your file and select the Continue
- It will display a dialog box to enter the QuickBooks admin password. Fill in the correct credentials and then click on the Next
If the QuickBooks File Doctor fails to repair the company file, then you can use the Verify and Rebuild tool. If nothing works, then you can opt for a professional third-party QuickBooks repair tool, like Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. It is a powerful tool that is able to repair corrupt (.QBW and . QBB) files of any size. It can recover all the data from the corrupted company file. It comes with a simple and intuitive interface to ease the repair process. The tool can repair company files created in QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise solutions.
To Conclude
The “QuickBooks already has a company file open” error can occur due to incorrect file location, lack of folder permissions, corruption in company file, etc. To fix the issue, you can follow the methods discussed in this article. If nothing works, then use Stellar Repair for QuickBooks®. It can repair corrupted QuickBooks company files and recover all the data. The tool is compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7.
