Follow If You Are Unable to Open the QuickBooks Company Files

MyTravaly_Logo  James Richard 02 Sep, 2025 9 mins read 16
Follow If You Are Unable to Open the QuickBooks Company Files

While performing accounting operations, you might notice that you are unable to open the QuickBooks company file. This can be possible due to certain reasons, such as an outdated QB, a corrupted hard drive, a damaged folder where you keep your files, and many other reasons. Moreover, this might be due to a larger file size, or the file you want to open has an extension other than QBW. 

Consequently, this prevents you from opening the company files and executing essential tasks. Explore the blog further and gain valuable insights to help troubleshoot the problem.

If this blog can’t help you overcome company file issues, you must instantly connect to an expert. Give a ring to +1.833.802.0002 and let our certified advisor deal with this.

Exploring the Source: Why You Are Unable to Open the QuickBooks Company Files

Here are the primary reasons why you are unable to open the company files in QB Desktop. Let’s review each of them and understand the actual causes of the problem. 

  • One factor that prevents you from opening the company files is a conflicting *QBW.tlg file.
  • It might be due to a corrupted hard drive where the files are saved.
  • You may fall into this due to a damaged company file when it was last used.
  • It may happen if your QB is not updated.
  • One reason could be the location and the extension of the files.
  • It might be due to the QuickBooks application with revoked certificate issue that prevents you from opening the files.

2 Solutions to Apply If You Can’t Open the QuickBooks Company Files

If you can’t open the company files and need to have access to them urgently, take these steps into consideration and continue working on your files.

Solution 1: Verify the file extension and properties

  • Go to the folder where you have saved your company files.
  • Right-click on this file and choose Properties.
  • Check that the file you are trying to open has the QBW extension. Also, it should be 7 MB. 
  • Tap on the Advanced option.
  • There should be the Compress and Encrypt boxes checked.
  • Click OK.

Solution 2: Turn off hosting on your workstation

You need to turn off the Host Multi-User Access on the workstation if you host your files on a network. Ensure that only the server computer is the one that hosts the company files. Turn off hosting on your workstations by following the steps below.

  • Open QB on the workstation.
  • You don’t need to open the company file. Instead, head to the File menu and choose Utilities.
  • If the option 'Host Multi-User Access' appears, you need to unselect it and proceed to the next workstation, as this one is not causing the problem.
  • If the option 'Stop Hosting Multi-User Access' appears, you need to select this option.
  • Now, repeat these steps for all the workstations.

Expert Recommended: What is QuickBooks Error Code PS033?

After you have finished checking the workstations, proceed to the server computer that is hosting the company files.

  • Open QB on the server computer.
  • Go to the File menu.
  • Choose Utilities.
  • If the option "Host Multi-User Access" appears, you need to select this option.
  • Now, you need to first turn off the multi-user setting and then turn it on. 
  • Head to File
  • Choose Utilities.
  • Tap on Stop Hosting Multi-User Access.


  • Head to File
  • Choose Utilities.
  • Tap on Host Multi-User Access.
  • Try to open the company file again.

The Bottom Line

After reading the complete blog, you know why you are unable to open the QuickBooks company files. This includes a list to explain the reasons causing the error, along with a couple of solutions to rectify it. For further knowledge or to clear your doubts, contact a professional at +1.833.802.0002.


Written By:

James Richard
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