QuickBooks Error 6123,0 While opening, Upgrading, or Restoring Your Company File

QuickBooks Error 6123 occurs when a user tries to open, restore, or upgrade a company file. This error may display a message like “Error 6123, 0: Connection to the QuickBooks company file has been lost.” It typically happens due to network issues, damaged files, or incorrect configurations in a multi-user setup. Understanding the root causes and applying the right solution can help you resolve this issue quickly and get back to managing your finances in QuickBooks.

What is QuickBooks Error 6123?

QuickBooks Error 6123 is a common issue that users encounter when attempting to open a company file (.QBW), restore a backup file (.QBB), or upgrade the software to a newer version. The error message usually reads: “Error 6123, 0: Connection to the QuickBooks company file has been lost.” This error interrupts access to the company file, especially in multi-user environments.

The image below shows how QuickBooks error 6123 occurs:

Common Causes of QuickBooks Error 6123

There are several reasons why this error may occur:

• Damaged or corrupt QuickBooks company file.
• Firewall or antivirus settings blocking communication.
• Incorrect folder permissions.
• Network data (.ND) or transaction log (.TLG) files are damaged.
• Hosting settings are incorrectly configured.
• QuickBooks installation is damaged.
• Special characters in the company file name.

Symptoms of QuickBooks Error 6123

Here are some signs you might notice when this error occurs:

• QuickBooks freezes or crashes while opening the company file.
• You’re unable to restore a backup file.
• The software becomes unresponsive during multi-user access.
• You get the Error 6123 message when trying to open a file from a server or network.
• QuickBooks fails to connect to the database server.
• Inability to restore or upgrade the company file.
• Company file does not open on a networked system.
• QuickBooks stops responding after clicking on the file.

Process to Resolve QuickBooks Error 6123 with Conditions

How to solve QuickBooks Error 6123 varies according to the situation it appears in. Organized strategic approaches are provided for the most common infections and cases:

Condition 1: If you experience error 6123 while restoring a backup (.qbb) on a new computer

Usually, it indicates some problems with either the backup file or the restorer.

Process 1: Making a portable company file (.qbm) to restore your company file

A portable company file helps you transfer and restore your data with ease, mainly when you switch to a new computer or work with a different QuickBooks program.

• Open the original company file
  • Go to the computer with the original company file, start QuickBooks, and open your company file too.
• Create a portable company file:
  • Select File at the top and click on Create Copy.
  • Choose the Portable company file and click the button marked next.
  • Click on the desktop or a USB drive where the portable file will be saved and then click Save.
• Transfer the portable file
  • Transfer the .qbm file to the new computer that you made.
• Restore the portable file on the new system:
  • Launch QuickBooks on the recently installed system.
  • After selecting File, you need to select Open or Restore Company.
  • Go to the option restore a portable file, and then click the Next button.
  • Find the said .qbm file on where you saved it. Click it to Open.
  • Pick another place to keep the restored .qbw file and press Save.

Note: With this method, you can avoid problems that occur with complete backups and it usually helps during the restoration process.

Process 2: Utilize QuickBooks’ auto data recovery feature (ADR)

QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery is meant to assist when company files are damaged or lost. It copies your company file and its log of transactions to a second place.

• Locate ADR files

Open your computer’s folder and go to where you have stored the company file. There should be two reports with names [Your Company File Name]_ADR.qbw and [Your Company File Name]_ADR.qbw.TLG.

• Copy and rename ADR files:
  • Go to your computer’s desktop and create a new folder there.
  • Put the latest [Your Company File Name]_ADR.qbw file into the new folder you created.
  • Give the duplicate file a new name: [Your Company File Name].Qbw.
  • Take the most recent version of the [Your Company File Name]_ADR.qbw.TLG file and put it in the same folder you created.
  • Give the copied file a new name of [Your Company File Name].qbw.TLG.
• Open the recovered file
  • Launch QuickBooks and use the file from the fresh folder, but make sure its name is the correct one now.
• If successful, create a new backup
  • If the file opens, then immediately follow the usual QuickBooks method to create a new backup copy of your company file.

Note: Not all transactions, especially the very recent ones, might be recovered with ADR. It’s the final action to take when your main business data is gone.

Condition 2: Manually configure the multi-user setup

In multi-user systems, Error 6123 usually happens because of configuration problems with network paths, file rights, or rules in the firewall.

Process 1: Start by renaming the .ND and .TLG files

File systems are an important part of any user’s computer and, from time to time, can be damaged. You have to rename them to make QuickBooks open new files.

• Close QuickBooks
  • Make sure QuickBooks is closed on all the workstations as well as the server.
• Locate the company file folder
  • Go to the location where you keep your company file.
• Rename files:
  • Look for two other files that share the same name and have .ND and .TLG after your company file’s extension (such as MyCompanyFile.qbw.nd and MyCompanyFile.qbw.tlg).
  • Right-click every file and then pick Rename.
  • Put the ending “.OLD” after the filename: MyCompanyFile.qbw.nd.OLD.
• Reopen QuickBooks
  • Open QuickBooks and start the procedure to open your company file. QuickBooks makes new .ND and .TLG files whenever necessary.

Process 2: Set up proper folder permissions

An incorrectly set folder permission may cause QuickBooks to fail in accessing the company file.

• Locate the company file folder
  • Select the folder with your QuickBooks company file and then Right-click on it.
• Go to Properties
  • Select Properties.
• Security Tab
  • Choose the Security tab on the screen.
• Edit Permissions
  • Hit the Edit button to change the settings.
• Add Users:
  • Click Add.
  • Add everyone or the certain user accounts/groups to the list and press Check Names followed by OK.
  • Make sure that Full control is specified for “Everyone” (or the selected users/groups) under the “Permissions for ‘Everyone” section.
• Apply and OK
  • After you’ve finished, select Apply and OK to save what you have changed.
• Propagate permissions
  • Make sure permissions are given to every file and folder within the main company folder.

Process 3: Transfer the company file to a different location

Moving your company file to another storage site or folder could help in solving problems or conflicts that might have been created by the old location.

• New folder creation 
  • Make a new folder in your local drive, say C:\QuickBooks Files. 
• Copy the company file
  • Copy companyfile.qbw from its old location to the newly-created folder. 
• Open from new location
  • Open QuickBooks and try opening the file from the new location.
• When this is successful, update the network path
  • In a multi-user setup, inform all workstations to change the network path to the new location of the company file.

Process 4: Check Firewall & Antivirus Ports

QuickBooks’ communication may be stopped by firewalls and antivirus systems.

• Configure Windows Firewall:
  • It is possible to open Windows Defender Firewall by using its advanced features.
  • Open the Inbound Rules and the Outbound Rules tabs in the firewall.
  • Create rules for key executables such as QBW32.exe and QBDBMgrN.exe and the ports associated with them, and usually 8019 for the most recent version, while rarely either 80 or 443. In this situation, you will create rules granting access to these applications and ports.
• Third-party Firewall
  • Go through your firewall’s instructions on how to allow QuickBooks programs and ports.
• Configure Antivirus
  • Add both the program files and the company file folder from QuickBooks to the antivirus’s exception or exclusion settings. Due to this, the antivirus will not scan or disturb the functions of QuickBooks.

Process 5: Toggle hosting settings in QuickBooks

If the hosting settings are not correct, users may not be able to join the website together.

• On the Server Computer:
  • Open QuickBooks.
  • You have to Select Utilities by clicking on the word “File” in the menu.
  • Make sure that you set the option to Host Multi-User Access (make it stop showing “Host Multi-User Access”). Click on “Host Multi-User Access” if you see it to turn the multi-user feature on.
• On Workstations:
  • Open QuickBooks.
  • To access Utilities, you will have to click the word “File” on the menu.
  • Make sure Host Multi-User Access is not turned on in the setup. When the message “Stop Hosting Multi-User Access” appears, press it to make sure it is not active. Sharing the company file between devices should be avoided and it should stay only on the server.

Condition 3: An Error can happen when starting to open or update your company file.

Most of the time, this happens because of trouble with the company file or conflicts inside the QuickBooks application.

Process 1: Change the name of the company file or remove any special characters from the name.

QuickBooks may become confused by using unusual characters, very long records, or file names with the wrong extensions.

• Navigate to the company file
  • Look for the folder that is storing your company file (.qbw).
• Rename the file
  • To rename your company file, right-click it and then pick Rename.
  • Make sure the name you choose is basic and does not have any special characters in it.
  • Just make your brand’s name simple and understandable.
  • Do not forget to save the file as .qbw.
• Try opening
  • Open QuickBooks and then see if you can open the company file, after you changed its name.

Process 2: Use the QuickBooks tool hub program to fix this error

Intuit has created QuickBooks Tool Hub as a program to help members find and troubleshoot several typical QuickBooks issues.

Step 1: Download and Run QuickBooks Tools Hub

• Download
  • Visit the official Intuit website or enter “QuickBooks Tool Hub download” in your search engine to get the latest version.
• Save
  • The executable file, such as QuickBooksToolHub.exe, should be saved to your desktop or another easily accessible area.
• Install
  • Click on the file you just downloaded and finish the installation with the steps given on the screen. Accept the set of terms and conditions outlined in the application.
• Run
  • When it has been installed, open the QuickBooks Tool Hub by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.

Step 2: Use the QuickBooks File Doctor Tool

The Tool Hub’s QuickBooks File Doctor tool is meant for repairing problems in company files as well as network issues.

• Visit Open Tool Hub
  • Go to the QuickBooks Tool Hub and launch it.
• Select Company File Issues
  • Click the tab for Company File Issues to the left of the screen.
• Run QuickBooks File Doctor
  • Click on Run QuickBooks File Doctor. The process might need a little time to complete.
• Browse for file
  • The first step is to pick your business’s file name from the File Doctor dropdown menu. If the type you need is not visible, choose Browse to start searching for it.
• Choose repair type:
  • If your computer has problems with its files or with the network, select this option.
  • If your issue relates only to multiple users, choose the ‘Network connectivity only’ option.
• Enter password
  • Provide your admin password if asked to.
• Start repair
  • Choose the option Continue or Run. File Doctor will examine your company file and/or network settings to fix them. It may take some time to complete this process since the time needed depends on the file’s size and the type of problem.
• Reopen QuickBooks
  • As soon as File Doctor is finished, try reopening the company file.

Step 3: Select Fix my program from Tool Hub and run it

In the Tool Hub, Quick Fix my Program is available to deal with problems for various types of programs.

• Go to Open Tool Hub
  • Start the QuickBooks Tool Hub by clicking it.
• Select Program Problems
  • From the list on the left, choose problems related to the programming topic.
• Run Quick Fix my Program
  • Press the Quick Fix My Program button. It will end QuickBooks processes, fix a few program components, and start QuickBooks again.
• Reopen QuickBooks
  • After the process finishes, you may check if your company file can be opened.

Process 3: Building New Windows User

Under certain circumstances, the user profiles or permissions of the Windows user accounts cause QuickBooks errors. Creating a new user with administrative rights allows the user to test the issue.

• New Windows User:
  • Windows 10/11: Open Settings from Windows 10 or 11; tap on Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC and finish the procedure to add a new local account.
  • Windows 7/8: Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account > Click ‘Create a New Account’ option.
• Grant Administrative Rights
  • Make sure the user account that was just created is set as an administrator.
• Log in with new user
  • Quit the current user you are using and use the new account created earlier.
• Open QuickBooks
  • Open QuickBooks and the company file required using the newly created user profile. If everything is okay, the problem most likely lies in the older Windows user profile you used. It might be necessary to move your information to the new profile or keep using the one you are in.

Process 4: Restart your system in Safe Mode.

It allows Windows to start using only the basic drivers and services so you can determine if any third-party programs are interfering with QuickBooks.

Step 1. Access the System Configuration Tool:

• Press Win key and R together to display the Run dialog.
• After this, type msconfig and press Enter.

Step 2. Select Safe Boot Option. 

• The System Configuration window will give you the Boot tab as the default view. 
• Check Safe boot in the Boot options. Under safe boot, choose Select Network so that the computer can connect to the company server for the file.
• Click Apply.

Step 3: Apply Changes and Restart:

• You will get a notice asking you to restart your computer. Click Restart.

Step 4: Log into Safe Mode:

• Safe Mode is the starting point of your computer after a restart. You’ll notice in the corners that your phone is running in Safe Mode.

Step 5: Open QuickBooks:

• Once you’re booted into Safe Mode, check to see if QuickBooks and your company file will open.
• A successful opening of the file implies that a different application or service is interfering with QuickBooks when it usually runs. You can then start troubleshooting by choosing which programs or services to disable in order to identify the reason for your error.

Step 6: Exit Safe Mode:

• Once testing is done, it is necessary to leave Safe Mode.
• Go to the MSCONFIG tool again.
• In the Boot tab, deselect the option that says Safe boot.
• Click the Apply button and OK after that.
• Turn off your computer and restart it as usual.

Process 6: Disable the system security programs

• For a certain time, disable or stop the firewall or antivirus software installed on your system.
• You should try opening QuickBooks.
• Turn on protection after you have run your tests.

Process 7: Re-installation of the QuickBooks application

• Open Control Panel and uninstall QuickBooks from there.
• Get the newest version of the installer from the website of Intuit.
• Installing the application onto your computer again and attempting to access the file may be helpful.

Process 8: Move the company file to a different location

• If it is stored on your company’s network, copy it to your computer and try to open it.
• Alternatively, save the data on a USB and try it on some other computer.

Process 9: Restore the company file

• Use a backup that has worked before (shown as .QBB or .QBM).
• Choose Restore in the File menu and then click on Open or Restore Company.

Conclusion

You can deal with QuickBooks Error 6123 by following the proper steps. All situations are not the same, so you should choose the fix that matches your situation. If you apply QuickBooks’ built-in tools and also manually rename files or reconfigure your system settings, you will most likely fix the error and enjoy smooth QuickBooks work.

Frequently Asked Questions