QuickBooks Running Slow – Try These Pro Tips To Fix Performance Issues

QuickBooks Running Slow

QuickBooks is an excellent tool for small as well as for large scale business. It helps you to store and share all information about customers, employees, services, etc. When QuickBooks works fine it’s winner, but when it doesn’t, it can be terrible to troubleshoot.

One of the main issues that users sometimes face is their connection to the QuickBooks data file that slows down to open due to connectivity. When such problem encounters, works either become unworkable or you may face data loss and both of them are not acceptable.

If your network is buzzing along in its standard fast manner and you find that the desktop is also not having any trouble, so how does QuickBooks get slow down. In such cases, users had only one question on how to get QuickBooks back to speed up.

In this blog, you will come to know how to fix QuickBooks that slow data file connectivity. But before that let us know why users face such problems.

Types of Performance Issues User Experience on QuickBooks

Different users experience different types of performance issues with QuickBooks. However, QuickBooks performance issues are broadly classified into two categories.

First is where the QuickBooks take much longer than usual to load on startup and the second one where the Quickbooks does not respond to any action performed by the user.

Now, these are the most common performance issues users face in QuickBooks Desktop:

  • QuickBooks Desktop doesn’t respond to run command.
  • POS gets stuck while trying to use QuickBooks Point of Sale.
  • QuickBooks does not respond when trying to open company files in the multiuser mode.
  • While updating, rebuilding, or backing up data, a blue circle keeps spinning.
  • One blue circle starts spinning when users try to update, rebuild, or backup data.
  • QuickBooks freezes while exporting reports or entering transactions.

Causes for QuickBooks Desktop Running Slow

Following are some of the possible reasons why you are experiencing the performance issues with the Quickbooks and your QuickBooks desktop running slow on the computer:

  1. QuickBooks is outdated.
  2. When trying to run the QuickBooks on the computer that doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements.
  3. If the hard drive is corrupted.
  4. QBWUSER.INI file is corrupted or missing.
  5. Corrupted QuickBooks Desktop installation file.
  6. QuickBooks company file is too large.
  7. Data on the QuickBooks company file is damaged/corrupted.
  8. Damaged/corrupted Windows operating system.

How to Fix QuickBooks Running Slow Issue?

#1: Update QuickBooks Application

As already mentioned, outdated QuickBooks is the first and foremost reason for slow performance. Hence, in the first step, we are going to update the QuickBooks. For this, follow the below-given detailed step-by-step short guide:

  • Launch the QuickBooks.
  • Go to the File tab and click on the Close Company/Logoff.

Quickbooks slow issue

  • Select the Exit option.
  • Go to your desktop and right-click on the QuickBooks icon.
  • Select Run as Administrator from the context menu.

  • Once you can see No Company Open on the QuickBooks, click on the Help tab.
  • Select the Update QuickBooks.

  • Under the Options menu, click on the Mark All and then click on the Save button.

  • Now, under the “Update Now” menu, select the Reset Update checkbox.
  • Click on the Get Updates.

  • Now, QuickBooks should show Update Complete.
  • Exit from the application.
  • Open the QuickBooks and click on the Yes button on the Install Updates popup.
  • Once you installed all updates, restart your computer.

#2: Verify the Minimum System Requirements

If you are trying to run the QuickBooks on the system which doesn’t meet the minimum system requirement, then you probably face the “QuickBooks running slow” issue. So, make sure your system fulfills all the requirement:

  • Processor: Core 2 Duo Intel processor 2.4 GHz
  • RAM: Minimum 4 GB
  • Disk Space: Minimum 5 GB
  • Internet Connection: Optical Drive
  • Windows OS: Windows 10, 8.1 or 7
  • Server: Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2, 2011, or 2008 R2 SP1.

#3:Rename The QBWUSER.INI File

  • Open File Manager on your Windows computer (Windows + E keys together).
  • Navigate to the given location:

C:\ ProgramData\ Intuit®\ QuickBooks

  • Locate the QBWUSER.INI file and right-click on it.
  • Choose Rename from the context menu and add .OLD at the end of the file name.
  • Save the file name.
  • Run the QuickBooks on your computer.
  • Now, the QuickBooks should run properly.

But if still QuickBooks running slow, then try the next solution.

#4: Verify the Size of QuickBooks Company File

Now, as you know the company files size can affect the performance of the QuickBooks, hence to fix the “QuickBooks running slow” issue you must take care of the file size.

To condense the company file size, follow this quick guide:

  • Go to the folder of the QuickBooks company file and right-click on the company file.
  • Select the Properties option from the context menu and check the size of the company file.
  • If you are a QuickBooks Pro user and the size of your company file is more than the 150 MB, then to reduce the file size, you have to use the QuickBooks Condense Data Utility.
  • If you are using the QuickBooks Enterprise, and your company files size is more than the 1 GB, then also you need to run the QuickBooks Condense Data Utility to reduce the size of the company file.
  • To condense the company file, first, open the QuickBooks and then click on the File tab.
  • Go to the Utilities and select the Condense Data.

  • Select the “Keep all transactions, but remove audit train info to date” checkbox.
  • Click on the Next button.

  • Wait until you get the “Your company file has been successfully condensed” message.
  • Click on the Close button.

  • Run the QuickBooks once again.

If even after following these steps your QuickBooks is running slowly, then try out the next solution.

#5:Repair Corrupted/Damaged QuickBooks Company File

If your QuickBooks company file is damaged or corrupted, then it won’t run smoothly on the computer and may also lead to other issues. Hence, to repair the corrupted company files, run the QuickBooks Verify and Rebuild Data Utility.

Before running this utility make sure you are running the latest version of the QuickBooks and close all the programs/applications running on the Windows. Now, here are the steps you need to follow to run this utility on your Windows computer:

  • Open QuickBooks and go to the File menu.
  • Select the Utilities and click on the Verify Data.

  • If you don’t get any error message, then it means the company file is not corrupted and you don’t need to run the rebuild utility.
  • But, if you received an error message, then go to the File menu and select Utilities.
  • Now, click on the Rebuild Data.

  • On the popup window, click on the OK button.
  • Choose the desired location where you want to save the backup of the company file and then click on the OK button.
  • Now, the process of data rebuilding will get started automatically.
  • Once the process is completed, you will get a message on the screen, here click on the OK button.
  • Run the Verify Data again to make sure your company file data is repaired.

#6: Reinstall the QuickBooks

If none of the given solutions improves your QuickBooks slow performance, then you must reinstall it. But, before reinstalling make sure to back up your company files because any fall back while reinstallation may lead to data loss.

To back up the company file, follow these steps:

  • Open the QuickBooks.
  • Go the File tab and select Back Up Company.
  • Click on the Create Local Backup.

  • Select any of the Local Backup or Online Backup according to your choice.
  • Click on the Next button.
  • Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

After the backup of company files, now its time to uninstall the QuickBooks Desktop from your Windows computer. To do so, you may follow these instructions:

  • Press the Windows + R keys together and open the Run dialog box.
  • In the Run text box, type appwiz.cpl, and click on the OK button.
  • In the Programs and Features window, you will get a list of all programs/applications installed on your computer. Here, locate the QuickBooks and select it.
  • Click on the Uninstall button.
  • If any window prompts you to confirm the uninstallation of QuickBooks, then click on the OK button.
  • Select the Remove option and click on the Next button.
  • Again click on the Next button and then on the Remove button.
  • It will take some time to uninstall the QuickBooks Desktop from the computer.
  • Lastly, click on the Finish button.

Now, reinstall the QuickBooks Desktop. Here the steps to reinstall it on the Windows computer:

  • If you have purchased the QuickBooks CD, then insert it into the computer CD drive. And, then follow the given on-screen instructions to install the QuickBooks.
  • If you don’t have the CD, then don’t worry. Go to the QuickBooks download page.
  • If you have purchased the QuickBooks Desktop from the Intuit website, then login to your QuickBooks account and download the setup.
  • Or, you can use Standard Setup. For this, choose your Country, Product, and Version.
  • Then, click on the Search button.
  • Now, click on the Download button.
  • Once you have downloaded the installation setup, run the setup on your computer to install the QuickBooks.

Fix QuickBooks Slow Performance Issue With QuickBooks Repair Tool

If you are unable to fix the “QuickBooks Desktop slow performance” issue using the basic manual troubleshooting ways, then I  highly recommended using the QuickBooks Repair Tool.

This tool is capable of fixing all QuickBooks related issues. It is the most reliable and efficient solution to repair all the files from your corrupted or damaged QuickBooks without any data loss. This repair tool performs the complete scan on the QBW file and able to recover the entire records.


It helps in restoring the recovered QBW files at the user-defined location. It fixes all QuickBooks errors effectively and makes your file accessible. This tool is extremely safe as it does not harm the original file because the repair process is carried on a copy of the original file.

The entire transactions are recovered by this software in their unique currencies. It provides a streamlined recovery process and has automatic updating efficiency.

It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface, so you don’t need any prior technical knowledge and can be easily used by non-technical users also.

How to Fix QuickBooks Running Slow Issue Using QuickBooks Repair Tool

Here are the steps you need to follow to fix the “This Is Not A QuickBooks Data File Or Is Damaged” error using QuickBooks Repair Tool:

  • First, download and install the QuickBooks Repair Tool.
  • Open the tool, then click on the Select File button and select the corrupted .QBW file. You can also click on the ‘Find‘ button to search the corrupted .qbw file in a particular drive.

QuickBooks Running Slow

  • Now, you will get a list of QuickBooks files from the selected drive. Here, choose the corrupt file and then click on the Scan File button to start the scanning process.

performance issues with QuickBooks

  • Once the scanning process is finished, follow the on-screen instructions to see a preview of the data.

fix the error on your QuickBooks

  • Now, you can preview the company, customers, vendors, and employee information.
  • Click on the Company button to preview the company information.

QuickBooks Desktop Running Slow

  • To preview the customer information, click on the Customers button.

Fix QuickBooks Running Slow Issue

  • Click on the Vendor button to preview the information of the Vendor.

QuickBooks Repair Tool

  • Preview the employee information by clicking on the Employees button.

QuickBooks is running slowly

  • Click on the Browse button to specify the path of the new blank file you have created.
  • Select the QuickBooks version.
  • Click on the ‘Start‘ button to start the saving process.

QuickBooks slow performance

  • Once you save the QuickBooks file successfully, the software will prompt you this message “Repair Process Completed Successfully“.

improves your QuickBooks slow performance

Conclusion

Now, as you have seen, QuickBooks running slow issue is not as difficult as you think. All, you need to do is, follow the given solutions to fix the QuickBooks slow performance issue on your computer.

You have both the manual and automatic troubleshooting ways to fix the performance issue with the QuickBooks Desktop.

Although it’s totally up to you to choose any of these ways, experts recommend going with the QuickBooks Repair Tool. Because sometimes manual solutions are enough to handle such issues.

So, I hope you must be now able to run the QuickBooks smoothly on your computer without facing any performance issue. If have any suggestions or queries, then don’t hesitate to share it with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Good Luck!!