Where Does QuickBooks Desktop Store Company Files?
QuickBooks Desktop company files (.QBW) live in C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files, with backups (.QBB) wherever local backup was pointed.
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QuickBooks Desktop keeps the books in a single working file with a .QBW extension. The default home is the public documents folder under Intuit, QuickBooks, Company Files. Many offices move it to a server share, so the default is a starting point rather than a promise.
Backups use a different extension, .QBB, and land wherever local backup was pointed. The practical habit is checking the file date before restoring. The No Company Open window has a find function that scans for both extensions when the file went missing after a move.
Where QuickBooks Desktop stores this, by platform
C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files
Default home for .QBW working files. Server installs point elsewhere, so ask for the share path in an office. Backups (.QBB) follow the local backup setting, not this folder.
Frequently asked questions
QuickBooks cannot find my company file, what do I do?
Search the drive for *.qbw for working files and *.qbb for backups. Intuit documents this exact search when the No Company Open window cannot find your file. Check dates and sizes to pick the current one when several appear.
How do I move QuickBooks to a new computer?
Use File, Create Copy inside QuickBooks rather than copying the .QBW in Explorer while it is open. Portable and backup copies made by the app stay consistent. A raw file copy of an open company file can restore with missing pieces.
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