QuickBooks Update: How to Update QuickBooks Desktop & Online to Latest Release?

To support additional features and improve the program efficiency, QuickBooks often sends new updates. By not installing the QuickBooks update, you may bump into errors while accessing the QuickBooks company files or other operations. Thus, you must download and install the latest QuickBooks updates.

The process of QuickBooks update download can be the same or different depending on the version or edition you are using for QuickBooks. In this blog, we will show you how to update QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Mac in different ways.

The blog discusses the advantages of QuickBooks updates, types of updates, and the procedure of updating QuickBooks.

Advantages of QuickBooks Update

Intuit sends new updates for your program once a year for various versions such as 2018, 2019, 2020, and others. Updating QuickBooks helps you to enjoy certain benefits including:

• More security of data.
• It resolves problems to minor bugs or loops.
• Provide error free experience.
• Tracking invoice status in real-time.
• Improved data.
• Optimization characteristics.

In addition, you can take advantage of a smooth interface and helpful features to make your QuickBooks operation easy and time-saving.

How to Know If Your System is Updated to the Latest Version?

Before you go to update your QuickBooks program, it is important to determine if your QuickBooks is updated to the latest version. To find this, you will have to check the update on the Product Information page. Also, you need to make sure that note down the version of your program so that you install the correct update based on your QuickBooks version.

Here, we are showing how you can find QuickBooks versions for different editions such as QuickBooks Desktop, Enhanced Payroll, QuickBooks for Mac, QuickBooks Statement Writer, and Point of Sale.

QuickBooks Desktop

• To know the version of your QuickBooks Desktop, you can press the “F” key on your keyboard. This will open the “Product Information” page.
• Then, you can check if there is any update available and see the “QuickBooks version”.

QuickBooks Basic or Enhanced Payroll

• For such products, you can click on the “Employees”
• Select the “Payroll Centers”.
• After that, click on the “Payroll” option.

QuickBooks for Mac

• In QuickBooks for Mac, go to the “Help” section.
• Then, you can click on the “Product Information”.
• Make sure you note down the version from the “Product Information” section.

QuickBooks Statement Writer

• Open your “QuickBooks” account.
• Go to “Reports”.
• Now, open “QuickBooks Report Writer”.
• Go to the “Help” option.
• Now, select the “About QuickBook Report Writer”.
• Here, you will find the “QuickBooks version” in the “About” section.

Point of Sale

• Go to the “Help” tab.
• Then, you can click on the “Product Information”.
• You will see the “QuickBooks version” and its new release.

This way you can check the new releases and the version of your QuickBooks program. Once you determine the version, you can proceed with QuickBooks downloads and updates.

Types of QuickBooks Update

There are different types of updates offered by Intuit QuickBooks. Each type of update method requires different steps. If you are wondering how to update QuickBooks to latest release, we will help you to understand. Make sure you have a trusted internet connection for this.

• Automatic Update Method (Default Setting)
• On-demand Update Method (Immediate Method)
• Release Download
• Manual Update
• Ultralight Patch- ULIP (Optional Method)

So these are different ways to update QuickBooks. Once you initiate with any of the four ways, it helps you to download the necessary company files to the correct on your PC.

How to Update QuickBooks to Latest Release on Windows?

As stated earlier, you can follow different ways to update QuickBooks. Intuit QuickBooks offers automatic updates, immediate methods, release download, and manual updates.

Each update method requires a different procedure. All you have to do is find your QuickBooks version, delete the old updates to download the new software update. Let’s know how to update QuickBooks Desktop and Online.

Option 1: Automatic Update Method (Default Setting)

The first way which is a default setting of your QuickBooks is to automatically update the software. For this process, you will have to open your QuickBooks, navigate through the menus, delete the old updates, and get new updates. Here are steps one can follow:

• Launch the “QuickBooks” program.
• Then, go to the “Help” button.
• Click on the “Update QuickBooks” option.
• From the “Update QuickBooks” window, select the “Update Now” tab.
• Remove all the updates you downloaded earlier. For that, select the boxes and hit the “Reset Update” button.
• Select the “Get Updates” option.
• Hit “OK” if prompted.
• Close “QuickBooks Desktop” and reopen it.
• Click “Yes” if prompted to download new updates.

Once you are done performing these steps, you need to restart your computer in order to reflect changes.

Enable or Disable Automatic Updates

For future updates, you can decide if you want to download and install the updates automatically. Not every time, a user prefers automatic updates so you can enable or disable the automatic update feature depending on the preferences.

• Launch the “QuickBooks” program.
• Then, go to the “Help” button.
• Click on the “Update QuickBooks” option.
• From the “Update QuickBooks” window, switch to the “Options” tab.
• Here, select any of the two options and select the “Yes” button to enable automatic updates. Choose the “No” button if you want to disable automatic updates.
• Hit the “Save” button.
• Click the “Close” button.

What If You Enable Automatic Updates in QuickBooks?

By enabling automatic updates in QuickBooks, you can take out the important updates from the Update section such as new updates for a specific version.

What If You Disable Automatic Updates in QuickBooks?

If you choose to disable automatic updates in QuickBooks, you will not receive any notification if there is any notification available in the Intuit server. Because the automatic update feature reminds you to search for updates.

Option 2: On-demand Update Method (Immediate Method)

This immediate method helps you to download the QuickBooks updates straight from the Intuit server. You can use this anytime and it is not necessary to run QuickBooks on your computer for this process. All you have to do is visit the Intuit website and download updates. If you have turned on the Automatic Update then it will be downloaded automatically. However, it is suggested to check for new updates every month.

Check for New Updates and Download Them

• Launch the “QuickBooks” program.
• Then, go to the “Help” button.
• Click on the “Update QuickBooks” option.
• Then, select the “Update Now” tab.
• Choose the update you wish to download and then click on the “Get Updates” button.
• From the “Update” column, you can check what all things are included in this update.
• Click on the “Maintenance Release” link. This will open a new page with improvements/changes in the update.

Thereafter, you can close your QuickBooks program. Next time you open your QuickBooks, it prompts you to install the new updates. At this point, you can click on the Download it Now or Later. Once this installation is finished, you can restart your PC.

Note: Make sure you reinstall the updates in sequence as they appear on your screen. If you don’t follow the sequence, you may encounter errors when opening a company file.

Option 3: Release Download

If you encounter problems with the update feature or you want to install new updates using the Update feature then you can easily download and install the updates. It is suggested to use the update feature to install new updates. But you have to make sure that you update all the copies if you use multiple copies of the QB program. Not updating all the copies may cause errors when opening company files.

Download Updates for QuickBooks Premier and Pro (for Multi-User Mode)

If you use QuickBooks Premier or Pro in multi-user mode then you should make sure that you install the updates on each system. All you have to connect your PC to the internet and then download the updates. As an alternate option, you can install the updates on one system and later share them with other devices.

• Open your shared company files.
• Click on the “Help” menu.
• Then, select the “Update QuickBooks” option.
• Now, switch to the “Options” tab.
• Hit the “Yes” button to enable the “Share Download” option.
• Click the “Save” button.

As you follow these steps, the update will be shared with other systems. This way you can download and install the updates from one system to another. Thereafter, you can install new updates for the QuickBooks company files. This should be noted that your QB company file might not be accessible with the older release of QuickBooks after updating it.

Important Tips to Update QuickBooks Version

• Select the new version of your “QuickBooks Desktop”.
• Click on the “File” menu.
• Choose the “Open or Restore Company…”.
• Click on your company file and hit the “Next” button.
• Here, highlight the data file and then select the “Open” button.

If you see the Move Company File page then you can follow these steps:

• In the “Update Company” file, read the company file.
• Select the checkbox and hit the “Update Now” button.

Once done, you can follow the on-screen instructions in order to create a backup of the files. This way you can update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release.

Option 4: Manual Update

With the manual update method, you can get updates directly from the internet or with the help of QuickBooks software. Here, we will show you the procedure of the QuickBooks Pro 2001 update or other versions with step-by-step instructions so that you can download QuickBooks manually.

Download Updates using the Internet

• For that, open the “Download and Updates” page.
• Select your country using the “Select Country” drop-down menu.
• Using the “Select Product” drop-down menu, choose the product as per your needs.
• Now, ensure that you choose the version using the “Select Version” drop-down menu.
• Click the “Search” option.
• Hit the “Get Updates” option.

Thereafter, you can save the download file where it can be found easily on your computer. Then, you can open the file to complete the installation. This way you can follow the procedure of QuickBooks manual update 2014 to the latest version.

Download Updates using QuickBooks

• Click on the “File” menu.
• Then, select the “Close Company/Logoff” icon.
• From the “File” menu, click on the “Exit” tab.
• Click right on the “QuickBooks” icon and select the “Run as Administrator” option.
• When you see the “No Company Open” screen, go to the “Help” menu.
• Now, click on the “Update QuickBooks” option.
• Here, click on the “Update Now” option.
• Then, mark the “Reset Update” box.
• Click on the “Get Updates” option.

When the update is finished, you can close the QuickBooks program. Thereafter, you can relaunch your QuickBooks app. While opening the QB software, if you see a prompt to install the update then click on the Yes button. Once the installation is complete, you can restart the system.

Option 5: Ultralight Patch- ULIP (Optional Method)

Ultralight Patch known as ULIP is an optional method that can be followed for QuickBooks updates. This characteristic in your QuickBooks Desktop helps you to identify minor but important repairs sent without release limitations.

You should remember that the ultralight patch release can be continued as it is. Make sure you select the essential repairs option before you transfer the updates. You can follow these steps to manually update the QuickBooks Desktop.

• Start by downloading the latest version of QuickBooks and move it all to QuickBooks and the company files.
• Now, go to the Windows “Start” menu.
• Search for the “QuickBooks Desktop”.
• Once you find the “QuickBooks Desktop icon”, click right on it and choose the “Run as administrator” option.
• When you see the “No Company” screen, go to the “Help” menu.
• Now, click on the “Update QuickBooks Desktop”.
• Here, click on the “Mark All” option.
• Hit the “Save” button from the ”Option” tab.
• Select the “Update Now” tab.
• Hit the “Reset Update” checkbox.
• Click on the “Get Updates” option.

This is how you can receive the update using the ULIP method. Thereafter, you can download and install the updates.

How to Update QuickBooks 2014 to Latest Release on Mac?

If you use QuickBooks for Mac and want to update QuickBooks then you can follow two types of ways to do it; In-product update and manual update. Let’s know the procedure of QuickBooks 2009 update download including other versions.

Option 1: In-Product Update

• For such type of update, you can hover your mouse over the drop-down option and click on the “Check for QuickBooks Updates”.
• If you find any new version then click on the “Install and Update” button.
• Then, you may receive the alert for clicking install and relaunch.
• Once the process is finished, your QuickBooks will be launched automatically.

Option 2: Manual Update

• For updating QuickBooks manually, you will have to uninstall the old version.
• Then, install the new version of QuickBooks.
• Go to the “QuickBooks Product Updates” in order to reinstall the new version.
• Now, click on the QuickBooks Desktop and download the installer to your computer.
• Here, click twice on the download “.dmg file” and drag the QB icon to the application folder to complete the process.

This is how you can update QuickBooks on Mac using two different ways. Although the automatic update is beneficial as you don’t have to check for the updates regularly, the manual update can also be followed.

Winding Up

In this blog, we have shown you the whole procedure of updating QuickBooks. It includes automatic updates, immediate methods, release download, and manual updates. Each update method requires a different procedure. All you have to do is find your QuickBooks version, delete the old updates to download the new software update.

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