A Complete Guide to Resolve the QuickBooks Company File in Use Issue

You might receive issues while accessing the company file in QuickBooks. In this guide, we will look deeply into the QuickBooks company file in use error. With this, we will uncover a list elaborating on the factors that can be responsible for why you can’t access the company file stored on another PC. For instance, third-party programs may interfere, misconfiguration of QuickBooks Database Server Manager, and network connectivity issues can cause it. The messages are written below that can be witnessed at this time:

“QuickBooks company file in use. If you want to open another company file, close the one first.“

“Company File in use. Please wait.”

“Only one user at a time is allowed to do (a task).”

Sorry, you cannot change this (transaction) now. (Another user) is currently doing a task that uses that in this transaction.

Asa result, this can also lead you to encounter QuickBooks error 6000 304, 6010, 6190, etc. Thus, to help you tackle the problem, we have conducted some research and brought you up to 3 practical fixes. But, before you try to resolve the issue, it is essential to create a backup copy of your company file to avoid data loss. 

However, we have always advised you to consult a professional because they know things better and can guide you at every step. Dial 1.855.738.2784 to get instantly connected.

Why You Fail to Access the QB Company File

A variety of reasons can prevent you from accessing the company file.

1. It might be due to the fact that the company file that you want to access is either modified or being used by some other user on the same network.
2. This issue may arise if the QuickBooks Database Server Manager fails to run properly.
3. One major reason behind it can be a network connectivity issue between the host computer and the workstations.
4. A third-party program might be interrupting QB operations.

Practical Fixes That Work When the QuickBooks Company File Is in Use

Here are the techniques that you can use to eliminate the issue that occurs when you try to access the company file that is not stored on your local computer. See how to implement the steps in order to get the most effective results.

Way 1: Set up user permissions in QB

1. Go to the workstations and open the QB program.
2. Launch the company file.
3. Head to the Users tab.
4. Choose View Users.
5. Make sure that the users are not using the damaged company file.
6. Move to the Company section.
7. Click on Users and then choose Set Up Users and Roles.
8. Click New and name the new user.
9. Choose Add and move to the Roles section.
10. Give this user a role.
11. Tap OK.
12. Choose Close to finish the permission setup.

Way 2: Disable multi-user mode on the server and the workstations

1. For this, you must open the QB program on the server computer.
2. Move to the File menu.
3. Choose Utilities> Stop Hosting Multi-User Access.
4. Tap Yes and then close the software.
5. Do the same on all the workstations.

Way 3: Restart QB on the server

1. To begin this method, you need to exit the QB program from all the workstations.
2. Open the server computer.
3. Launch the Run window.
4. Enter service.msc and hit Enter.
5. Choose QuickBooksDBXX based on the QB version you use.
6. Tap Stop and then click on the Start option after some time.

Summary

The key point to consider is that the QuickBooks company file in use message appears because the file is in single-user mode, or because someone else is accessing it. The other reasons have been precisely discussed in the section above, along with their troubleshooting methods. If you still want professionals to guide you, give a call to 1.855.738.2784 and let them help you fix it.

You may also read: QuickBooks Error Series 15000, How to Fix it?