Troubleshooting a User password:

Passwords can be rejected for any of the following reasons:

1. Passwords are case sensitive:
   • Are the Caps Lock or Num Lock keys on?
   • Could one of them have been on when you created the password?
2. If you are using a laptop computer, be sure that the embedded number pad is not engaged:
   1. Click the Windows Start button and select run.
   2. Enter notepad in the Open field and click OK.
   3. Type the password with which you are experiencing difficulty. If some letters have been replaced by numbers, your embedded number pad is engaged. Please consult your laptop documentation for instructions on how to disengage it.
3. Accessibility Settings can stop a password from being accepted: Open the control panel and then select Accessibility Option, make sure none of the boxes on any of the tabs are checked.
4. Spaces are part of the password: Could a space have been recorded inadvertently when you created or entered the password?
5. The keyboard might not be functioning correctly: Enter the password in a text editor program such as Notepad to be sure the keyboard works properly.
6. An incorrect login screen appears: A login screen that asks for a password but not a user name is the administrator's login screen. If the administrator's login screen appears, close QuickBooks, and then reopen it.

If you have lost or forgotten the password or if the password you have is still rejected after trying these suggestions, ask your QuickBooks administrator to reset the user password.

Troubleshooting the Administrator password:

The same problems and possible solutions described for the user password also apply to the administrator password. Several additional solutions apply to the administrator password:

For QuickBooks 2008

1. Click the reset password button on the password screen.
2. Try to answer the security question, if you still can't get into the file follow the next steps:
3. Be sure you are opening the company file associated with the password.
   1. Click the Cancel button on the login screen.
   2. Select the QuickBooks File menu and then select Open Previous Company.
   3. Try to open several files to see if your password works in any of them.
4. Restore a backup copy of the company file: If a backup copy was created prior to adding the password, restore the backup copy.
   
   Important: If you use the QuickBooks Assisted Payroll Service, do not restore a backup. Click the QuickBooks Automated Password Removal Service link and follow the instructions.
   
   
   1. Move the password protected company file to a new location on your hard disk so that the backup does not overwrite it.
   2. Retain the password protected file in case you need to send it to Intuit for recovery.
   3. Manually enter any data that was added after the backup was made.
5. If you are converting the data file and the password is rejected, try removing the Administrator password in the previous version before starting the conversion.

For QuickBooks 2007 and earlier

1. Be sure you are opening the company file associated with the password.
   1. Click the Cancel button on the login screen.
   2. Select the QuickBooks File menu and then select Open Previous Company.
   3. Try to open several files to see if your password works in any of them.
2. Restore a backup copy of the company file. If a backup copy was created prior to adding the password, restore the backup copy.
   
   Important: If you use the QuickBooks Assisted Payroll Service, do not restore a backup. Click the QuickBooks Automated Password Removal Service link and follow the instructions.
   
   
   1. Move the password protected company file to a new location on your hard disk so that the backup does not overwrite it.
   2. Retain the password protected file in case you need to send it to Intuit for recovery.
   3. Manually enter any data that was added after the backup was made.
3. If you are converting the data file and the password is rejected, try removing the Administrator password in the previous version before starting the conversion.

Administrator password still does not work:

If the QuickBooks administrator password still does not work, refer to the QuickBooks Automated Password Removal Service. Download the Automated Password Removal Service and save it to your desktop. Follow the prompts to enter the QuickBooks license number, phone number and zip code used when registering your version of QuickBooks. If you are unsure of your QuickBooks license number, open QuickBooks and when you are asked to log in, click Cancel. The "No Company Open" screen appears. Click the Help menu and click About QuickBooks. You can also refer to Determining the QuickBooks version last used to open a company file or created a company file backup.

Note: If the Automated Password Removal Service does not reset your password, refer to Automated Password Reset Tool not resetting password.

If these directions do not resolve your issue, you can post a question, read discussions, or post messages relating to your issue on the Intuit QuickBooks Community site.

Changing the closing date password:

For instructions to change the closing date password click Changing the closing date password.

For additional information on passwords and working with the QuickBooks Login window, please select one of the following articles:

• Working with the QuickBooks Login window.
• Who is the QuickBooks Administrator?
• Set up QuickBooks Administrator
• Company file is suddenly asking for a password

If these directions do not resolve your issue, you can post a question, read discussions, or post messages relating to your issue on the Intuit QuickBooks Community site.

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