Troubleshooting QuickBooks licenses

When using QuickBooks in multi-user mode, the licenses you used to install each copy of QuickBooks determine how many users will be able to use a company file at the same time. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, .

Resolving the message, "You've exceeded the maximum number of users who can access the company file at one time."

1. On each computer that is accessing the company file, open QuickBooks (you do not need to open the company file) and press the F2 key on your keyboard. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . This opens the Product Information window.

2. Write down the number of user licenses (will be 1 or 5) and the license number from the Product Information window.

3. Repeat for each computer that accesses the company file.

4. Compare the license information you wrote down for each computer. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, .

   • For each computer that showed 1 user license, check the other license numbers on the other computers to make sure no other computer uses that same license number. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . If you used the same single-user license on more than one computer that is accessing the company file at the same time, you will need to resolve the license issue before gaining access to the company file simultaneously. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, .

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     You can install the same single-user license on more than one computer when those computers are used by the same individual. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . Because they are used by one individual, both computers will never access the company file at the same time. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . It is when the same single-user license is used on more than one computer being used by other users that will cause the 'exceeded max users' message to appear. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, .

     To resolve this issue

     If you are using the same single-user license on more than one computer accessing the company file, reinstall QuickBooks using a different single-user license. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . Each computer accessing the company file at the same time will need a unique single-user license. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . If you do not have another single-user license, you will need to purchase one. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . See Adding users to my QuickBooks license.

   • For each computer that showed 5 user licenses, you can have up to 5 computers using the same 5-user pack license number. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . Verify that no more than five users are logging into a company file from those five computers at the same time. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, .

     To resolve this issue

     If you are using a license with 5 user licenses, limit the number of users who access the company file at one time to five. product registration^Handshake, licenses, troubleshooting, . If you have more than five users who need to use QuickBooks at the same time, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions comes with a 5-user, 10-user, or 15-user license.

     To learn more about Enterprise Solutions, visit the Enterprise Solutions site.

Related topics

• Adding users to my QuickBooks license

• About QuickBooks licenses