Beyond Dawlish

QuickBooks is a crucial accounting program that companies need to effectively handle their payroll, money, and transactions. Nevertheless, customers may occasionally run into problems where Windows Firewall prevents QuickBooks from connecting to a corporate file in multi-user mode or from accessing the internet. This may result in a number of mistakes, problems with connectivity, or trouble updating. Thankfully, this problem may be fixed by correctly configuring Windows Firewall settings to let QuickBooks through. We'll walk you through the exact steps in this article to resolve QuickBooks's Windows Firewall blockage.

Step 1: Check If Windows Firewall Is Blocking QuickBooks

Before making changes to Windows Firewall settings, confirm whether it is the root cause of the connectivity issues. Follow these steps:

1. Open QuickBooks and try accessing your company file or performing an update.

2. If you encounter an error such as H202, H505, or 12029, Windows Firewall might be blocking QuickBooks.

3. Temporarily disable Windows Firewall to check if QuickBooks starts working. If it does, proceed with the steps below to properly configure the firewall.

Step 2: Add QuickBooks as an Exception in Windows Firewall

To prevent Windows Firewall from blocking QuickBooks, you need to create inbound and outbound rules that allow QuickBooks files to function properly.

1. Open Windows Firewall Settings

• Press Windows R, type control panel, and hit Enter.

• Go to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

• Click on Advanced settings on the left panel.

2. Create an Inbound Rule

• Click Inbound Rules > New Rule.

• Select Program and click Next.

• Choose This program path, then click Browse and navigate to the QuickBooks executable file (QBW32.exe or QBUpdate.exe). The default location is:

  • C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks (Year)

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks (Year) (for 64-bit systems)

• Click Next, select Allow the connection, then click Next.

• Check Domain, Private, and Public options, then click Next.

• Name the rule (e.g., "Allow QuickBooks") and click Finish.

3. Create an Outbound Rule

• Repeat the same process for outbound rules by selecting Outbound Rules > New Rule and following the same steps as above.

Step 3: Open Specific QuickBooks Ports in Windows Firewall

QuickBooks requires specific ports to communicate with the network. You must open these ports based on your QuickBooks version.

1. Open Windows Firewall Ports

• Go to Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.

• Click Inbound Rules > New Rule.

• Select Port and click Next.

• Choose TCP and enter the following ports based on your QuickBooks version:

  • QuickBooks Desktop 2024 – 8019, 56728, 55378-55382

  • QuickBooks Desktop 2023 – 8019, 56727, 55373-55377

  • QuickBooks Desktop 2022 – 8019, 56726, 55368-55372

  • QuickBooks Desktop 2021 – 8019, 56725, 55363-55367

• Click Next, select Allow the connection, and click Next.

• Check Domain, Private, and Public, then click Next.

• Name the rule (e.g., "QuickBooks Ports") and click Finish.

• Repeat the same process for Outbound Rules.

Step 4: Restart QuickBooks Services

Restarting QuickBooks services ensures that the firewall changes take effect.

1. Press Windows R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

2. Scroll down and locate QuickBooksDBXX (where XX is the version number, e.g., QuickBooksDB32 for QuickBooks 2024).

3. Right-click the service, select Restart, and close the window.

Step 5: Use QuickBooks Database Server Manager

If you use QuickBooks in multi-user mode, you must configure the QuickBooks Database Server Manager to allow network connections.

1. Open QuickBooks Database Server Manager (Press Windows S, type QuickBooks Database Server Manager, and select it).

2. Click Scan Folders > Browse, then select the folder where your QuickBooks company file is stored.

3. Click Start Scan to allow the server manager to configure the necessary firewall permissions.

4. Once the scan is complete, restart QuickBooks and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 6: Disable Third-Party Security Software

If you are still facing connectivity issues, check whether third-party antivirus or security software is blocking QuickBooks. Try temporarily disabling them and then opening QuickBooks to test the connection.

Step 7: Restart Your Computer and Test QuickBooks

To implement the new settings, restart your computer after completing all the required adjustments. To see if the firewall settings have fixed the problem, open QuickBooks and attempt the previously banned activity.

Conclusion

Although QuickBooks can be severely disrupted by Windows Firewall blocking it, you can properly configure the firewall to permit QuickBooks access by following this detailed approach. To keep things running well, make sure QuickBooks is whitelisted, access the required ports, and use the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Consider contacting QuickBooks support or speaking with an IT specialist to identify any underlying network issues if you keep running into problems. Maintaining uninterrupted access to QuickBooks with proper Windows Firewall configuration will keep your financial operations operating efficiently.