How to Network Quickbooks Desktop on Two Computers?

When your business starts growing, the requirement for maintaining your financial records updated increases. When you have multiple employees managing both – expenses and income, and you are making use of QuickBooks Desktop, enhance effectiveness by permitting three or more than three users to edit the company file. Even if not every QuickBooks version possesses this function, facilitating a multi-user feature gives access to multiple users to edit the same file simultaneously, enhancing productivity.

If you want to know more about how to network QuickBooks Desktop on two computers, then go through this article. But before that, let’s know more about this multi-user network feature in QuickBooks desktop.

Also Read – Quickbooks to Zoho Books Migration Services

What is the Multi-user Mode Feature in QuickBooks?

Multi-user feature is a feature that helps many people to work on the same file at a time. This feature saves a lot of time and makes things easy and quick. This multi-user feature is highly beneficial if you have a big firm with many employees. But to set up this feature in QuickBooks Desktop, you should have a separate licensed copy of QuickBooks in your system.

Here are the benefits that QuickBooks Multi-user feature offers:

• With multiple user access, productivity and effectiveness increases.
• All users get concurrent access to your updated file, ensuring perfect and effective collaboration.
• It’s easy to remain in control and keep all your data safe. You can limit employee access by facilitating various levels of permission for users in your file.

Here are some Quick Facts you should know before Setting up a Multi-user Feature

With QuickBooks, you can get access to data files across the network. But for that, every user should install the software. Varied accounts are given various access, such as

• QuickBooks enterprise solutions permit access to 30 users at a time.
• QuickBooks Premier allows five users.
• QuickBooks Pro allows three users.

How to Network Quickbooks Desktop on Two Computers: Steps for Multi-user Set up in QuickBooks Desktop

Download and Install QuickBooks Desktop 

• First, you have to download QuickBooks Desktop and save it.
• After downloading, install the software following all on-screen instructions.
• For install type, select custom and network install.
• Then choose “I will be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, and I will be storing.

Mapping the Network Drive

• When you map the network drive on the host computer, it gives the driver access to other drives, computers, or servers connected to the same network. Follow the steps below for mapping the network drive on a Windows 10.
• In the host computer, open Windows Explorer.
• Below the upper tab, choose Map a network drive.
• Now choose the unused drive letter and then click Browse.
• Go to the network location of the QuickBooks file and then choose OK.

• Now open the file from the mapped drive.
• Then set up the folder approvals on the server computer.

Setting up Database Server Manager

• QuickBooks Desktop database server manager lets the server computer share files with the workstations. But make sure that the hosting account and the database server manager possess admin rights. Here are the steps to follow for setting up the database server manager:
• Hit the browse option to choose the company file.

• Now choose the company file that you wish to work on.
• Click the scan option.
• Now close the QuickBooks Database server manager.

Turn the Hosting on the Server Computer on

• Open QuickBooks Desktop.
• Choose the file menu and go through the utilities.
• Now select the host multi-user access and then select Yes.
• Go to the company and then the users.
• Choose set up users and role.
• Click New and then add Users.

  Installing QuickBooks Desktop on your Workstation

• On your workstation, download and install QuickBooks Desktop.
• Select custom and network under install type.
• Choose” I will be using QuickBooks desktop on this computer, and I will be storing.
• Complete installation by following all instruction that comes on the screen.
• Sign in is a user along with the admin rights on any of the workstations and start working.

Different causes why QuickBooks Multi-user Mode does not Function Properly

Sometimes because of various causes, an error might appear while using multi-user mode such as:

• QuickBooks is not installed on your server properly.
• Improper configuration of hosting settings.
• The firewall or the antivirus might not be allowing the required communication between the user’s computers.
• The file is not accessible by the database server.
• File permission of windows is not properly set.

Also Read – How to Import Accountant Changes in QuickBooks?

Conclusion

A multi–user mode in QuickBooks Desktop provides you with many benefits that enhance effectiveness and competence. It becomes vital if you have a big firm, as it allows you to work on a single firm from various workstations.