Learn how you can fix QuickBooks can’t create or won’t open a portable company file:

At the time of creating or opening a portable company file with the extension .qbm, QuickBooks users often face portable company file issues on QuickBooks Desktop. Well, in such a situation panicking is not a solution; there are a couple of steps that could help in getting out of this issue.

Cannot open QuickBooks portable company file - Screenshot Image

This article will brief you on the ways to fix QuickBooks desktop portable company file errors so that you can use the portable company file to move the data or repair the file. Thus, make sure that you scroll through the article carefully. However, this error can be simply rectified with the help of an efficient U.S based QuickBooks error support team, who will blend their expertise with your requirements and come up with a great result instantly.

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Steps to Resolve QuickBooks Desktop Portable Company File Issues

There can be a couple of steps that you can implement in order to fix the portable company file issue in QuickBooks desktop. Let us check them out one by one:

Step 1: Creating a manual copy of the company file

This issue might be basically due to the company file’s location. You can create a copy of the company file and use it to create an additional portable copy. The steps involved in this particular process are as follows:

  • First step is to open the Windows menu.
  • And then, type file explorer into the search bar. You will also have to open the file explorer.
  • Once done with that, you need to search for and spot the folder that is having the company file.

The steps to be followed ahead completely depend on the task being performed at the time when the error was encountered.

Case 1: Error encountered while creating a portable company file

Well, if you encountered the error at the time of creating a portable company file, then in that case, the steps below can be implemented:

  • At first, you will have to look for the company file with an extension .qbw. This would look like [Your company file].qbw
  • The next step is to hit a right click the file and choose copy.
  • Once done with that, you can navigate to the Windows desktop and also right-click and choose paste.
  • Moving ahead, open QuickBooks, but avoid opening the company file.
  • Now you should select opening or restore an existing file. Also, select the open a company file option.
Open or Restore a company file - Screenshot Image
  • You will then have to browse the system and open the copied company file pasted to the Windows desktop.
  • After that, move to the file menu in the open copy of the company file and also select the option to create copy.
  • Now, select the restore portable company file and also hit next.
Create or Save a Portable Company File in QuickBooks - Screenshot
  • The final step is to carry out the on-screen prompts and create another portable company file.

If you are able to create a company file, then the issue lies in the original company file’s location. You will have to use the copied company file as the main company file from now on. After which, you should rename the original company file and place “old” in the name to avoid using it again.

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Case 2: If the error was encountered while restoring the portable company file

  • In such a situation, first look for the portable company file with a .qbm extension. This would look like [Your company file].qbm.
  • After which, you will have to right-click the file and select copy.
  • The next step is to move to the Windows desktop and also right-click somewhere and choose paste.
  • Now open QuickBooks, but don’t open the company file.
  • After that, choose open or restore an existing file.
Open or restore an existing company - Screenshot
  • Along with that, choose the restore a portable file option. Moreover, browse the system and open the copied portable company file pasted to the Windows desktop.
Restore QuickBooks portable company file - Screenshot Image

In case you are able to open the copied portable company file, then the error is fixed. You can make use of it to move the accounting data. Also, renaming the original portable file to OLD is recommended.

Step 2: Opening a sample company file

Another step is to use a sample company file in order to create a portable company file. This will help you to identify if there is any bigger issue with the company file. The steps involved here are:

  • Initially, open QuickBooks accounting software.
  • And then, rather than selecting the company file, hit a click on open a sample file. This will open one of the sample companies.
  • Now, in the sample company file, you can follow the steps to create a portable company file. Along with that, save it to the Windows Desktop.
  • And navigate to the file menu in QuickBooks. Followed by selecting the option to close company/log off.
Close company file - Screenshot Image
  • The last step is to carry out the steps to open the portable company file being created in the sample company.
Create or Save a Portable Company File in QuickBooks - Screenshot

If you have successfully able to restore the portable company file from the sample company, then the main company file might have certain issues. You can then opt for the troubleshooting data damage on the company file, in order to fix the error.

Also See: How to Host your QuickBooks Company Data in Multi-user Mode?

Conclusion!

With the help of this post, we have tried to share with you some of the most effective solutions that would help you in the rectification of the portable company file errors in QuickBooks desktop. However, if you find these errors to be too complicated for you to handle, then in that case, we are here to help you.

We would love to answer all your queries and handle the situation on your behalf. Give us a call today at our QuickBooks error support number i.e., 1-800-761-1787, and let our U.S-based best accounting experts fix the issue for you. Do not hesitate to call us at any point in time; we will be happy to help you.

FAQs

Q.1. What is a QBB and QBW file?

Ans. QB and .QBW are the extensions of the QuickBooks company file. While .QBW is the standard extension of the Company file, .QBB is the extension of the company file backup.

Q.2. How big is a QuickBooks company file?

Ans. The size of the company file depends on the QuickBooks version. For QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Premier versions, the allowable cap on the company file size is 250 MB. For QuickBooks Enterprise, the maximum size of the company file is 1.5 GB.

Q.3. What is a portable company file in QuickBooks?

Ans. Portable company file is a compact form of the company file that can be sent via email or can be transferred to an external storage device.

Q.4. How do I restore a portable company file in QuickBooks Desktop?

Ans. Follow the procedure below:
1. Run QuickBooks as an admin.
2. Hit on the File menu and then click on Open or Restore Company.
3. Choose the option to Restore a Portable File and hit on Next.
4, Choose the location to save the portable company file and save the file.

Q.5. What is the file format for QuickBooks Portable?

Ans. The file format for QuickBooks Portable is .qbm (QuickBooks Portable Company File). This file format is used to create a portable backup copy of a QuickBooks company file. The portable file contains all the financial data of the company, but it does not include any attachments or logos.

 

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