Resolve QuickBooks performance change company and personal preferences

Open the file via the UNC path instead of the Mapped Drive:

Different kinds of network setups can have an affect on QuickBooks performance. If you typically access your company file via a mapped drive (Q:\QB Data for example) you can try accessing the file via the UNC path (\\ServerName\QB Data).

These steps may be a bit technical, you may want to check with your IT professional if you run into any issues with getting the server computer name or file location path.

1. Find the name of server name by opening My Computer (Windows key + E) and looking under the network location area.
2. You will see different mapped drives, such as X:\, Z:\, Y:\, etc. If you look closely, you will see the server computer name denoted by 2 backslashes (\\). This is the server computer name, make sure to write it down for the next steps. Also, you will need the shared folders name, this is usually the name right before the server name. See example:
   
3. Now that you have your servers computer name and your shared folders name, put them together like this:
   • \\ServerName\SharedFolderName and as per the example above, the UNC path would be \\ServerName\QBData
4. Make sure to note this path down, then open QuickBooks, and choose Open or Restore a Company File.
5. Choose Open a Company File and click Next.
6. In the Open a Company box, enter in the UNC path you got from Step 3 in the file name box and press Enter.
7. You will then see a list of your company files, choose the one you wish to open and press Open.
   • If the speed is faster, you will want to make sure your IT professional can set up a UNC path for future use and not use a mapped drive to access your company files.
   • If the speed is the same, proceed below in troubleshooting.

Create a backup file to reset the TLG file and resort lists

Creating a recent backup file can help improve performance in QuickBooks because it resets the *.TLG (transaction log file) used to track changes to the company file before they are written to the database. You can read more about the transaction log file here.

1. While in the program, choose the File menu, Backup Company, and select Create LocalBackup.
2. Choose Local Backup and click Options.
3. In the Tells us where to save your back up copies, choose your Desktop (or another local location).
4. Ensure that a Complete Verification is selected and click OK.
5. Choose Save it Now and click Next. In the Save Backup Copy window, choose your Desktop(or another local location) and click Save.

QuickBooks will now create a backup file to your desktop.

Company Preferences

1.      Log in to your company file as the Administrator.

2.      Switch to single user mode.

3.      From the Edit Menu, choose Preferences.

4.      Click the Company Preferences Tab.
 

5.      In the side bar, choose Bills.

a.      Uncheck the Warn about duplicate bill numbers from the same vendorcheckbox.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

6.      In the sidebar, choose Items & Inventory.

a.      Uncheck Warn about duplicate purchase order numbers.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

7.      In the side bar, choose Sales & Customers. Uncheck these checkboxes:

a.      Warn about duplicate invoice numbers .

b.      Warn about duplicate Sales Order numbers.

c.       Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

8.      In the sidebar, choose Search.

a.      Uncheck the Update automatically checkbox.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

9.      In the sidebar, choose Search.

a.      Uncheck the Update automatically checkbox.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.

10.   When all of the company preferences are set, click OK.

Personal Preferences

1.      From the Edit Menu, choose Preferences.

2.      Click the My Preferences Tab.
 

3.      In the sidebar, chose Desktop View.

a.      Select Don't save the desktop radio button.

b.      Clear the Show Home page when opening company file checkbox.

c.       Clear the Show Getting Started window checkbox.

d.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

4.      In the sidebar, chose General.

a.      Select the Keep QuickBooks running for quick startups checkbox.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.

c.       Note: This option is a tradeoff:

                 i.           If checked, QuickBooks starts faster, but may run slower.

                ii.           If unchecked, QuickBooks starts slower, but may run faster.
 

5.      In the sidebar, chose Reminders.

a.      Clear the Show Reminders List when opening a Company File checkbox.

b.      Click Yes in the Save Changes window.
 

6.      In the sidebar, chose Reports & Graphs.

a.      In the Reports and Graphs section choose Don't Refresh.
Note: Reports will refresh only when you choose to do so. This preference can increase your performance if you have several reports open while you are entering transactions.

b.      Click to select the Prompt me to modify report options before opening a report checkbox.
 

7.      When all of your personal preferences are set, click OK.

Automatic Updates

1.      From the Help menu, choose Update QuickBooks.

2.      Click the Options tab.

3.      In the Automatic Updates section, select No.

4.      Click Close.

5.      Click OK.

Resort Lists

Resort the Master Names List:

1. In the QuickBooks menu bar, choose Banking > Write Checks.
2. Click into the Pay to the order of field and press Ctrl+L.
3. Select the Include Inactive checkbox.
4. Click the Name button, and select Resort List.
5. Click OK on the message "Are you sure you want to return this list to its original order".

Resort the Item List:

1. In the QuickBooks menu bar, choose Lists > Item List.
2. Select the Include Inactive checkbox.
3. Click the Item button, and select Resort List.
4. Click OK on the message "Are you sure you want to return this list to its original order".

Resort the Chart of Accounts List:

1. In the QuickBooks menu bar, choose Lists > Item List.
2. Select the Include Inactive checkbox.
3. Click the Account button, and select Resort List.
4. Click OK on the message "Are you sure you want to return this list to its original order".
5. Check for issues within your company file

   If you have narrowed the performance issue to the company file, as in it is slow both on and off the server computer, with the anti-virus disabled, in selective startup mode, and resetting the TLG file, you may be able to further improve performance by checking your data file for performance enhancements.

   Important: Before you begin, see if the performance is affecting multiple users or just one or two users. Also the frequency of when the performance issues occur. Is it certain times during the day, only when doing certain types of activities in QuickBooks.

   Is QuickBooks slow for all users, all of the time

   
   

   If the company file is slow for everyone and all the time, you can check the data file for integrity issues. Note: If you are in a mult-user environment, it is recommended that everyone but one person log out of the company file.

   1. From within your company file, select the File menu > Utilities > Verify Data.
   2. Click OK to start the verify process.
   3. If there are any integrity issues, QuickBooks will prompt you to run a rebuild on the data.
      1. If the Verify finds errors and you run a rebuild, make sure to check your QBWin.log filefor errors.
      2. If the Verify completes without errors, proceed to the next step.

   Is QuickBooks only slow for some users, but not others, or intermittently

   
   

   Change QuickBooks Search preferences:

   • Go to the Performance issues in QuickBooks 2013 when the Search Index preference is enabledarticle.

   Change other QuickBooks preferences:

   • You can further maximize performance by setting additional company and user specific preferences.

   
   

   If QuickBooks is slow only when saving transactions (Invoices, Bills, etc):

   1. Try using a new template for your transaction. Go to the Lists menu and select Templates.
   2. Click the Templates button in the bottom left, and select New.
   3. Choose the type of template you want to create and click OK.
   4. Click the Manage Templates button in the top left.
   5. Over on the right, give your new template a name and click OK.
   6. Click OK again to close out of the Basic Customizing window.
   7. Now use your new template on a transaction to see if the performance is improved when saving.
   
   
   If after performing all these steps and you are still experiencing performance issues, Press F2 within the program and consider the following:
   • How large is your company file (file size)?
     • QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: If your company file size is >500 MB, you camImprove QuickBooks performance by verifying it is using the correct amount of memory.
   • Do any of your lists exceed the recommended limits (list information)?
   • How many years worth of data do you have (versions used on this file)?

Ensure QuickBooks uses the correct amount of cache to optimize performance

1. When QuickBooks installs, it sets defaults amounts of memory cache the database manager will use. Sometimes the settings get changed to less than the optimal amount of cache. This can cause QuickBooks to run slowly or very slowly. It is also possible that these incorrect values get "stuck" and seem to keep coming back. What we have observed is that the cache may revert back to lower (incorrect and non-default) values if the server reboots, a Windows update is installed, a QuickBooks update is installed, QuickBooks runs a utility on the company file and possibly other actions.

   
   

What you can try now

QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 13.0 and later

Update to the latest release.

IMPORTANT: Assure your product is selected. If not, click "Choose a different product."

Select and follow the instructions for one of the update options:

• Automatic Updates
• Manual Updates

Note: If you altered the memory settings in R5 or before, you may have to re-enter the settings when the server updates or reboots. Using the .ini file settings below is more permanent and dependable.

Use the QBW.ini file to set the amount of memory cache you want to use

These steps apply when the full program is installed on the hosting computer (server) and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions is on R6 release or later.

1. Go to the computer (server) hosting the company file.
2. Go to the QBW.ini file in the Intuit folder:
   • Windows Vista and later: C:\ProgramData\Intuit
3. Click the QBW file. Note: This file is different from the one you can access directly from the program.
   • Use the information below to add a [DBSERVEROPTIONS] section with your chosen values.
     
     [DBSERVEROPTIONS]
     InitialCache=256 (if set to 0, meaning “None”)
     MaxCache=512 (if set to 0, meaning ‘Unlimited’)
     
     Notes about InitialCache: The initial cache setting is used only until the first company file is opened. The initial cache adjusts at that time. Setting it to 0 or none should have no impact on performance.
     
     Notes about MaxCache: The max cache is the maximum amount of memory QuickBooks database manager can use to communicate with the Sybase database file (company file). Increasing this can improve performance. Setting this to 0 makes it "Unlimited". It is not truly unlimited but actually "Database managed" and can use more memory when needed.  
4. Save the file.
5. Important! For the .ini file settings you entered to "take affect" you need to turn off Hosting from the file menu and turn it back on.  This will disconnect any user's sessions that are running at the time.
6. If you have a "server only install" you can do the steps below:
   1. From the command prompt, type: net stop QuickBooksDB23
   2. From the command prompt, type: net stop QBCFMonitorService
   3. From the command prompt, type: net start QBCFMonitorService

Manually change cache settings for Server Only Install

Important: Intuit does not recommend you try the steps in this article unless you are an IT professional with prior experience editing the Windows Registry.

You can check in Windows to see what the cache is currently set to:

1. Open a command prompt on the computer configured to Host Multi-User Access for the QuickBooks file
   • Enter this command: reg query HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\QuickBooksDB23\Parameters
   • For QuickBooks 2014, enter reg query HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\QuickBooksDB24\Parameters The results should display something similar to: -n QB_SERVER_NAME -qs -gd ALL -gk all -gp 4096 -gu all -ch 256M -c 128M ...  
2. Note the numbers after -ch and -c
   Enterprise Solutions is designed to run best with the settings -ch 512M and -c 256M. If your current settings do not match this, you should modify them as described below.  
3. If you get an error, verify you typed it correctly and that this is the computer that is set toHost Multi User Access for QuickBooks.

You can change the settings in the registry: 

1. Save all work, log out all QuickBooks users.  
2. To Stop the QuickBooks Database service open the command prompt and run the appropriate command below:
   Important: All DB connections will be terminated at this point, and any unsaved work will be lost!
   Enter net stop QuickBooksDB23 (QuickBooksDB24 for QuickBooks 2014)
    
3. The settings are stored in the Windows registry and need to be corrected there. Do not attempt this if you are not an IT professional with experience editing the registry.  
4. This is the key location:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\QuickBooksDB23\Parameters.Note: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\QuickBooksDB24\Parametersfor QuickBooks 2014.
   
   The current value may be similar to: -n QB_SERVER_NAME -qs -gd ALL -gk all -gp 4096 -gu all -ch 256M -c 128M ...
   Intuit Suggests the following changes:
   • From -ch 256M change to -ch 512M
     • For unlimited, remove -ch 256 M and -ch 512M. The value should say "-n QB_SERVER_NAME -qs -gd ALL -gk all -gp 4096 -gu all"
       • Note: This setting is not truly unlimited but actually "Database managed" and can use more memory when needed.
   • From -c 128M change to -c 256M
   • If your settings were already at the recommended level, you do not need to change them. This document does not cover the cause of your performance problems.
   Note: -c and –ch are the parameters to specify the Cache and the Cache High (ceiling) for what the database Manager can use.
   
   When you are finished the value should be similar to: -n QB_SERVER_NAME -qs -gd ALL -gk all -gp 4096 -gu all -ch 512M -c 256M or -n QB_SERVER_NAME -qs -gd ALL -gk all -gp 4096 -gu all (unlimited cache).
5. Save your changes.  
6. From the command prompt, type: net start QuickBooksDB23 (QuickBooksDB24 for QuickBooks 2014)  
7. Launch QuickBooks and log into your company file.