Fix QuickBooks Error 1303: Installer Has Insufficient Privileges

When you try to install QB Desktop on your computer, several problems can occur. One common problem is QuickBooks error 1303. You may see this message on your screen:

Error 1303: Installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory. “C:…\Intuit”

This problem typically occurs when the system group or the Everyone group does not have full access to the QuickBooks installation folder. It can also occur when Windows file sharing settings are incorrect.

The good news is that this error can be fixed with a few simple steps. Let’s take a look at the article to understand the main causes of this error and how to fix it quickly.

Why Do You Get QuickBooks Installation Error 1303?

You may get QuickBooks error 1303 for these reasons:

• The everyone group or the system group on your computer might not have the right permissions to access the QB installation folder.
• Incorrect Windows file-sharing settings may lead to problems when you run the installation files.
• Your computer might not have enough free space on the hard drive to install or update different programs.
• Faulty hardware might stop you from installing any application.
• The QB installation files may be damaged, which can lead to this error.
• Your system may not meet the required technical standards to install QuickBooks.
• Corrupted system files might make it hard to install or update QB Desktop.
• Restrictions from the User Account Control (UAC) feature can also stop the installation process.

Now that you know the main causes of this issue, let’s look at the next section to find out how to fix it.

Steps to Fix QuickBooks Error 1303

You can use the fixes listed below whenever you face QuickBooks error 1303. Make sure you complete these steps in order.

Solution 1: Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool

You can fix installation errors with the QuickBooks tool hub. Follow these steps to download and install the QB tool hub:

• Close the QuickBooks software.
• Download the latest version (1.5.0.0) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
• Save the file in an easy-to-find location, like your Windows desktop.
• Open the downloaded file, i.e., QuickBooksToolHub.exe.
• Agree to the terms and conditions and follow the on-screen instructions.
• After installation, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to launch the tool hub.

Note: If you have already installed the Tool Hub, you can check the version by clicking the Home tab, and the version info will show at the bottom. We suggest you use the latest version.

• Open QuickBooks Tool Hub.
• Click Installation Issues in the tool hub.
• Choose the QuickBooks Diagnostic Tool.
• Run the tool. This process usually takes around 20 minutes.
• Restart your computer after the tool finishes.

If you still face QuickBooks error 1303, check the access permissions for the QB installation directory as explained next.

Solution 2: Check the Access Permissions for the QuickBooks Installation Folder

As mentioned before, not having access to the installation folder can cause this issue. Follow these steps to fix QuickBooks Enterprise Error 1303 manually:

Change Permissions to Full Control for Folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.

• Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run window.
• Enter the path C:\ProgramData\COMMON FILES\ and click OK. The folder contents will appear.
• Select Properties by clicking Organize in the Folder Window.
• On the folder window’s top ribbon, click Properties (Windows 10).
• Click Edit on the Security tab.
• Select SYSTEM or Everyone in the Group or User Names area, then click Full Control in the Allow column. (If SYSTEM or Everyone is not already listed, click Add to start adding them).
• The window to select Users or Groups will now appear. Enter Everyone or SYSTEM in the section labeled “Enter the object names to select,” then press the Check Names button.
• Click OK if your entry is valid. Now the group SYSTEM or Everyone will be included.
• Check Full Control in the Allow column after selecting it.
• Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
• If the Everyone group exists, repeat steps a through h for it.
• Click the box that says “Replace all existing inheritable permissions on all descendants with inheritable permissions from this object.”
• Click OK in the COMMON FILES Properties panel and the Advanced Security Settings window.

Try installing the application again after these changes. If you still get QuickBooks error 1303, go to the next step to change the Windows file-sharing settings.

Solution 3: Change Windows File Sharing Settings

• Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run window.
• Copy and paste RunDll32.exe, shell32.dll, Options RunDLL 0, and press Enter.
• Scroll down to the Advanced Settings list on the View tab.
• Uncheck the option “Use simple file sharing (recommended).”
• Click OK to save the new settings.

After making these changes, you should be able to download and install QB Desktop smoothly.

Some Tips to Avoid QuickBooks Desktop Installation Issues

Here are some tips to prevent issues with different QB installation error codes:

• Fix Your System Files: Run the System File Checker to scan and repair your system files.
• Check System Requirements: Make sure your system meets all the necessary requirements for QB Desktop.
• Install Windows Updates: Use an updated version of Windows with the latest bug fixes and patches.
• Check Disk Space: Ensure your system drive has enough free space for QuickBooks installation.
• Update Windows Firewall: Always use the most recent version of Windows Firewall on your computer.
• Check Different Hardware Components: Make sure all the parts of your computer are working properly.

Winding Up

In this long blog, we showed you different ways to fix QuickBooks error 1303. We hope you can now download and install QB Desktop without any problems. If you still have issues or have questions, you can talk to a QuickBooks expert for help right away.

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