Fix QuickBooks Error H202: (Multi-User Mode Error)

QuickBooks error H202 occur when something prevents your workstations from connecting to your server computer. These errors typically indicate that your workstations are unable to communicate with the company file on the host server. To fix this and restore multi-user access, follow these steps.

You may see one of these error messages on your screen:

This company file is on another computer, and QuickBooks needs some help connecting.

or

“There’s a problem with the multi-user hosting setup.

QuickBooks could not open the file in multi-user mode. (H202)”

Common Causes of QuickBooks Error Code H202

Before fixing any error in QuickBooks or any other software, it’s important to understand why it’s occurring. This helps you solve the problem at its root. Some common reasons you might encounter error H202 when switching to multi-user mode are:

• The Windows Firewall or an antivirus program on the server may be blocking communication.
• There may be a problem with the DNS server.
• QuickBooks can’t find the IP address of the computer or server hosting the company file.
• Hosting settings may be set up incorrectly.
• Multiple computers may be trying to host the company file on the network.
• One of the QuickBooks services, QuickBooksDBXX or QBCFMonitorService, or both, may not be running on the host computer.
• The network data file (.ND) may be corrupted or broken.

Symptoms When QuickBooks Error H202 occurs?

Several symptoms come out when QuickBooks multi-user mode error code H202 occurs:

• You will be unable to open a company file that is located on another computer.
• The system starts to run slowly.
• Switching to multi-user mode suddenly stops etc.

Fixing Error H202 with the QuickBooks Tool Hub

If you haven’t already, follow these steps to install QuickBooks Database Server Manager on your server for each version of QuickBooks you use. Your server is the computer that holds your company files. After installing the Database Server Manager:

There are two ways to set up the QuickBooks Database Server Manager:

• The Full Program option: You install the full version of QuickBooks Desktop and the Database Server Manager on your server computer.
• The Server Only option: You install only the Database Server Manager on your server computer.

Run the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on your server using the QuickBooks Tool Hub

Step 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub on your server

The QuickBooks Tool Hub helps fix common errors. You’ll need to close QuickBooks to use the tool hub. For the best experience, we recommend using the Tool Hub on Windows 11, 64-bit.

• Close QuickBooks.
• Download the latest version (1.6.0.8) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the file where you can easily find it, like in your Downloads folder or on your Windows desktop.
• Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
• When the installation is done, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

Note: If you can’t find the icon, use Windows search to find “QuickBooks Tool Hub” and select the program.

Step 2: From the Tool Hub, run the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on your server

Your server computer is the one that holds your QuickBooks company file(s). Your other computers that are connected to your network are your workstations.

• From the QuickBooks Tools Hub, select Network Issues.
• Select QuickBooks Database Server Manager. If QuickBooks isn’t installed on your server, it will ask you to install it.
• Inside the QuickBooks Database Server Manager, click Start Scan if you see your company file folder(s). If you don’t, browse to where your company file is and then click Start Scan.
• QuickBooks Database Server Manager will automatically fix your firewall settings. When the scan is complete, click Close.
• Open QuickBooks on each workstation where you’re getting Error H202. Go to File, then Switch to Multi-user Mode. If you use your server computer as a workstation, check it as well.

Step 3: From the Tool Hub, run the File Doctor

• From the tool hub, select Company File Issues.
• Select Run QuickBooks File Doctor. It may take a minute to open.
• In QuickBooks File Doctor, choose your company file from the dropdown menu. If you don’t see your file, click Browse and search for it.
• Click Check your Network (top option) and then Continue.
• Enter your QuickBooks admin password and click Next.

If your workstations can now connect in multi-user mode without any issues, the problem is solved.

If you still see Error H202, continue to other solutions.

Fix Error H202 manually

Solution 1: Check the services on your server

Important note: If you’re using the full version of QuickBooks on your server, make sure multi-user hosting is turned on.

Check if the QuickBooks services are running on your server.

Follow these steps to check QuickBooksDBXX and then do the same for BCFMonitorService.

• Open the Start Menu on your server.
• Search for “Run” and open it.
• Type “services.msc” into the Run window and press Enter.
• Find QuickBooksDBXX in the list. The XX shows your QuickBooks version plus 10. For example, QuickBooks 2023 becomes QuickBooksDB33.
• Set the Startup type to Automatic.
• Check if the Service status is either Running or Started. If not, click Start.
• Click on the Recovery tab.
• Choose “Restart the Service” from the dropdowns for First failure, Second failure, and Subsequent failures.
• Click Apply and then OK.
• Do the same steps for QBCFMonitorService.

After doing this, open QuickBooks on each workstation. Go to File and select Switch to Multi-user Mode. If everything works, the error is fixed.

If you still get Error H202, go to Solution 2.

Solution 2: Add services to your Windows admin group on your server

If you haven’t done it yet, give QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitorService admin permissions on your server. For instructions, see the guide for setting Windows access permissions to share company files.

Once done, open QuickBooks on your server and on each workstation. If the error still shows, move on to Solution 3.

Solution 3: Configure your firewall settings on your server

Make sure your server allows QuickBooks through the firewall.

• Follow the steps for configuring firewall and internet security settings for QuickBooks Desktop to set up Windows firewall exceptions.
• After setting the firewall permissions, open QuickBooks on your workstations.
• Go to File and select Switch to Multi-user Mode.

If everything works, the issue is fixed. If you still see Error H202, go to Solution 4.

Solution 4: Ping your server from a workstation

Check the server connection by pinging it from each workstation showing Error H202.

• First, turn on Network Discovery on your server and on any workstations with the error:
  • Open the Start Menu on your server and workstations.
  • Search for “Network” and open Network and Sharing Center.
  • Select Change advanced sharing settings.
  • Ensure “Turn on network discovery” is selected in the Network discovery and File and printer sharing sections.
• Next, get your server name from your server:
  • Open the Start Menu on your server.
  • Search for “Run” and open it.
  • Type “CMD” and press Enter.
  • Type “ipconfig/all” and press Enter.
  • Find the Host Name in the Windows IP Configuration section. Your server name is listed on the right.
  • Write down or copy the host name so you can use it quickly.

Now, test the server connection on your workstation.

These steps can be complex, so consider asking an IT professional for help.

• Open the Start Menu on your workstation.
• Search for “Run” and open it.
• Type “CMD” and press Enter.
• Type “ping [your server name]” (without the brackets) and press Enter.
• Do this for each workstation with Error H202.

If you get replies with no packet loss, your server is working.
Move on to Solution 5.

If there’s packet loss or slow replies, stop and get help from an IT professional.

Solution 5: Verify QuickBooks services

If your server uses the full version of QuickBooks, follow these steps to start multi-user hosting:

• Open QuickBooks Desktop on the server.
• Go to File, then Utilities.
• Select Host multi-user access.

To check if QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitorService are running, do the following:

• Open the Run window.
• Type “services.msc” and click OK.
• Select QuickBooksDBXX.
• Check if the Startup type is set to Automatic.

If not, change it.

• Ensure the Service status is Running.
• Click the Recovery tab and select it.
• Choose “Restart the Service” from the dropdown menus for First failure, Second failure, and Subsequent failures.
• Click Apply and then OK.
• Repeat these steps for QBCFMonitorService.

Solution 7: Configure firewall settings

Your system firewall might be blocking communication between QuickBooks and the server.

Follow these steps to adjust firewall settings for QuickBooks:

• Create exceptions in your system firewall settings.
• Change firewall permissions and then open QuickBooks on all computers.
• Go to File and select Switch to multi-user mode.

Solution 8: Make a new folder for the QuickBooks company file

• This method involves creating a new folder on the server.
• Then, change the permissions for this new folder and for the QuickBooks company files so they can be shared.
• Next, copy the .qbw file using the Ctrl + C keys and paste it into the new folder.
• Finally, open the company file in multi-user mode.

Solution 9: Use the QuickBooks connection diagnostic tool to fix network issues

• First, download and install the QuickBooks connection diagnostic tool on the hosting system.
• Then, scan the folder where the QuickBooks company files are stored.
• After that, note down the IP address that appears when the diagnostic tool is running.
• The next step is to set up the firewall ports as the diagnostic tool suggests.
• Also, follow any additional instructions provided by the diagnostic tool.
• Lastly, try opening the company files on the system where the H202 error occurred.

Solution 10: Change the company file location

• Create a new folder, ideally on Drive C: of the system, to store the company file.
• Then, select the company file and the .TLG file from the existing company file folder and copy them using Ctrl + C.
• After that, go to the new company file folder and paste the files using Ctrl + V.
• Check if you can open the file in multi-user mode.

Solution 11: QuickBooks firewall ports information

• QuickBooks 2016 Firewall Ports: 8019, 56726, 55368-55372
• QuickBooks 2017 Firewall Ports: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377
• QB 2018 Firewall Ports: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382
• QuickBooks 2019 doesn’t have any fixed firewall ports: The ports are automatically renewed once you can run the company file in the database server manager.

Solution 12: Setting hosting to local files

You need to make sure no other client system is hosting the same company file. The steps are as follows:

• Launch QuickBooks and press the F2 key to open the product information window.
• Next, in the lower left corner, choose “Hosting to reflect local files only” under local server information.

Solution 13: Opening Windows control panel

• Close QuickBooks on all systems. QuickBooks repair can be done on all systems at the same time.
• Then, open the Windows control panel and choose Programs and features.
• Select QuickBooks from the list of installed programs and click on Change and repair.
• Allow all the positive options during the QuickBooks software repair.
• After the repair is complete, update QuickBooks to the latest version.
• Try opening the company file to check if the problem is fixed.

Solution 15: Renaming the .TLG and .ND files

• First, close your QuickBooks desktop.
• Then, open the company file folder on the server system.
• Look for and select the .tlg file related to the QuickBooks file with the error.
• Right-click the .tlg file and choose Rename.
• Change the file name by adding “.old” before it and hit Enter.
• Do the same for the .nd file and close the folder.
• Once these steps are done, the .nd and .tlg files will be created automatically.
• Then, open the company file by pressing the Alt key until it opens.
• This should help resolve all the issues.

Solution 16: Edit the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file on the Fedora Linux Server

If the previous methods didn’t work to fix the QuickBooks error H202, try method 10. You need to edit the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file on the server. Here’s how:

• Open the Linux Terminal and also open the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file.
• Now, check the default port range and remove any spaces before and after the equal sign(=).

• You can find the complete list of ports in the Install Linux Database Server Manager.
• Also, save the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file.
• Lastly, stop and restart the QBDBFILEMON and QBDBMGRN services.

Conclusion

This was all about why you can’t switch to multi-user mode and get the QuickBooks error H202 when trying to do so. We looked at various solutions to troubleshoot a specific aspect of multi-user mode. Comprehensive troubleshooting is important to resolve a deep issue like H202.

Frequently Asked Questions