Transferring older Windows files to Mac OS

eleroy44

I’ve been using Quicken for Windows forever, although I’ve never gone beyond version 2012. If I transition to the Mac OS, will Quicken for Mac open/convert those files?

jacobs

In a word, yes.

But… there are lots of details and caveats around that simple answer. Most (but not all) Quicken Windows data converts to Quicken for Mac. Quicken for Windows and Quicken for Mac are more like first cousins than identical twins, so you'll find lots that's the same, lots that's similar but slightly different, and some things that simply don't exist in Quicken for Mac yet. Whether those differences are important to you or not is something no one here can answer for you, because we all use Quicken so differently that everyone's experience is a little different. 

I suggest you start by perusing these two Quicken support articles on converting:

Converting from Quicken Windows to Quicken Mac

Converting Your Data (Quicken for Mac)

You can post back here if you have questions, or just use the Search feature on this forum, because I imagine almost every possible Windows-to-Mac conversion question has been asks and answered before.

In the end, if you have a Mac, the best way to see how Quicken Mac will work for you is to try it. If you purchase a subscription to the current Quicken, you can download the Mac and/or Windows versions for no extra fee. So you could try it on the Mac, work with it for a few weeks, and see if it seems suitable for your needs. If you run into any show-stopping issues, you could either update your existing Quicken Windows to the current version (generally a good idea when you're running software that's eight years old), or you can return Quicken within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

jacobs

In a word, yes.

But… there are lots of details and caveats around that simple answer. Most (but not all) Quicken Windows data converts to Quicken for Mac. Quicken for Windows and Quicken for Mac are more like first cousins than identical twins, so you'll find lots that's the same, lots that's similar but slightly different, and some things that simply don't exist in Quicken for Mac yet. Whether those differences are important to you or not is something no one here can answer for you, because we all use Quicken so differently that everyone's experience is a little different. 

I suggest you start by perusing these two Quicken support articles on converting:

Converting from Quicken Windows to Quicken Mac

Converting Your Data (Quicken for Mac)

You can post back here if you have questions, or just use the Search feature on this forum, because I imagine almost every possible Windows-to-Mac conversion question has been asks and answered before.

In the end, if you have a Mac, the best way to see how Quicken Mac will work for you is to try it. If you purchase a subscription to the current Quicken, you can download the Mac and/or Windows versions for no extra fee. So you could try it on the Mac, work with it for a few weeks, and see if it seems suitable for your needs. If you run into any show-stopping issues, you could either update your existing Quicken Windows to the current version (generally a good idea when you're running software that's eight years old), or you can return Quicken within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

eleroy44

Thanks for this reply. Truthfully, all I use Quicken for is a checkbook and to generate a tax summary at the end of the year. I don’t use any of the other elaborate features.