Can I install an earlier version of Quicken [Mac]?

zzhog5809

I currently have 5.16.1 on an iMac running macOS 10.15.5.
I like earlier version better and would like to install it. I don't know which earlier version, so can I pick and choose?

jacobs

@zzhog5809  The Quicken database doesn't necessarily change with each new release, but because major features continue to be added to Quicken Mac, it's not unusual for there to be changes, large or small, to the database format from one release to the next. You can always try to open your current file with the older software, but it's likely you'll get an error message that the data file requires a later version of Quicken. Since 5.16 had some major changes with QuickFill rules, bill payments and preferences, I'm pretty certain the database format was updated between 5.15 and 5.16.

Perhaps it would be helpful to ask why you want to go back to 5.15.

John_in_NC

You can install older versions, but there are some caveats:

1. Your data file is not backwards compatible.
2. Quicken 2018 and later are the only supported versions that will run under 10.15.5.

If you are thinking about Quicken for Mac 2007, that won't run under 10.15.5

zzhog5809

I just wanted to go back one version which would be 15.3.

jacobs

There's no provision to do that. If you have a Time Machine or other backup of your computer from the time you had 5.15.3 installed, you could restore it from the backup. But as John noted above, you'd also need a version of your Quicken data file from the same time, as you can't use a later data file with an earlier version of the software.

zzhog5809

Thanks for the replies. I have the Time Machine version of 5.15.3. I just don't understand the need to change the data file format.

jacobs

@zzhog5809  The Quicken database doesn't necessarily change with each new release, but because major features continue to be added to Quicken Mac, it's not unusual for there to be changes, large or small, to the database format from one release to the next. You can always try to open your current file with the older software, but it's likely you'll get an error message that the data file requires a later version of Quicken. Since 5.16 had some major changes with QuickFill rules, bill payments and preferences, I'm pretty certain the database format was updated between 5.15 and 5.16.

Perhaps it would be helpful to ask why you want to go back to 5.15.

zzhog5809

@jacobs I wanted to go back to 5.15.3 because of the quick fill bug introduced in 5.16.1. I tried opening the latest data on a version earlier than 5.13.1 and it indeed failed. 5.17.1 version just came out, but quick fill is still broken. I will just put up with it.

jacobs

What QuickFill bug are you referring to?

zzhog5809

Please refer to this discussion: https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20095978#Comment_20095978

jacobs

Ah, right; now I remember that thread. I don't have too many hidden Payees, but even when I run into that, I don't find it much of a problem. I'd think the new stuff in 5.16 and 5.17 makes it worth dealing with the auto-fill annoyance… but we all use Quicken differently.