how can I run Quicken Windows when I am offline?

Bur Davis

Observed:

• Running in Windows 11
• Connect to local wi-fi network
• run Quicken Windows (R57.16)
• Quicken functions as expected
• Quit Quicken Windows
• Now turn off wi-fi
• Run Quicken
• Quicken hangs, never boots up

Why?!? I understand it wants to phone home periodically to check I have a valid license, but every single time? What tf is going on and is there a way I can set Quicken to boot up when I am offline?

Ps56k2

try and DISABLE the network interface - vs just going into Airplane/offline mode -

Quicken might be thinking…. oh - its just offline - it will come back online -

Ps56k2

try and DISABLE the network interface - vs just going into Airplane/offline mode -

Quicken might be thinking…. oh - its just offline - it will come back online -

Bur Davis

a) That worked.

b) I am certain that I have never had to do this before (I can remember specifically tons of times I've run Quicken successfully while offline). Does anyone know whether this is new (mis)behavior?

c) Am I the only one who finds this "design" braindead?

leishirsute

c) agreed. It seems Quicken could be "smarter" about no available internet connection.

Chris_QPW

I suspect part of this is caused by years of code willy nilly accessing the network to do what it needs without any kind of "central control". Quicken doesn't just access the network for checking on the subscription. It does it for other reasons like updating the financial institution information and checking for new updates.

And on top of this is just defining "offline".

I think "Airplane mode" would work as well as deactivating the network connection. What will definitely cause problems is turning of the Wi-Fi separate from your machine.

I don't think there is a definitive system call that a program can make that answers the question "Iam I offline?"

Instead, it would be more like send a command and see if it gets a response or error.

And here is where the problem comes in, the default network timeouts are very long, we are talking in lots of seconds even minutes.

The reason disabling the network works is because that will cause an immediate error.

So, if one doesn't control that timeout on every call, they make to the network at startup then it can hang for very long periods of time before it figures out that it is "offline".

Bur Davis

Thanks for the answers.

I am certain that I have never had to do this before (I can remember specifically tons of times I've run Quicken successfully while offline (by which I mean I'm in "airplane mode" = computer wi-fi is off ). At this point it's academic (it is what it is), but does anyone know whether this is new (mis)behavior?

leishirsute

I use airplane mode because my laptop is cabled to the network.

More would need to be checked beyond airplane mode to verify no internet connection.

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20439605#Comment_20439605

I see this comment come up from time to time, so I certainly wouldn't call it "new". The problem is that there are so many variables involved and there is the fact that not everyone will report this problem if they hit it, it is truly hard to tell how much of a problem it is.