Can't open my Quicken (Mac) Classic data file after changing my Apple admin profile

RichmondRoy

Due to some other issues, Mac Support changed my Apple Profile and re-installed Sonoma 14.6.1. on my MacBook Air. Most of my applications worked immediately but a few had to be re-initialized. Quicken is the only one that still doesn't work. I will get a message that my data file is open on another computer. I use a Dropbox file for my Quicken data file and mainly access it via my Mac Studio. As a single user, I never need to, nor access, the file from both computers at the same time. However, when I access it via Mac Studio it says the file is open elsewhere. I over-ride that and everything is fine. But on the MacBook I get the same message but the override never works. I reiterate that I never have the file open at the same time on both computers. What should I do?

RichmondRoy

This is a very complete and thorough answer. I followed it to the letter. However, when opening the newly-relocated file from a non-synched folder in the Mac Studio I got the attached message. I pushed Decide Later for now. Any thoughts?

jacobs

I honestly don't know if using the backup/restore method to move between computers if you are going to get this every time. I haven't tested that.

Instead of saving a backup and starting from that backup each time, there's another safe way to move the data file between two Macs. Quit Quicken, in the Finder use File > Compress on the Quicken data file, which will result in a .zip file. Move the .zip file to the other computer; this can be done via Dropbox safely, or any other way of moving a file from one Mac to another (Airdrop, file sharing, email, flash drive,…). On the destination Mac, double-click the .zip file to reveal the data file. Double-click the data file to launch Quicken with this data file. Since it is the same data file as on the original Mac, you won't get the Cloud reset message; you'll be moving the same file back and forth all the time.

jacobs

Placing your Quicken Data file on Dropbox is almost certainly the cause of your problem. Cloud storage services don't mix well with Quicken's database structure. You can find dozens of posts on this site about why you can't/shouldn't do this, and the many problems it has gotten users into

What happens if, with Quicken not running, you copy the data file from Dropbox to your Desktop on the MacBook. Then double-click that file on your MacBook to launch Quicken. Will it open?

RichmondRoy

This is a very complete and thorough answer. I followed it to the letter. However, when opening the newly-relocated file from a non-synched folder in the Mac Studio I got the attached message. I pushed Decide Later for now. Any thoughts?

jacobs

I honestly don't know if using the backup/restore method to move between computers if you are going to get this every time. I haven't tested that.

Instead of saving a backup and starting from that backup each time, there's another safe way to move the data file between two Macs. Quit Quicken, in the Finder use File > Compress on the Quicken data file, which will result in a .zip file. Move the .zip file to the other computer; this can be done via Dropbox safely, or any other way of moving a file from one Mac to another (Airdrop, file sharing, email, flash drive,…). On the destination Mac, double-click the .zip file to reveal the data file. Double-click the data file to launch Quicken with this data file. Since it is the same data file as on the original Mac, you won't get the Cloud reset message; you'll be moving the same file back and forth all the time.