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Using Quicken on 2 computers

ppinya

I read the answer about using the same Quicken file on 2 different computers (i.e., copy the Quicken file to a thumb drive and install on the other computer) and that seems straightforward. In my case, all my files are synced to OneDrive. So can I just open on my travelling laptop the most recent version of the file (from my home PC) from OneDrive and then when returning to my home PC do the same (i.e., not letting it open automatically from the version on my home computer)? I tried it with a test transaction on the traveling laptop but when I opened Quicken on my home computer, it wanted to sync the OneDrive file with the file on my home computer (i.e., without the test transaction). Is a file naming issue causing the problem? Any help would be appreciated.

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Quicken Anja

Hello @ppinya,

Thanks for reaching out!

To answer your question—yes, syncing your active Quicken data file via OneDrive is likely what’s causing the issue you’re seeing.

We strongly advise against saving or working directly from your main Quicken data file in any cloud-synced folder (e.g., OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive). This includes accessing the file from another computer while it’s actively syncing in the background. Doing so can cause:

Data syncing conflicts
File damage or corruption
Potential data loss

This is especially true when Quicken attempts to update the same file on two different machines.

For more information, please refer to this support article regarding storing data files on cloud services. While the article specifically mentions Dropbox, the guidance applies to all cloud-based or external drives.

Instead, we recommend:

Keeping your main Quicken data file saved locally on each device. By default, Quicken saves files here:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Quicken
If you need to work on another computer, manually copy the file to that computer using a USB drive and move it to a local folder in your C: Drive while working in Quicken. Then, once you're done, copy the updated file back to your home computer the same way.
Move and restore a backup. It’s perfectly fine to store backup files in OneDrive—just not the main working file.

You can also customize where Quicken saves your automatic backups:

Go to Edit > Preferences > Backup
Set a custom folder location (like OneDrive) for backups only
Click OK to save

Hope this helps!

ppinya

Ok. I am ready to try this but want to be sure I do it right. And I hope Quicken Anja sees it and responds.

Before I left town, I saved my Quicken file on my local drive (I had been using the OneDrove folder on my computer). Now, only the backup is in the OneDrive Folder. Then, I made a copy of the Quicken file on a thumb drive and am now ready to use it on the Laptop I have with me and want to be sure I do it correctly. Please confirm (or revise) the below steps:

I will open Quicken on the Laptop I have with me and direct it to the Quicken file on the thumb drive
I will record transactions as usual
I will Sync the file (this is the step I want to be sure about). I assume that once I do, bank and credit card transactions will come in for me to accept.
When I return home, before opening Quicken on my home PC, I will copy the Quicken file from the Thumb drive to the Quicken file on my local drive.
I will open the Quicken file on my local drive.
I will use and sync the file on my local drive as normal.

Please advise soonest

Quicken Anja

@ppinya You're almost spot on with your process—just one important adjustment:

Yes, all your steps are correct except for Step 1.

Before opening the Quicken file on your laptop, you’ll want to copy the file from the thumb drive onto your laptop’s local hard drive first. Then, open and use the file from your local drive, not directly from the USB/thumb drive.

Quicken does not recommend working directly off of any external drive (USB, cloud sync folders like OneDrive, etc.) as it can cause data corruption or unexpected behavior. Always run your Quicken data file from a local drive.

Once you’re done using Quicken on your laptop and have closed the program, you can then copy the updated file from your laptop’s local drive back onto the thumb drive. From there, you’ll be able to move it to your home PC’s local drive, just like you planned.

Let us know if you have any additional questions—and safe travels!

Jim_Harman

Keeping your main Quicken data file saved locally on each device. By default, Quicken saves files here:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Quicken

@Quicken Anja I think the default location for new files is actually the folder where the last file you opened is stored. Also Windows is now very aggressive about getting users to use OneDrive, and unless you prevent it, it moves your Documents folder, including the default Quicken folder, into the OneDrive path.

Quicken Anja

Thanks for the clarification, @Jim_Harman—I was referring specifically to the default folder Quicken chooses/creates when first installing the program and creating a brand-new data file, before any file has ever been opened. But yes, you're absolutely right that any new files created after that will default to the same location as the last opened data file. And great point about OneDrive—Windows has definitely made it more aggressive to shift default folders into the cloud unless manually changed.

Jim_Harman

I have not done a clean install recently, but I am pretty sure that if you have accepted the Windows defaults and thus OneDrive is active when you install Quicken, the default Quicken folder will be under the control of OneDrive.

jtemplin

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20495455#Comment_20495455

This is the bane of my existence. Whenever I have to do a clean Windows install, I have to fuss with OneDrive settings to unlink that computer so it doesn't put the key user folders in OneDrive. I only use OneDrive as a place to store files I want to share with other computers or people. I don't use it as a backup.

Speaking of backup, I got so tired of the constant nags to back up files when using Office apps that I found a script I can run daily to reset that timer in the registry.

And don't get me started on BitLocker turned on as the default in Win11 24H2 causing users to accidentally lock themselves out of their data.

Sorry, now I'm ranting off topic.