Need to change data owner due to death

Question

My parent was the owner of multiple family member Quicken data files, including mine. It’s time to renew the subscription, and I just want to make sure if I switch ownership of the data files to my Quicken ID, that’s all I need to do. That is, do I need to relink any accounts for download? Thanks!

Chris_QPW · Answer

The "dataset" refers to the "Quicken Cloud dataset" which is the data that your Quicken Desktop data file syncs with.  There is "at least" one Quicken Cloud dataset" for every Quicken Desktop data file.  I said "at least" because with certain operations like Restore they make a copy of the Quicken Cloud dataset.  There is a limit to the amount of Quicken Cloud datasets per Quicken Desktop data file.  This is what that message is talk about.  I have seen the error come up at times and could be bypassed and it doesn't show up again, and at times where you can't get rid of it.  If that is the case, you have to contact Quicken support.  They are the only ones that can clear that kind of error.  There isn't a limit on the number of Quicken Desktop data files you can have.

https://www.quicken.com/support#contact-support

The expected behavior for the online accounts was that they would get disconnected.  This doesn't seem to be true in your case.  It sounds like you are half in and half out.  I would deactivate all accounts for downloading and then reactivate them.

As for the QFX file problem, yes this is new.  From the other thread discussing it the fix is to uninstall Quicken and reinstall it.  And it seems you can bypass the problem by using the menus instead of double clicking on the QFX file.

And unfortunately, the problem where the opening balance is changed is a long-standing problem that hasn't been fixed.  And it is more prone to happen when you are doing these kinds of things where you are setting up the online accounts and such.  The original purpose of this "feature" was to set the opening balance the first time you downloaded transactions because the full history of the account might not have been available.

RubyRed2025 · Answer

Thank you, both. I created backups of the data files, then took the plunge in changing from their ID to mine with a new yearly subscription. I may have been overly cautious is creating a "jump" file but then got an "exceeded datasets" error. Ok, perhaps a coincidence with their ID having so many data files - but couldn't find an answer to "how many data files just am I allowed??".

Loading my file and confirming I wanted to switch to my ID was the easy part. Then it gets terrible. One Step Update basically did nothing but update quotes and "online balances"….no transactions downloaded except in one brokerage account. I've had to manually pull bank OFX files and File/Import each one and go through the add/link process. You can no longer just click on the qfx file for it to open & process: I now get a Quicken Installation needs a CD Rom to finish. (That's new!)

Opening Balances are getting skewed.

I have not tackled investment accounts yet. Hoping it's not ugly.

So yes, word of caution when changing the ID: there's a lot of housekeeping to be done if you have a lot of accounts.

Chris_QPW · Answer

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20526154#Comment_20526154

I'm not sure what you are suggesting here.  I guess you are just being cautious?

When changing Quicken IDs all the data in the data file is still accessible.  Well with the exception of what is in the Quicken Password manager (which these days only contains the usernames and passwords for Direct Connect accounts) if you don't know the password for it.

And I forgot, if the Quicken data file itself has a password on it, you will need that to open the data file or get Quicken Inc to remove it for you.

But neither of these really has to do with changing the Quicken ID.

What is "lost" is the online connections to the online services like downloading of transactions for Express Web Connect and Express Web Connect + accounts, bill pay (if setup), credit score, …