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OneDrive warning on starting Quicken

Ben12

I get this warning now (been using OneDrive and Quicken for over a year with no Issues).

If I click for more information, it gives a step by step process that takes the quicken file out of OneDrive. Unfortunately, if I follow that procedure, the results it predicts are not what I see on my computer.

The folder on my computer (C:\Users\ben_s\Documents) is empty and does not look like above. Anyone else have this issue. Does the suggested procedure have errors.

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Comments

ZQkn

However, it wouldn't allow to access the same file by another computer. At a different time, I meant. Laptop vs Desktop, while traveling.

Patrick Larkin

Some people I know like to open certain applications and keep them open most of the time. That kind of interferes with the idea of pausing cloud sync for everything else.

That is why I put my Quicken data files in D:\UsersAnnex\QuickenFiles and set preferences to back up to a file in my OneDrive (with date/time stamp, after every run).

ZQkn

However, I see that it isn't really cumbersome/time consuming to use that feature, Pause Syncing, directly in OneDrive. One just has to remember to activate it before opening Quicken. And stop the Pause once Quicken is closed.

Thank you, all.

ZQkn

Where is the script written into and what is it? Is it available to use by anyone?

Thank you.

Jim_Harman

If you really want to keep your working file in a folder that is controlled by OneDrive, one thing you can do to avoid conflicts with OneDrive is to pause OneDrive while Quicken is running. To do this,

Before starting Quicken, right click on the OneDrive cloud icon in the System Tray at the bottom right of your screen. If the cloud icon is not displayed, click on the up arrow to display more icons.
Select Pause syncing and choose a time to pause for. The OneDrive icon will show two little vertical bars, indicating it is paused.
Use Quicken as you normally would.
When you are done with Quicken, right click on the OneDrive icon again and select Resume Syncing.

People have developed scripts to do this automatically.

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20553385#Comment_20553385

OneDrive doesn't have a "don't include this file" option. If a file in any OneDrive folder that is being synced, that file will be synced.

There are only two possible ways to prevent this syncing. One is to not use OneDrive in the folder that has the Quicken data file or just move the Quicken data file to a folder outside of the OneDrive folder. For instance, just create a folder C:\Quicken and put your data file there.

If one is backing up with another service like Dropbox and doesn't want to use OneDrive at all then the first approach works fine.

From the OneDrive settings:

Turn this off:

Note the default for the Quicken data file is in Documents\Quicken and that is what sets it up for this problem.

ZQkn

Thank you for the detailed response.

Without me, right now, investigating available settings on OneDrive, is it possible there to uncheck Qckn file for syncing? I usually back up my file on Dropbox. if I travel, I would copy the original, not its backup, to my laptop.

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20553371#Comment_20553371

The "Always keep on this device" option doesn't eliminate the issue that Quicken Inc is warning about.

From everything I have seen it doesn't matter if that option is on or off.

What that option does is save space for files that you aren't using.

Say that option is on for all your files. The moment that a program goes to open a given file on your machine OneDrive will fetch it, and then once that is done the actual open will continue. When the program closes the file OneDrive will sync back whatever changes were made to the Cloud server. It doesn't change the file on your machine. You still have a current copy. The only time that copy would be removed is if you select to "free up space".

When dealing with multiple machines, as soon as you log in OneDrive will start looking for files that have changed and sync them. It is important for the user to not try to access the Quicken data file before it finishes that process.

So, if "Always keep on this device" isn't the problem, what is?

The main problem is "contention" between Quicken and the "cloud folder service" trying to access the data file.

When Quicken opens the data file a lock is put on it that prevents most programs from accessing it. This is what should be preventing a cloud service from syncing the data file when it might not be in a stable state because Quicken is writing to it.

The first problem is that whereas for the most part the cloud folder services have respected the lock and not tried to sync when the file is locked, there have been cases where they have violated this and caused problems. The most recent was a change that was made in OneDrive. Later it looks like Microsoft fixed it, but it caused quite a mess for some time for Quicken users as shown by a very long thread on the problem where people were blaming Quicken for the problem.

The second part of this is the fact that there are times where Quicken closes the data file, which releases the lock, but Quicken wants to turn around and open the data file again. Validate and Repair is such a case. If the cloud folder service sees the file lock removed it will jump in and lock the data file and start its sync. This locks Quicken out and as a result it will report an error. For the most part I don't think this really causes any real damage to the data file, but Quicken can't finish what it wanted to do, and the user worries because of the error message.

None of this has anything to do with backing up to a cloud folder because what is happening there is Quicken is creating a new data file, which is locked (and hopefully the cloud folder service is honoring) and then when it is finished it doesn't do anything more (it isn't going to try to reopen it right afterwards).

ZQkn

So, a user can save backup files on OneDrive as well, in addition to DropBox, but not syncing a file. Is the syncing occurring while file is open or when it has been just closed?
Still not clear how OneDrive's feature/option "Always keep on this device" eliminates the issue with syncing on OneDrive. Please clarify.
Thank you.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

No, I meant syncing recent backup files with a cloud service you trust can be beneficial. If you trust OneDrive and have it set to store some of your Quicken backup files in the cloud, it provides off-site storage.

Thank you!

ZQkn

By writing this "Syncing backup files is encouraged, as it provides off-site storage in the event of a computer failure or an emergency." you meant syncing backup files on servers other than OneDrive?

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your replies,

I am not sure why the latest warning from Qkn about potential issues with storing Qkn file on OneDrive doesn't mention that option, instead of suggesting Cut and Paste steps for removing Qkn file from OneDrive to a local drive.

It is because syncing your main Quicken file with services like OneDrive is not recommended and is not officially supported. Syncing backup files is encouraged, as it provides off-site storage in the event of a computer failure or an emergency.

For more information, please review this article: https://www.quicken.com/support/can-i-share-my-quicken-file-between-multiple-computers-using-dropbox/#:~:text=Never%20have%20your%20Quicken%20file,it%2C%20to%20prevent%20file%20damage.

Thank you!

ZQkn

From the moment I started using OneDrive, I selected option of "Always Keep on This Device" for files that I would like to work on even when I am not connected to internet, including Quicken file.
I am not sure why the latest warning from Qkn about potential issues with storing Qkn file on OneDrive doesn't mention that option, instead of suggesting Cut and Paste steps for removing Qkn file from OneDrive to a local drive.

3. Use "Always Keep on This Device"

Ensure the folder containing your Quicken files is set to "Always keep on this device.". [9, 11]

This forces OneDrive to maintain a full local copy of the file rather than a "cloud-only" placeholder, which can cause Quicken to hang or error out when it tries to access data. [10, 12]

Ben12

AI gave very clear advice on the problem and solution.

Microsoft's stance is that OneDrive itself does not have mechanisms to corrupt or alter files; it simply uploads and stores them safely in the cloud. However, technical conflicts can arise between Quicken's database structure and OneDrive's sync behavior, leading to potential data corruption. [1, 2, 3]

To prevent these issues, Microsoft and experienced community users recommend the following strategies:

1. Store Active Files Externally from Sync Folders [4, 5]

The primary recommendation is to move your active (.QDF) data file to a local folder that is not managed by OneDrive. [4, 6]

Standard Conflict: Windows often defaults the "Documents" folder to be inside OneDrive (C:\Users\USERNAME\OneDrive\Documents), meaning your Quicken files are synced by default.
The Fix: Create a dedicated folder directly on your drive (e.g., C:\QuickenData) and move your active file there. This keeps Quicken in sole control while you are working. [6, 7]

2. Manual Pause/Resume Syncing

If you must keep your file in a OneDrive-synced folder, you should manually pause OneDrive syncing before opening Quicken and only resume it once Quicken is completely closed. [8, 9]

This prevents OneDrive from "grabbing" the file to sync it while Quicken is mid-operation, which is a common cause of crashes and corruption. [9, 10]

3. Use "Always Keep on This Device"

Ensure the folder containing your Quicken files is set to "Always keep on this device.". [9, 11]

This forces OneDrive to maintain a full local copy of the file rather than a "cloud-only" placeholder, which can cause Quicken to hang or error out when it tries to access data. [10, 12]

4. Leverage OneDrive for Backups Only [13]

Microsoft and Quicken both agree that OneDrive is an excellent tool for storing backup files. [4, 12]

Configure Quicken to save its automatic backups to a OneDrive-synced folder. Since these are static copies created after you finish working, they are safe from the sync conflicts that plague active files. [2, 6, 14, 15]

5. Recovery via Version History [16]

If corruption does occur, Microsoft 365 subscribers can use OneDrive Version History to roll back to a clean copy from the last 30 days. This is often faster than performing a full manual restore if only the recent sync was problematic. [14, 17, 18]

Would you like help with the steps to move your Quicken file out of the OneDrive folder safely?

[1] https://learn.microsoft.com

[2] https://community.quicken.com

[3] https://community.quicken.com

[4] https://www.quicken.com

[5] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com

[6] https://community.quicken.com

[7] https://community.quicken.com

[8] https://community.quicken.com

[9] https://community.quicken.com

[10] https://community.quicken.com

[11] https://community.quicken.com

[12] https://community.quicken.com

[13] https://community.quicken.com

[14] https://community.quicken.com

[15] https://community.quicken.com

[16] https://nettechconsultants.com

[17] https://support.microsoft.com

[18] https://learn.microsoft.com

To move your Quicken data file out of OneDrive safely, you must first close the Quicken application to prevent file locks or active syncing. [1, 2]

Step 1: Locate and Prepare Your File

Close Quicken completely.
Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to your current Quicken folder, typically located at C:\Users\[Username]\OneDrive\Documents\Quicken.
Right-click your active data file (the one ending in .QDF) and select Cut. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Step 2: Move to a Non-Syncing Folder

Navigate to a local drive location that is not managed by OneDrive. A common choice is to create a folder directly on your C: drive, such as C:\QuickenData.
Open that new folder, right-click in a blank space, and select Paste.
(Optional) You can move the entire "Quicken" folder from Documents to the new location to keep your data and backups together while separating them from OneDrive. [1, 3, 6, 7, 8]

Step 3: Re-link Quicken to the New Location [9]

In your new folder (e.g., C:\QuickenData), double-click the .QDF file you just moved.
Quicken will launch and open that specific file. It will now "remember" this new local path as the default location for future sessions. [3, 6, 8, 10, 11]

Quicken Classic for Windows - How to move your files with ..., YouTube · Quicken · 2022 M09 19

Step 4: Verify Your Backup Settings [5]

Since you moved your file out of a cloud-synced folder, you should ensure your automated backups are still being sent to a safe place. [3]

In Quicken, go to File > Backup and Restore > Backup Quicken File.
Click Change and select a folder that is synced with OneDrive or another cloud service. This keeps your active file safe from sync errors while ensuring you still have cloud-based recovery options. [10, 12, 13, 14, 15]

Would you like to know how to redirect your automatic backups specifically to a new folder?

[1] https://www.quicken.com

[2] https://community.quicken.com

[3] https://community.quicken.com

[4] https://community.quicken.com

[5] https://www.quicken.com

[6] https://community.quicken.com

[7] https://help.illinoisstate.edu

[8] https://community.quicken.com

[9] https://www.quicken.com

[10] https://community.quicken.com

[11] https://community.quicken.com

[12] https://www.youtube.com

[13] https://info.quicken.com

[14] https://www.quicken.com

[15] https://community.quicken.com

To redirect your automatic backups, you will need to adjust the settings within the Quicken Backup Preferences. This allows you to keep your active data file on a safe local drive while ensuring copies are sent to OneDrive for extra security. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Steps for Quicken Windows

Open Backup Preferences: Go to the Edit menu and select Preferences.
Select Backup: In the list on the left, choose Backup under the "Setup" category.
Change the Directory: Locate the "Automatic Backups" section. Click the Change link next to the current path.
Select OneDrive Folder: Browse to your OneDrive folder (e.g., C:\Users\[Username]\OneDrive\Documents\QuickenBackups) and click OK.
Adjust Frequency: Ensure "Automatic Backups" is checked. You can also set how many copies to keep (Microsoft and Quicken experts often suggest between 5 and 20). [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Steps for Quicken Mac

Open Settings: Go to the Quicken menu and select Settings.
Go to Backup: Click the Backup tab at the top of the window.
Choose Folder: Click the Backup Folder button to choose your new location within OneDrive.
Confirm: Ensure "Automatically create a local backup when quitting Quicken" is enabled. [4, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Why this works

By splitting these locations, Quicken can write to your local drive without any lag or "sync-lock" issues from OneDrive. Once you close Quicken, it saves a copy to your OneDrive folder, which then syncs to the cloud as a completed, static file—avoiding the corruption risks of live syncing.

Would you like to know how to restore a file from these backups if you ever need to?

[1] https://community.quicken.com

[2] https://info.quicken.com

[3] https://info.quicken.com

[4] https://www.quicken.com

[5] https://community.quicken.com

[6] https://community.quicken.com

[7] https://community.quicken.com

[8] https://info.quicken.com

[9] https://www.reddit.com

[10] https://info.quicken.com

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20550953#Comment_20550953

The instructions given are missing some steps/information, you might find the explanation I gave to @Ben12 in this other thread helpful.

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20550921#Comment_20550921

Full other thread (where you can see my screenshots inline):

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7973045/unacceptable-situation-with-onedrive-and-quicken

Quicken Kristina

Hello @Ben12 & @Judith P,

Thank you for letting us know you're encountering this issue.

As @cyberphile stated, it's possible that the pinned folder is the one synced with OneDrive.

In your File Explorer, you can type the location in manually.

Alternatively, you can scroll down to This PC>Local Disk>Users.

Following that path can help ensure you're viewing the local documents folder, not the one synced with OneDrive.

Warning: Close your Quicken file prior to moving it.

I hope this helps!

cyberphile

@Ben12 Are you sure that the Documents shortcut you highlighted is not still the one on OneDrive? Try navigating using File Explorer to C:\Users\ben_s and then click on Documents to be sure.

Judith P

I am having the same problem. Just started yesterday. Unable to correct it based on the step by step. Would love to know how to correct it.