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Using same Quicken file on two different PCs

ButchNC

Myself and my wife have two different Windows PCs. We both want to make entries to the same Quicken file but not at the same time. What is the best way to share the file?

So far, I have tried putting the file on a flash drive and passing it back and forth but the file got corrupted. I have also tried using Quicken Online backup, but this only makes a million backups and it's up to the user to identify and download the correct file before every use (painful).
My apologies if this question has already been answered, please help me out!

Thanks

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Comments

Tom Young

Quicken really isn't a program that's easily "shared", it just isn't built that way.

Passing the active file back and forth between the two PCs actually should work just fine - the active file only sits on your PC or your wife's PC - so while one spouse is making entries the other spouse can't touch it and vice versa, and I wouldn't expect any corruption to occur, normally.

Maybe you were passing Backups back and forth and that caused some confusion?

It's not clear as to why you each want to make your "own" entries in the file. The "entity" you're tracking is presumably "the family" so why can't one or the other of you take on the job of Chief Accounting Officer, consulting with the other spouse as the the "correct" accounting for transactions initiated by them?

Quicken Alyssa

Hello @ButchNC,

Thank you for posing this question!

Sharing a single Quicken file across multiple computers is not recommended and is not officially supported. This is because opening the same Quicken file on multiple computers at the same time can result in data damage or even file corruption. If your file is damaged, you have no option but to restore a backup.

I would recommend using Quicken on the Web on one computer and the desktop version on the other. Subscription Release users can access Quicken on the Web on any computer to review accounts, without needing to install Quicken on additional computers or move data files.

What is Quicken on the Web?

Quicken on the Web is the web-based companion that allows you to view your transactions and access some of Quicken's key features from any computer via the web! For more information on the features available in Quicken on the Web, click here.

I hope this helps!

Sceptic

@ButchNC Unfortunately, Quicken doesn't have a supported multi-user capability. The challenge isn't opening the file on the second PC, it's ensuring that only one up-to-date copy exists. Any method of transferring the active QDF file between PCs (USB drive, network copy, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.) relies on user discipline and carries some risk. That's why Quicken recommends keeping the active data file on a local drive and having only one user access it at a time.

That being said, if you and your wife want to share one Quicken file, the safest approach is:

Keep the master QDF file on one PC.
Only one person uses the file at a time.
When the second person needs access, close Quicken on the first PC and copy the current QDF file to the other PC.
After making updates, close Quicken and copy the updated file back.
Create regular backups and occasionally run Validate and Repair.

I would avoid using a flash drive as the primary transfer method and would not use Quicken backups as a workflow for sharing the file. While some users successfully use OneDrive, Dropbox, or a shared network folder, those methods are not officially supported and can increase the risk of data file corruption if synchronization or connectivity issues occur.

Bottom line: Quicken is designed for a single user working with a single data file, so sharing is possible only if both users carefully coordinate access and ensure only one copy is being edited at any given time.

Can I share my Quicken file between multiple computers using Dropbox? | Quicken

ButchNC

Thanks for responding. We pass the active file back and forth on a USB drive. The backup folder is on the same usb drive. It did get corrupted two days ago and this is what prompted my post because I thought there may be a better method. We are tracking our family. My wife makes purchases and she enters the receipts that relate to her purchases. I likewise do the same for my purchases. I hope this resolves why we make our 'own' entries.

ButchNC

Alyssa

We are both not using the same QDF at the same time. We pass the active file back and forth on a USB drive. I might consider Quicken on the web for one user, this way the other user can keep the file on the C drive.

ButchNC

Sceptic

Thanks for responding. I might go with Quicken for web for one user and keep the QDF on a hard drive.

mshiggins

@ButchNC you should be aware that using Quicken on the Web requires that you sync your Quicken desktop data to the Quicken Cloud. There have been many reports of data file corruption due to the Quicken Cloud syncing. So if you have concerns about storing your data in the cloud and/or possible data corruption, Quicken in the Web may not be the right option for you.

Quicken Alyssa

Thanks for following up!

I think this would be the safest route, for sure. If you have additional questions, let us know!

Thanks again!

retird

Interesting this subject comes up from time to time. QUICKEN DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING..

I have 2 computers running Quicken. The 2 computers access the same accounts at my Financial Institutions. Each computer's Quicken data file has it's own file name but both computers access the same accounts at all my Financial Institutions. I never, NEVER, NEVER access the Financial Institutions at the same time from both computers.

I have redundant computers in case one computer (or one Q file) crashes or gets corrupted.

The only issue I can't work around with redundant computers is any manual entry has to be made on each computer. I make very minimal manual entries.

Example: One Financial Institution doesn't post CD interest to download thus I manually input it each quarter into each computer.

AS ALWAYS SAID….. MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DATA FILE BEFORE TRYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AS ALWAYS SAID…. MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DATA FILE BEFORE TRYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Below is an old post:

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20354839#Comment_20354839

Sceptic

@retird While some users do share a data file between multiple computers, it's important to note that Quicken does not officially support that configuration. As a result, any issues that arise may be difficult to troubleshoot since the file is being used outside the supported environment.

retird

From the first line of my post:

QUICKEN DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING..

retird

@ButchNC Following your thread after my posts.

Sceptic

[Duplicate Post - deleted by Sceptic]

Sceptic

To be precise, Quicken's position is not merely that this workflow is "not recommended," but that it is not a supported configuration. That's an important distinction because unsupported workflows introduce variables that cannot easily be ruled out when problems occur.

retird

So what is the Supported Configuration(s)? Don't think I've read document from Quicken that states that. Can you provide?

Sceptic

@retird I moved my comment to be a direct response to your comment above. But to answer your question,

Quicken generally documents unsupported configurations rather than publishing a comprehensive list of every supported one. However, Quicken's support articles are quite clear that Quicken data files are intended to be used locally and that sharing, syncing, or maintaining active data files across multiple computers is not officially supported. Quicken also states that they cannot provide technical assistance for network or shared-drive configurations and that such setups can lead to data damage or corruption.

So the question isn't whether some users have found ways to make multi-computer workflows function. The question is whether those workflows are supported by Quicken, and Quicken's published guidance indicates they are not.

@ButchNC, Three comments on this topic.

I second what both @Tom Young and @mshiggins commented earlier.

I have been sharing my Quicken file across multiple computers for a decade without an issue, via a thumb drive. But as mentioned earlier, you need to be very disciplined to ensure that the moment that file is passed from one computer to another, consider the old one obsolete and delete it. I ensure that the Mobile & Web Sync setting is OFF on all computers.

This approach would work well when only one person is sharing the file across computers because you know what changes were made. When there are two people, then I also agree that it could become questionable and anything could happen.

retird

@ButchNC I am not advocating my redundant computers set up. It works for me and will continue using. Not recommended but I just wanted to give you something I use not talked about in your thread.

Sceptic

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20580273#Comment_20580273

Your experience with maintaining redundant files is certainly valid, and if it works for you, that's your choice. However, it is different from Quicken's documented and supported workflows. The question isn't whether a particular user has success with the approach, but whether Quicken supports it as a configuration and can rule it out as a factor when troubleshooting. Those are separate issues.

I think we've probably reached a point where further discussion isn't likely to be productive. I respect that this approach has worked well for you over the years, and I don't question your experience. My point is simply that a workflow can be successful for an individual user while still being outside of Quicken's supported use cases. With that distinction noted, I'll leave it there and return the focus to the original topic that @ButchNC thoughtfully posted.

retird

I too agree we have discussed enough. My redundant computer, also those sharing via thumb drives, or by network drives are not recommended. The OP of this thread wanted recommendations on how to be able to use 2 computers accessing the same data. I return to his focus now… and thanks all for the cordial conversation tone.