Unacceptable situation with OneDrive and Quicken

Hi everyone--

Thanks so much for the thoughtful and detailed discussion here. I wanted to jump in to address the questions and concerns you've raised.

First: this is a new warning message, not a new restriction.

We know many of you are asking "why now?", and that's a fair question. The underlying guidance hasn't changed: Quicken has always recommended keeping your active data file on a local drive rather than in an actively syncing cloud folder. What's new is that we added a warning message to make that recommendation visible, because we know many customers ended up with their files in OneDrive without realizing it (Windows makes OneDrive the default Documents folder, so this happens very easily without any intentional decision on your part). We should have been clearer about that distinction when the warning rolled out, and we're sorry for the confusion it caused.

You can absolutely still use OneDrive, for backups

Several of you have already landed on exactly the right setup, and we want to make this explicit: it is completely fine, and actually a good practice, to back up your Quicken files to OneDrive. You can point Quicken's automatic backup to a OneDrive folder (Edit > Preferences > Backup) and your backups will sync to the cloud as normal. The only thing we're asking you not to do is run your active, live .QDF file from a folder that OneDrive is actively syncing in the background while Quicken is open.

Why does the file location matter?

The risk of having a file on OneDrive or a shared drive isn't constant or inevitable; many of you have used this setup for years without issues. But, the concern is specific: Quicken is a database, that is frequently writing information to your datafile. During that brief window, if OneDrive moves in to sync the file, the sync can interfere with that process and leave the file in an inconsistent state. It doesn't happen every time, but when it does happen it can be very hard to recover from. That's the risk we're trying to help you avoid.

Using Quicken across multiple computers

Having to manage file transfers between devices can be inconvenient, we know. A few options that members have shared in this thread work well as workarounds:

• Recommended: Use the Quicken Mobile or Web apps to access your file from different systems. - The Quicken apps have improved significantly, and may cover your on-the-road needs for viewing and entering transactions.
• Keep your live file local, and let Quicken back up automatically to a OneDrive folder after each session. When you travel, restore that backup to your second computer to use, then back that file up and restore that backup as your live file on your original system.
• Use Remote Desktop to access your main computer's Quicken session while traveling. This keeps everything in one place.
  

For those still having trouble moving the file: We've heard that clearly in this thread that our instructions need improvement, and we're working on that now.

A few things that trip people up:

• The "Documents" folder in Windows File Explorer often points to the OneDrive Documents folder, not your local one. To reach your local Documents folder, navigate directly to: C: → Users → [your name] → Documents
• If a Quicken folder doesn't exist there, you can create one (right-click → New Folder)
• If you're getting a "file in use" or read-only error, try pausing OneDrive first (right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, select Pause syncing), then attempt the move again
  

If you're still stuck, please reach out to our support team directly.

On the question of our backup service; some of you have wondered whether this warning is timed to promote Quicken's paid backup service. That's an understandable thing to wonder, and I want to be straight with you: the warning exists because we genuinely see data loss cases related to OneDrive conflicts, and we want to help customers avoid them. You do not need our backup service to protect your data. Backing up to OneDrive, a USB drive, or any other location you choose is perfectly effective. The paid backup is an option, not a requirement.

Thank you again for the detailed, constructive conversation in this thread. This is the kind of feedback that helps us improve. We'll be updating our support article to address the gaps many of you identified, particularly around the "no Quicken folder" situation and the two Documents folder confusion.