How to Migrate QuickBooks to a New System

QuickBooks is a financial software suite developed and released by Intuit. QuickBooks allows individuals to budget and manage the finances of small businesses. When moving to a new computer, it is critical to ensure that all of your data transfers successfully. Learn how to migrate your QuickBooks financial data to a new computer system to prevent the loss of data.

Things You'll Need

• Blank CD or USB flash drive (optional)

Instructions

1. Launch your QuickBooks software by double-clicking its program icon on your desktop, or selecting it from the "Start" menu in the lower left-hand corner of your computer screen.

2. Click "File" in the top menu bar of the QuickBooks screen.

3. Select "Save Copy or Backup" from the drop-down menu. A dialog window will appear on the screen.

4. Click "Backup Copy" in the dialog window and press the "Next" button.

5. Click "Local Backup" and click "Next."

6. Press the radio button next to "Save Now" and click "Next." Select the folder or location on your computer hard drive to which you wish to save the file and press the "Save" button. The QuickBooks software will now initiate the automated backup process and export all of your QuickBooks data into a single backup file. Wait for the backup process to complete before closing the Quickbooks program. Depending upon the speed of your computer processor, this may take several minutes.

7. Burn the backup file to a blank CD or drag a copy to a USB flash drive. Alternatively, email it to yourself as an attachment.

8. Transfer the backup file to your new computer system by dragging it off of your burned CD or USB flash drive, or downloading it from the email that you sent to yourself.

9. Launch the QuickBooks program on your new computer system.

10. Click "File" in the top menu of the QuickBooks screen and select "Open or Restore Company" from the drop-down menu. A backup dialog window will appear.

11. Click "Restore a Backup Copy" and click "Next."

12. Click the radio button next to "Local Backup" and click "Next." In the proceeding window, locate the backup file that you transferred in Step 8. Click "Open." QuickBooks will then import all of your old QuickBooks data and migrate your old QuickBooks information to your new system.

Tips & Warnings

• Regularly backup your QuickBooks data to prevent the loss of data in the event of a computer crash.