Error

QuickBooks Desktop Sync Dashboard Error: QuickBooks already has a company file open. If you want to open another company file, close this one first.

Explanation

This error occurs when connecting the sync and User Access Control (UAC) is enabled on QuickBooks Desktop. This is most common when setting up the sync on new computers or with new servers. To confirm UAC is enabled, look for a blue and yellow shield on the QuickBooks Desktop icon:

Solution

There are 2 possible solutions; disabling the “Run this program as an administrator” setting in QuickBooks Desktop (recommended) or temporarily disabling UAC.

To disable the “Run this program as an administrator” setting in QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Right-click on the QuickBooks Desktop icon and select Properties
2. Select Compatibility
3. Uncheck "Run this program as an administrator"
   
4. Restart the computer
5. Connect the sync

To temporarily disable UAC (Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7):

1. Press Windows+R on the keyboard to open the Run window
2. Type Control Panel and select OK
3. Select User Accounts and select User Accounts
4. Select Change User Account Control settings
   • Note: If prompted by UAC, select Yes to continue  
     
5. Move the slider to Never Notify and select OK to turn UAC OFF
   • Note: if again prompted by UAC, select Yes to continue 
     
6. Restart the computer
7. Connect the sync
8. Re-enable UAC by following steps 1-4 above, this time moving the slider to Always Notify and select OK to turn UAC ON

Important: While turning UAC off may be necessary when troubleshooting QuickBooks Desktop issues, turning it back on is highly recommended to prevent security risks. Please see the related Intuit article for more detail.