QuickBooks Error H202 Troubleshooting: [ Effective and Updated Fixes ]

If you’re having trouble switching to multi-user mode in QuickBooks because of QuickBooks error H202, you’re not alone. This error happens when QuickBooks can’t connect to a company file stored on another computer. It typically shows a message saying the multi-user connection to the server is blocked.

The H202 error means QuickBooks is having trouble reaching the company file on a different system. This can stop you from opening and using the file in multi-user mode. Knowing what causes the issue and how to fix it will help you get back to work quickly.

We’ve created this simple guide to help you fix QuickBooks error H202 without affecting your company file data. Keep reading to learn how to easily resolve this issue. If you need more help, you can call our QuickBooks support team at our toll-free, and a certified expert will assist you.

What is QuickBooks Error H202? (Issues with Switching to Multi-User Mode)

QuickBooks error H202 is an issue that falls under the H series of errors, typically connected to multi-user mode. This error is often reported when switching from single-user mode to multi-user mode or when opening a company file in multi-user mode. It usually happens when trying to access a company file stored on another computer.

When you encounter QuickBooks error H202, you may see the following warning messages:

• Error: “You are attempting to access a company file located on another computer, but QuickBooks cannot connect to the server on that system. (H202)”
• Multi-user hosting issue: “QuickBooks is unable to open the file in multi-user mode. (H202)”

Resolving QuickBooks error H202 becomes simpler once you understand what triggers it. This article will explain the possible causes, symptoms, and the best methods to fix the issue. Continue reading to find out how to solve it effectively!

You may also like: How to fix error QuickBooks Error Code 6144 82 ?

Common Causes of QuickBooks Error H202

QuickBooks error H202 typically arises from communication problems between QuickBooks Desktop and the server. Here are the key causes of this error:

• Incorrect hosting configuration settings can lead to this issue.
• If the QB file setting option blocks access to the company file, it may prevent the necessary communication.
• Damaged or misconfigured .ND files may disrupt QuickBooks’ connection to the database, causing this error.
• QuickBooks may fail to detect the correct IP address of the host system or use an invalid one.
• The company data file may not communicate properly with the server.
• Incomplete or incorrect DNS settings can also cause the error.
• If services like QuickBooksDBXX or QBCF are not running, the error can occur.
• Firewall or security software might block the connection to the company file, resulting in H202.
• This error can also occur when working with a company file in multi-user mode, where QuickBooks cannot connect to the server.

What Are the Indicators of QuickBooks Error H202?

You can identify QuickBooks error H202 by noticing these common signs and symptoms:

• Difficulty switching to multi-user mode in QuickBooks.
• Inability to open a company file stored on a different computer after several attempts.
• The system or QuickBooks frequently freezes for a few seconds.
• QuickBooks experiences slow performance or becomes unresponsive.
• The error message appears on your screen.
• Windows responds slowly or operates at a much slower pace.

How to Fix QuickBooks Error Code H202: Solutions and Methods

Before you begin troubleshooting QuickBooks error H202, ensure that you are logged in as the admin. There are various methods available to help fix this error. Let’s take a look at them:

Method 1: Use QuickBooks Tool Hub on the Server

Step 1: Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub and run the QuickBooks File Doctor.

The QuickBooks File Doctor Tool is designed to fix errors like H101, H202, H303, and H505. You can either download it from the official Intuit website or use it through the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Follow these steps to use it:

1. Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub on your system.
2. Open the Tool Hub and follow the instructions to install it.
3. Once installed, open the Tool Hub and go to the Company File Issues section.
4. Click on Run QuickBooks File Doctor.

5. In the File Doctor, choose your company file from the dropdown. If you can’t find it, click Browse to search for the file.

6. Check the boxes for Check your file and Network, then click Continue.
7. Enter your QuickBooks Admin Password and click Next.

7. The scan will take a few minutes depending on the file size. Once completed, open QuickBooks and your company file.

Step 2: Set Up and Launch QuickBooks Database Server Manager on Your Server

• Launch the QuickBooks Tool Hub and click on the Network Issues tab.
• Select QuickBooks Database Server Manager to open it on your system.

• Find the folder containing your company files, using the Browse feature if necessary.
• Click the Start Scan button, and the QBDBSM will fix your firewall permissions automatically.

• Once the scan finishes, click Close.
• On each workstation experiencing the error, open QuickBooks, go to the File menu, and choose Switch to Multi-User Mode.

• If the error no longer appears in multi-user mode, the problem is fixed. If the error persists, follow the next troubleshooting steps.

Step 3: Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool

• Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub on the server system.
• Go to the Installation Issues tab within the Tool Hub.
• Select the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the list of options.
• Allow the tool to run, which may take up to 20 minutes.

• Once the tool opens, scan the folder containing the company data file.
• Record the number of IP addresses and network interfaces.
• If the Firewall Status section displays an Open Ports tab, enable the necessary ports for QuickBooks.
• Test the data file’s connectivity.
• Try opening the company data file and check if the issue persists.

Read Also:- What is QuickBooks Error 3371: Fixing Status Code 11118 or 11104 ?

Method 2: Check QuickBooks Hosting Configuration

• Launch QuickBooks on the hosting system, then go to File and select Utilities.

• Check for the Host Multi-User option. If it’s not listed, the current system is not hosting the file. In that case, proceed to the next system. Do not alter any settings on your workstation.

• If you find the Stop Hosting Multi-User Access option, click on it.

• Make sure the company file is closed, then click Yes to confirm.

Method 3: Verify QuickBooks Services

If the server is using the full version of QuickBooks, follow these steps to enable multi-user hosting mode:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop on the server.
2. Navigate to File and then select Utilities.

3. Choose Host Multi-User Access from the options.

To check the status of QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitorService on the server, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type MSC and press Enter.

4. Find and select QuickBooksDBXX.
5. Check the Startup type to see if it’s set to Automatic. If not, set it to Automatic.
6. Make sure the Service Status is showing as Running.

6. Go to the Recovery tab and select Restart the Service for first, second, and subsequent failures.

7. Click Apply and OK to confirm the changes.
8. Repeat the same steps for QBCFMonitorService.

Method 4: Test Network Connection by Pinging the Server from a Workstation

If you experience QuickBooks Error Code H202 on one or more workstations, it could indicate a firewall problem. To resolve this, ping the server from each workstation where the error is appearing.

Step 1: Activate Network Discovery on Your Server Computer

On your server computer and workstations:

1. Open the Windows Start Menu.
2. Type Network in the search bar and open Network and Sharing Center.

3. Select Change advanced sharing settings.
4. Make sure Turn on network discovery is selected under both Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing.

Step 2: Find the Server Name on Your Server

• Open the Windows Start Menu on your server computer.
• Type Run in the search bar and select the Run application.
• In the Run window, type CMD and press Enter.
• Type ipconfig /all in the command prompt and press Enter.
• Look for the Host Name under the Windows IP Configuration section. The server’s name will be listed next to it.

• Make a note of the hostname and save it in a word document for future reference.

Step 3: Check Network Connectivity

To check network connectivity from the workstation to the server, follow these steps. If you find this process difficult, it’s recommended to consult an IT professional.

1. On the workstation with error code H202, press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type CMD in the box and click OK.
3. In the Command Prompt, type ping [server name] and hit Enter.

3. Perform these steps on all workstations experiencing the same error.
4. If the response is slow or there’s no response at all, this may indicate a network issue that requires repair.

Method 5: Modify the Windows Hosts File to Add the Server

• Close all open windows on your system.
• Go to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc or C:\Windows\System64\Drivers\Etc on the server.
• Double-click the hosts file and open it with Notepad when prompted.
• Add the IP address followed by the system name. For the server, input the server’s IP and name. For each workstation, enter the server’s IP and the workstation’s name.
• Use the Tab key to separate the IP address and system name, not the spacebar.
• Launch QuickBooks in multi-user mode to check if the problem is fixed.

Method 6: Add QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitor Services to the Administrator Group

Give QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitorService administrator permissions on the server. If these services do not already have admin rights, ensure that they are granted the necessary permissions. After making this change, verify if QuickBooks can be used in multi-user mode without errors.

Method 7: Adjust Firewall Settings on Your System

In certain situations, the system firewall may interfere with the data exchange between QuickBooks and the server. To resolve this, you should modify the firewall settings for QuickBooks to ensure seamless communication between QuickBooks and the server.

• Add exceptions in the system firewall settings.

• Adjust the firewall permissions on your system.
• Launch QuickBooks on all systems.
• Go to the File menu in QuickBooks and select Switch to Multi-user Mode.

Method 8: Rename the TLG and ND Files

• Close QuickBooks.
• Navigate to the company file folder on the server system.
• Find the TLG file linked to the QuickBooks file that is showing the error.
• Right-click on the TLG file and choose Rename.
• Add old to the beginning of the file name and press Enter.
• Do the same for the ND file.
• Close the folder.
• When reopening the company file in QuickBooks, new ND and TLG files will be automatically created.
• Press the Alt key while opening the company file until it fully loads.

Method 9: Repair QuickBooks via the Windows Control Panel

• Close QuickBooks on all systems.
• You can repair QuickBooks on all systems at once.
• Open the Windows Control Panel and go to Programs and Features.
• Locate QuickBooks in the list, click Change, and select Repair.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the repair process.
• After the repair is complete, ensure QuickBooks is updated to the latest version.

• Open the company file to verify if the issue has been resolved.

Method 10: Configure Hosting to Local Files

Make sure that no other client system is trying to host the same company file by following these steps:

• Verify that no other client system is hosting the same company file.
• Open QuickBooks.
• Press the F2 key to access the product information window.
• In the Local Server Information section, select the option to set hosting to Local Files Only.

Method 11: Add QuickBooks Ports to the System Firewall

To avoid the firewall blocking multi-user mode, make sure the required QuickBooks ports are allowed. Here is a simple guide to help you configure the firewall ports for QuickBooks.

Here are the required firewall ports for various versions of QuickBooks:

• QuickBooks 2016: 8019, 56726, 55368-55372
• QuickBooks 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377
• QuickBooks 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382
• QuickBooks 2019: This version doesn’t have fixed firewall ports. The ports are automatically updated when accessing the company file via the Database Server Manager.

Method 12: Edit the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini File on a Fedora Linux Server

To resolve the issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Linux Terminal and locate the QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file.

1. Review the default port range, ensuring there are no spaces before or after the equal (=) sign.
2. Check the port list provided in the Install Linux Database Server Manager.
3. Save the updated QBGlobalAppConfig.ini file.
4. Restart the QBDBFILEMON and QBDBMGRN services after stopping them.

Method 13: Change the Location of the Company File to Resolve Error H202

To resolve the error, follow these steps to move the company file to a new location:

• First, create a new folder on the C: drive to store the company file.
• Copy the company file and the corresponding .tlg file from the current location by pressing Ctrl + C.
• Next, go to the newly created folder and paste the files there by pressing Ctrl + V.
• Finally, try opening the company file in multi-user mode to see if the issue is resolved.

Method 14: Use the QuickBooks Connection Diagnostic Tool

• Download and install the QuickBooks Connection Diagnostic Tool on the host system.
• Once installed, scan the folder where the company files are stored.
• Record the IP address that appears when the tool is scanning.
• Configure the firewall ports as recommended by the diagnostic tool.
• Follow the instructions provided by the connection diagnostic tool.
• Finally, open the QuickBooks company files on the system to check if the issue is resolved.

Conclusion

Resolving the QuickBooks error H202 is not as difficult as it may seem. By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively fix the issue. However, if the error persists, feel free to contact our QuickBooks support team at toll-free. Our experts will assist you promptly and help resolve the issue permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)