How to Create, Open, and Restore a QuickBooks Portable File?

QuickBooks, as we all know, is a very popular accounting app. QuickBooks processes a large amount of data in order to have a high-quality user experience. It would be very disappointing if your data gets corrupted accidentally one day. For that, you need to make a QuickBooks Portable File to prevent this. This would aid in preventing unneeded data loss.

So, you’ve arrived at the right place. You can learn how to build and restore a QuickBooks Portable Company file in this post. First and foremost, before learning how to do this, you should understand what a QuickBooks portable company file is. Let’s start with that.

What is a QuickBooks Portable File?

A QuickBooks portable file is a condensed version of your company file that allows for easy and efficient sharing and transferring of QuickBooks data. It is essentially a compressed and portable backup of your company file that contains the essential financial data and information required to recreate your company file on another computer or for temporary use.

A portable company file is very small in size which you can send via email. It doesn’t include any templates, images, or logos. By using a compact file you can keep your files safe and stable. You no longer have to be concerned about missing important QuickBooks data.

Also Read: Quickbooks File Doctor- Download And Installation Guide

How Does a QuickBooks Portable File Work?

When you create a portable file in QuickBooks, the software removes unnecessary data, such as temporary and historical transactions, audit trail information, and some indexing. This results in a smaller file size, making it easier to share and transfer. However, it’s important to note that the portable file does not include attachments or templates.

The portable file can be shared via email, file transfer, or external storage devices. To use a portable file, you need to restore it in QuickBooks on another computer. The restoration process recreates the company file with the essential data from the portable file, allowing you to work with it as you would with your original company file.

Essential Points to Keep in Mind

Here is the list of some points that you keep in mind before creating a portable company file Quickbooks:

• Try to rename the original file before creating the portable company file.
• In case you have provided a copy of a portable file to someone then they can access the file and be able to do any modification.
• Keep the QBs software updated.
• Each version of QuickBooks should be logged in as Admin to create a portable company file.

How to Create a Portable File in QuickBooks Desktop?

Creating a QuickBooks desktop portable company file is very easy. So follow the steps given below to create portable file in QuickBooks desktop:

• Visit the File option and then select Create Copy.
• Tap on the Portable company file and search for the location where you will save the copy.
• Lastly, press Save and OK.

How to Open a Portable Quickbooks File? (Restore Process)

If you are wondering how to restore a portable file in QuickBooks then here is the complete procedure for this: 

• Launch QuickBooks on your computer.
• Go to the “File” menu at the top left corner.
• Select “Open or Restore Company.”
• Choose the option “Restore a portable file” and click “Next.”
• Browse to the location where the portable QuickBooks file is saved.
• Select the file and click “Open.”
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the restoration process.
• QuickBooks will guide you through the steps to save the file in the appropriate location on your computer.
• Once the file is restored, you can start working with it in QuickBooks.

Resolving Unable to Create or Restore a Quickbooks Portable Company File

To fix the issue, follow the steps outlined below:

Method 1: Use Clean Install

An installation that is a clean install removes all previous versions of the software. Follow the instructions to do a clean install:

• Choose Installation Issues and then select Clean Install Tool.
• Now, select your QBs desktop version and press Continue.
• A message will appear Please install your copy of QBs to the default location.
• Lastly, install a new version of QuickBooks.

Method 2: Try Working on the Sample File

In order to deal with it try to work on the sample file by following the steps given below:

• Select the Open a Sample File option in the No Company Open.
• You can render a compact file using the company file. Save it to your desktop now.
• Click on the Close Company/Logoff option from the File menu.
• Now, attempt to restore the desired portable file.

Method 3: Make a Copy of the QuickBooks Company Files

To resolve this issue make a copy of your QBs company files by looking at the procedures:

• Choose New Company from Existing Company File from the File menu.
• Then click on Browse and search your company file.
• Tap on the file then open it and give it a name.
• Lastly, choose Create Company.

Method 4: Repair QuickBooks

Repair of the QuickBooks desktop will help in creating or restoring a QBs portable company file. Have a look at the steps:

• Close all unnecessary applications.
• Select Start and then tap on the Control Panel.
• Click on Programs and Features and choose to Uninstall a program.
• Now, hit on Repair and once the process completes, press Finish.

Also Read: Resolve QuickBooks Error 6177 with 6 Easy Solutions

Conclusion

All in all, QuickBooks is a very useful tool for all businesses around the world. The portable file feature of QuickBooks makes it even more reliable. In this article, we provided you with information related to portable files in QuickBooks. We hope now you will be able to restore QuickBooks Portable Files by using our methods. We are happy to assist you with any questions or queries you might have about QuickBooks software. All your concerns are addressed by us in a feasible manner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What does a QuickBooks portable file do?

Using a QuickBooks portable company file, you can quickly transfer data between applications.

Q2. What is the file extension of a QuickBooks portable file?

QBM is the file extension of a QBs portable file.

Q3. What is the difference between a portable company file and a backup?

A portable company file is used to make a compressed file that can easily be sent through email while in backup there is no limit on the size of the file and ensure that everything in your company file is saved.