Quickbooks is a popular accounting software for desktops. It is widely used by small and medium scale enterprises. Multi-user mode is one of the main features of this software. However, people often face QuickBooks error H202 while using this feature

What is QuickBooks Error Code H202?

The QuickBooks error code H202 occurs when the multi-user mode fails to function. This function helps a computer to share its company files with other computers in the network.

Thus, the computer sharing the company file becomes the host computer. All the other computers in the network will become

What Causes the Quickbooks Error H202?

There are many reasons for the QuickBooks error H202 to be displayed. Connection issues are the primary causes of this error.

Other possible causes for this error are –

Connection blocked by an Antivirus software or Firewall

Misconfigured Hosting settings or wrong IP address of the host computer

Wrongly configured DNS settings

Damaged .TLG or .ND files of the software

Wrong Port information entered in connection settings

How to Fix QuickBooks Error H202?

You can easily fix QuickBooks error H202 by following the instructions given below. Several methods have been shared. One of these could easily fix your error.

Solution 1 – Check your Network Connectivity

Before you try any of the other solutions, you need to check your internet connection. A failed internet connection will display the QuickBooks error H202.

Follow the given steps to do a network connectivity check. Furthermore, do this for all the computers running the QuickBooks accounting software.

First, go to the hosting computer. Press the Start button and type ‘network’. Choose the Network option.

Here, verify that all the computers are connected to the host computer.

Next, press the Windows button and the letter ‘R’ at the same time. Type ‘cmd’ in the Run box that opens and click on Ok or press Enter.

Take a note of all the IP addresses of your networked computers. You can do this by running command prompt and typing ‘ipconfig /all’ on each computer. Their IP address will be listed beside ‘IPv4’.

Go to the command prompt window of the host computer. Type ‘ping [computer’s IP]’. For instance, if the IP address of the computer is 243.54.54.23, then your command will be ‘ping 243.54.54.23’. Press Enter.

Check if there are any losses in sending data packets. Ping the host computer’s IP address as well.

Contact your ISP in case of network issues. They can easily resolve problems with internet connectivity in no time.

Solution 2 – Download and Run QuickBooks Troubleshooting Tools

QuickBooks offers a number of tools to troubleshoot such errors. You find the following tools on their official website.

QuickBooks Connection Diagnostic Tool

QuickBooks Database Server Manager

Download and install the above tools. Run the Diagnostics tools first.

Open the tool and select your company file. Run a scan.

Next, run the Server Manager tool. Follow the instructions and execute the process.

Select and browse the location folder of the company files. The manager will automatically fix the firewall settings.

Solution 3 – Create a Firewall Exception for QuickBooks

Sometimes, the troubleshooting tools may not be able to completely fix your firewall settings. Thus, the QuickBooks error H202 may still be displayed.

You can manually set up a firewall exception by following these steps.

Click on the Start button. Type ‘firewall’ in the search bar. Select the Windows Firewall option under Control Panel.

Click on Advanced Setting on the left-hand pane. Choose the Inbound rules and select Rule Type.

Below, you will see an option for ‘Specific Local Ports’. Click on the text field and enter the following according to your software version. You can simply copy and paste the port numbers from the list.

QuickBooks 2016 – 8019, 56726, 55368-55372

2017 – 8019, 56727, 55373-55377

2018 – 8019, 56728, 55378-55382

2019 – There are no port numbers for this version. The database manager tool will automatically fix it for you.

Solution 4 – Add QuickBooks Server Info in Windows Host File

The Windows Host file contains a list of IP addresses for connectivity. You can manually enter the QuickBooks server info if the firewall exception method didn’t work.

You can do this by following these steps.

Press the Windows logo button and type ‘cmd’ in the search bar.

Now, find the IP address of the host computer. You can do this by typing ‘ipconfig /all’. The IP address will be found next to ‘IPv4’. Note this down.

Go to C: and navigate to the Windows Folder. Scroll down and open the System32 folder.

Next, open the Driver folder and navigate to Etc. Here, locate a file called ‘host’.

Open this file with notepad or text editor.

Scroll down to the very bottom of this file. Enter the host’s IP address in a new line. Press TAB button on your keyboard only once. Next, enter the name of host.

Press the Ctrl button and the letter ‘S’ to save the modifications.

Solution 5 – Change Company File Location

By now, you must’ve gotten rid of the QuickBooks error H202 by now. The above solutions were meant to fix the connectivity issues.

Your system files may be damaged if you’re still facing the error. Try the following solution to get rid of it.

Create a new folder and name it according to your needs. Put the folder in your preferred drive.

Navigate to the location of the company file. Select all the files excluding the .tlg and .nd files.

Move these files to the new folder you’ve created beforehand.

Open the QuickBooks software. Change the directory in the settings menu and update the company files location.

The software will automatically create new .tlg and .nd system files.

Solution 6 – Configure QuickBooks Services

Make sure that the important services of QuickBooks are running in the background. You might face the QuickBooks error H202 if they aren’t running.

Follow these instructions to check if they’re running properly.

Press the Windows logo button and the letter ‘R’ on your keyboard. Type ‘services.msc’. Press Enter.

Find QuickBooksDBxx from the list of services. The ‘xx’ will represent the version of the software.

Right-click on it and select Stop. Next, right-click on it again and select Properties.

Click on the option beside the Startup Type. Choose Automatic.

Next, click on Ok. Right-click again and choose Start from the list of options.

Open the software and try to open the company file in multi-user mode.

Solution 7 – Repair and Update QuickBooks

You need to repair or update your QuickBooks software if you’re still getting the QuickBooks error H202.

Follow these instructions to repair QuickBooks.

Press the Windows logo button and type ‘programs’. Click on Programs and Feature.

Find the QuickBooks software from the list. Click on Change/Repair option.

Follow the instructions as displayed. Close the screen when the repair has been successfully executed.

Open the QuickBooks software and update it from within. Else, you can download and install the latest version from their website.

Try to open your database once again. 

QuickBooks has widely established itself with the clientele of small to mid-sized businesses and individuals who are looking for solutions to handle the accounting and financial needs of their company. The accounting software has gained popularity aided by its user-friendly features and timely tools that QuickBooks launches to meet the customer requirements. However, just like any other software in the market, certain errors can hamper and cause glitches into the smooth working of the software and one such error is QuickBooks Error H202. Error Code H202, H303, and H505 specifically appears when a user tries to switch the hosting mode in the application from single-user mode to multi-user mode. If you have also encountered error code H202 in QuickBooks, then this indicates that application malfunction or failure of certain supporting components are preventing QuickBooks from entering in to multi-user mode to host the company file in the network.

QuickBooks has widely established itself with the clientele of small to mid-sized businesses and individuals who are looking for solutions to handle the accounting and financial needs of their company. The accounting software has gained popularity aided by its user-friendly features and timely tools that QuickBooks launches to meet the customer requirements. However, just like any other software in the market, certain errors can hamper and cause glitches into the smooth working of the software and one such error is QuickBooks Error H202. Error Code H202, H303, and H505 specifically appears when a user tries to switch the hosting mode in the application from single-user mode to multi-user mode. If you have also encountered error code H202 in QuickBooks,then this indicates that application malfunction or failure of certain supporting components are preventing QuickBooks from entering in to multi-user mode to host the company file in the network.

Reasons for QuickBooks Error Code H202

As we progress in the blog to the solutions of the QuickBooks Error Code H202, we are listing down some of the possible causes of the QuickBooks Error H202. The error appears when Quickbooks Desktop tries to set up an connection with the company file however can’t connect to the server because of one of the accompanying reasons:

Incorrect hosting settings either on the server or on the workstation.

Windows firewall or third-party firewall application obstructing QuickBooks from accessing the company file.

Faulty DNS settings like incorrect DNS server address or non existent DNS server.

General network configuration errors preventing QuickBooks to connect with the other computers in the network.

Crucial QuickBooks processes like QBCFMonitor not running.

In case QuickBooks Database Server Manager is not running on your Windows PC.

QuickBooks Database Server Manager is damaged or corrupt.

Answer to How do I Fix H202 Error in QuickBooks?

Solution 1: Install QuickBooks Database Server Manager on the Server

If you are hosting your company file on the server, you must install QuickBooks Database Server. Follow the instructions below to host the company file using the database server manager properly.

Visit the QuickBooks Desktop Download page and select the QuickBooks Desktop version you are using.

Download the Setup_QuickBooks.exe file and open it from the download location.

Enter the product key or license number when prompted and follow the installation instructions as they appear on your screen.

Make your selection for the Custom or Network option and proceed further with the installation.

If you only want to host the company file on the server, select “I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop” or choose “ I’ll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I’ll be storing” option if you are planning to use QuickBooks.

Proceed further with the installation and click Install when prompted.

Solution 2: Ping your Server from each Workstation

This is a general troubleshooting step that you need to follow every time there is a connection related issue appear in the network. Pinging the server computer from the workstation ensures that there are no connection errors in the network that is preventing QuickBooks installed on the workstation to access the company file stored on the server computer.

As the first step to this solution is to turn on the Network Discovery on your server computer and any workstations that are facing QuickBooks Desktop Error H202, follow the following steps for the same:

Open the Windows Start menu on your server and on the error facing workstations.

Type “Network” into the search and then open Network and Sharing Center.

Solution 3: Delete and Recreate the .ND File

.ND files in QuickBooks are meant to store the network configuration of the application that helps QuickBooks to connect with other computers in the workstation and when this file gets damaged or corrupt QuickBooks starts facing connection issues. Once you delete the file and restart QuickBooks, it will automatically creates a fresh copy of the .ND file without any errors.

Search on the windows search bar for *.nd and press Enter

From the results, delete the .nd file.

Now navigate to All Programs > QuickBooks > QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

Click on “Scan Folder” tab and then hit the “Add Folder” button.

Browse the company file and click on OK button.

Start the scanning processes by clicking on Scan.

Once the scan is complete click on Close.

Solution 4: Host the Company File on the Local Storage

hosting the company file locally on the device can help resolve several other issues including company file connection error H202.

Open QuickBooks application and open the Product Information screen by using the

Solution 5: Add your Server to the Windows Host File

Windows host file stores information about every other device that connects with the server. Adding the server information to the host file allows Windows to recognise the device allowing QuickBooks to access the company file saved on the server.

Access the windows hosts file using Notepad on the computer which is facing the error.

The host file is located at (C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\).

Open Notepad as Admin, if needed.

After the last IP address type the server’s IP address (For instructions on looking up your server’s IP address follow article How to Find your Local and External IP