How to Fix Corrupt QuickBooks Company File?

Like other data files, QuickBooks company file (QBW) is also prone to corruption. When the QBW file becomes corrupt, you may get different errors or even fail to access the components in your company file, hampering your workflow. This article will discuss the common causes of corruption in QuickBooks company file and the possible methods to fix the corrupt file and recover the data. 

Causes of Corruption in QuickBooks Company File

There can be many known and unknown reasons for corruption in QuickBooks company file. Some of them are:

• Improper computer shutdown when working on the company file
• QB company file size goes beyond the permitted file size
• Bad sectors on the hard drive
• Virus or malware attacks

How to Repair Corrupt QuickBooks Company Files?

You can try the following methods to repair the corrupt QuickBooks company file.

Method 1: Use Verify and Rebuild Data Utility

QuickBooks has a built-in utility – Verify and Rebuild Data that can help fix corruption issues within the company file. To use this tool, follow the below-cited steps:

• First, open your QuickBooks application.
• Then, go to Utilities and then click Rebuild Data.
• The QuickBooks Information window opens up on the screen. Click OK.
• A prompt is displayed to create a company file backup. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the backup.
• When the backup process is completed, the tool will automatically start rebuilding the file.
• You can wait till the rebuilding process is complete. Then, select OK.

After completing the data rebuilding process, verify if there are any remaining issues in the file. To check this, run the Verify Data tool by following the below instructions:

• In QuickBooks, again go to the File menu.

Select Utilities and then click on the Verify Data option.

• The Verify tool will begin verifying the data for any problems.
• If it doesn’t detect any problem, click OK. 

Method 2: Repair Company File with QuickBooks File Doctor

If the Verify Data tool detects any additional issues in the QBW file or the Rebuild Data tool fails to rebuild the company file, then download the QuickBooks Tool Hub. This tool is provided by Intuit to address common issues and errors that users may encounter in QB company files. It contains various tools, such as Quick Fix My File and QuickBooks File Doctor to help you fix company file issues. To download and use this tool, follow the below steps:

• First, close the QuickBooks application.
• Then, download the latest version (1.6.03) of QuickBooks Tool Hub.
• Now, save the QuickBooksToolHub.exe file.
• Open the downloaded file and follow the instructions on the screen to install the tool.
• When the installation is completed, double-click the tool icon on the desktop to launch the tool.
• Click Company File Issues in the tool hub.
• Select Quick Fix My File. 
• The tool starts working. Click OK once the process is complete.

If the issue persists, then again open the tool hub. 

• In the tool hub, select Company File Issues.
• Select Run QuickBooks File Doctor tool.
• In the QuickBooks File Doctor wizard, choose the desired company file.
• The tool prompts you to write the QuickBooks® Admin password. Enter the password and then select Next. 
• It may take some time, depending on the QBW file size.
• After the scan is complete, open your company file. 

Method 3: Use a Third-Party Professional QuickBooks Repair Tool

The above tools can sometimes fail to fix corrupt company files. In such a case, you can rely on a professional QuickBooks repair tool that can help fix complex company file corruption issues. Repair for QuickBooks is one such easy-to-use QB file repair tool that can repair corrupted QBW files without changing the integrity of its components. The software works with all QuickBooks editions, including Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. A free trial version of the software is also available which allows you to preview the recoverable elements in the company file. It helps check its accuracy before getting the licensed version. This software is recommended by experts and pro-advisors.

Conclusion

By following the above-discussed methods, you can fix a corrupted QBW file. However, if your QuickBooks file gets severely corrupted, you can use a professional QuickBooks repair tool. This tool works on all Windows operating systems, including Windows 11. The tool is designed with advanced algorithms to repair any damage in the company files. Also, it helps you recover all the components from the corrupted company file with complete integrity. You can download the free trial version of the tool to evaluate its efficiency.