Fix Error H202 in QuickBooks While hosting Multi-User Mode

QuickBooks Error H202 prevents you from enabling the multi-user mode. As a result, several crucial business operations are halted. Such an error with a multi-user hosting setup can arise on the server and workstations connected to it. Error H202 in QuickBooks or any other H-series error indicates interference in the connection between the file hosting server and workstations and requires multiple things to be looked at for a fix. In this guide, we will first look at the various reasons why you can’t enable multi-user mode because of QuickBooks error code H202 and, later, the solutions that will help fix it in the easiest and safest way possible.

Are you unable to access the data file from the server and getting QuickBooks Error H202 Switching to Multi-User Mode? You can follow these exact troubleshooting steps or call on QuickBooks Desktop support number +1-855-542-9309 and Let Professionals troubleshoot for you while sitting on your couch.

Know about multi-user switching issue – Error H202 in QuickBooks

Before researching causes or solutions to fix it, knowing precisely the error H202 in QuickBooks is good. This Hosting error may occur in various events, such as while working in multi-user mode or switching into multi-user mode, though the causes may differ. The error message you received after encountering this error is given below.

QuickBooks Error H202: This data file is hosted in another computer, and QuickBooks require some assistance to fix it.

Can't Open the multi-user mode Error H202

These messages indicate that the multi-user connection to the server is blocked. QuickBooks Error H202 shows that the system requires some support in connecting with the company file located on another server. 
Because of the multi-user connectivity issues, Getting QuickBooks error h202 becomes quite common and troublesome. Users can’t access company files stored on other computers, delaying work and productivity. In such circumstances, knowing how to handle everything professionally becomes a must. 
Several reasons can be responsible for such issues to arise. Let’s look into them to understand the H202 error QuickBooks better.

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Reasons Why You Encounter QuickBooks Error H202

error H202 in QuickBooks can appear due to several reasons, as stated in the list below:

1. Restrictive firewall and/or Internet security settings prevent QuickBooks from accessing the server, leading to such hosting errors.
2. Due to incorrectly configured firewall ports, QuickBooks can’t communicate with the company file.
3. Inappropriate hosting configuration settings in QuickBooks can also trigger this error.
4. When QuickBooks Database Server Manager conflicts with the DNS server
5. A damaged or corrupt network data (.ND) file also results in the same.
6. The QuickBooks Desktop may not have the IP address of the host or server.
7. Various essential QB services, such as QBCF Monitor and QuickBooks DBXX, are not running in the background, leading to the error.
8. Inactive or disabled QuickBooks services on the server can also result in this error.
9. QuickBooks error code H202 can appear due to damaged company and program files.

Thus, you need to check their servers, multi-user hosting, and other options to ensure none cause problems in the multi-user connection. When you detect the reasons, check out the next section for troubleshooting solutions.

Solutions to Fix Error H202 in QuickBooks with Ease

QuickBooks error H202 can prevent you from accessing your company records and, therefore, must be resolved immediately. Follow the solutions below in the same order as given for best results:

Solution 1: Ping the Server to Verify the Workstation-Server Connectivity Status

Begin by checking your network connection by pinging the server from a workstation. Try this method on every workstation affected by the error.

Proceed with this method after enabling Network Discovery on your server computer and any workstation on which you are receiving the error:

1. Tap the Windows key to launch the Start menu on all servers and workstations.
2. Type “Network” in the search field and access the Network and Sharing Center.
3. Opt for the Change advanced sharing settings option.
4. Ensure to select Turn on Network Discovery in the Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing sections.

Now, note your server name from the server as follows:

1. Launch the Windows Start menu on the server computer.
2. Open the Run window by pressing the Windows and R on your keyboard together.
3. Type CMD in the Run box and press Enter.
4. Enter “Ipconfig” and hit Enter right after the CMD window opens.
5. Look for the Hostname in the Windows IP Configuration section. You’ll get the server name on the right side.
6. Note down the IP address of your QuickBooks server. Preferably, type it in Notepad or MS Word for easy accessibility and save it.

Now, return to your workstations to test the server. If the steps become too complex, contact an IT expert.

• Next, open the workstation where you encountered the error H202 in QuickBooks. Then, open the Command Prompt using the CMD command.
• Now Type Ping [XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX] and then Hit Enter.

• There are no connectivity issues if you find the response time fast and no data loss in the entire process.

If you notice packet loss, we suggest you contact your IT team. You can also contact the support team on the helpline Number +1-855-542-9309.

Solution 2: Add QuickBooks Server to Windows Hosts File

Adding the Server info to the Windows Host file will help the workstation quickly locate and connect to the server.

1. Go to the workstation where the H202 QuickBooks error has been encountered. Move to the Windows 64 variants C: WindowsSyswow64DriversEtc folder or Windows 32 variants C: WindowsSystem32DriversEtc folder and find the host file. You can either constantly press the H key on your keyboard until you find the host file or Search for the host file using the search bar at the top.

Open the host file and add the server name and IP address shown in the square brackets “[Server IP-address Server name]” at the bottom of the content. Once you have done this, Follow the same steps on the server computer.

Finally, try performing the same operation that triggered the error earlier to verify whether QuickBooks Error H202 is resolved

Solution 3: Install QuickBooks Database Server Manager

QuickBooks Database Server Manager allows users to share files over the network and enable multi-user mode. If you don’t have it installed on your system, we provide you with the steps to use it effectively.

1. Step 1 begins with downloading QB Database Server Manager, available with your QB Desktop file.
2. Downloading and updating QB Desktop is all you need to access the automatically updated QB Database Server Manager.
3. Now, it’s time to install the database server manager. It involves closing all active programs on the computer, including QuickBooks.
4. Launch the installation file just downloaded, named Setup_QuickBooks.exe.
5. Execute the on-screen instructions and locate your product or license numbers if needed.
6. When QuickBooks asks you to select an Installation Type, hit Custom or Network Options. Then click Next, and don’t choose Express.
7. Opt for the best option for your network setup and tap Next. You can install the Database Server Manager from both options. Your data won’t be overwritten even if it’s already installed on your system.
   • If you wish to get Database Server Manager and QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer, pick I’ll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I’ll be storing our company file here so it can be shared over our network option.
   • If you only wish to have Database Server Manager on your server computer, pick I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions, and once you’re ready, hit the Install option. Your Windows may request your permission. QB creates a new user for every database server manager version. Ensure to give proper access to QBDataServiceUserXX files.

After installing the QB database server manager, set it up through the two options:

1. The Full Program option: You install the complete version of QuickBooks Desktop and Database Server Manager on your server system.
2. The Server Only option: You only get the Database Server Manager on your server computer.

Check if you can now access the company file without getting the hosting error. If not, follow the next solution.

Solution 4: Run QuickBooks Network Diagnostic Tool

The QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool can help you resolve network-related issues in the QuickBooks while working in multi-user mode.

1. Run QuickBooks Tool Hub, go to the Installation Issues tab, and select the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool.
2. Let it run and repair the damage to the program installation, which might take around 20 minutes to complete.

Once done, try to access your company file. If the error H202 in QuickBooks continues to restrict access to the company file, try the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 5: Delete the Network Descriptor and Transaction Log File

As damaged ND and TLG files can also be the reason for hosting errors, we will delete them, prompting QuickBooks to create new ones free of corruption.

1. Go to the folder where your company file is saved.
2. In the company file folder, look for the files with .ND and .TLG extensions and delete them.
3. Next, close everything, restart the computer, and open the company file in QuickBooks.

Check if this solution helps resolve the error. If not, move to the next solution.

Solution 6:Configure Windows Firewall

In this solution, we will correctly configure the Windows firewall so it does not interfere with QuickBooks operations.

TCP PORTS Used by QuickBooks

1. QB Desktop 2020 and later: 8019, XXXXX.
2. QB Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX.
3. QB Desktop 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382.
4. QB Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377.

In QB 2020 and later versions, Ports does allocate dynamically.

QB Programs

Allow the following programs as firewall exceptions to rectify the error h202 in QuickBooks desktop:

1. QBDBmgrn.exe
2. QBCFMONITORSERVICE.exe
3. DBManagerExe.exe
4. QBW32.exe
5. QBUpdate.exe

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Solution 7: Ensure QuickBooks Services are Running

Fix the Error H202 in QuickBooks by ensuring QB services are running correctly as follows:

1. Open the Run window from the Windows search bar or press the Windows + R keys together. 
2. Type the command services.msc in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. Browse and double-click the option that says QuickBooksDBXX in the Services window. (XX is the QuickBooks version)
4. Choose Automatic as the Startup Type when the QuickBooksDBXX properties window appears on the screen.
5. Check if the Service Status is either Running or Started. If none, choose Start.
6. Go to the Recovery tab, and from the three drop-down menus, namely First, Second, and Subsequent failure, select the Restart the Services option.
7. Click Apply and OK to save the changes and repeat the same steps for the QBCF Monitor service.

Solution 8: Edit Windows Hosts File

The instructions below will help you edit the host file to fix any issues. However, before proceeding, please review the crucial considerations below.

1. Contact an IT professional or Microsoft expert if you aren’t comfortable following the solutions independently.
2. You may need to use static IP addresses on your computer. Once you reboot your device, dynamic addresses will make the method ineffective.

Step 1: Get your Computer’s IP Address and Name

To get the name and IP address of the server, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Before proceeding, keep a pen and paper handy to note down the details. Ensure that you run Windows with admin rights.
2. Execute the steps on the server, then workstations.
3. Press the Windows + R keys on the keyboard to access the Run dialog box.
4. Type CMD in the Run command text box and hit Enter.
5. Now, enter ipconfig /all (ensure you keep space after ipconfig) and hit Enter.
6. Note the hostname and server IP address.
7. Repeat these steps on all workstations.

Step 2: Edit Windows Hosts File

Follow all the steps below on both server and workstations:

1. Exit QuickBooks and head to the Start menu on the server computer.
2. Choose Computer and navigate to one of the following locations:
   • C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc
   • C:\Windows\Syswow64\Drivers\Etc
3. Double-tap the Host file and click Notepad.
4. Type the computer name and the respective IP addresses. Give space using the Tab key on the computer.
   • Check that the server computer has the workstation’s IP and computer name.
   • The workstation should have the server computer’s IP and computer name.

Step 3: Save the Changes in the Host File

Save the file once you’re done updating the IP addresses on both server and workstations:

• Go to the File menu in the Notepad and click Save.
• Name the file as “hosts” with quotation marks.
• Select Desktop as the location and save the file.
• Return to the desktop, locate your recently saved file, right-click, and click Copy.
• Go to the location you chose earlier:
  • C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc
  • C:\Windows\Syswow64\Drivers\Etc
• Locate the Host file, right-click it, and tap Rename.
• Change the name of the Host file to Host.old. Hit Continue.
• Finally, click Continue. Right-click and select Paste or press Ctrl + V.

Try the next solution if you can’t eliminate the error h202 in QuickBooks after this method.

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Solution 9: Fix the Network Issue Using Tool Hub

Tool Hub is a one-stop solution for errors and issues in QuickBooks.

#1: Download and Install the Tool Hub on the Server Computer

1. Begin the download process by clicking on the Link to Download Tool Hub.
2. Open the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions carefully to install QuickBooks Tool Hub.

#2: Run QuickBooks Database Server Manager

1. Start the Tool Hub by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.
2. In the Home Screen of Tool Hub, choose Network Issues.
3. Afterward, click on QuickBooks Database Server Manager. If QuickBooks isn’t installed, you will be prompted to do so. 
4. Next, in the database server manager, click on the “Start Scan” button if you can see the company file. If not, click Browse, select the company file folder, and click Start Scan.
5. If there is an issue with firewall permission, it will automatically be fixed. Click on “Close” once the scan is finished.

Now, check the workstations where you encountered QuickBooks error H202 and try to open the company file to see if the error has been fixed.

#3: Run QuickBooks File Doctor

Once you’ve downloaded and installed QB Tool Hub, you must run the QuickBooks File Doctor Tool to fix QuickBooks error H202. It will help repair the damaged company file as follows:

1. Opt for the Company File Issues section in QB Tool Hub.
2. Click the Run QuickBooks File Doctor option. The QB File Doc will open in about a minute. If it doesn’t open this way, search for it manually.
3. Select your company file, and if you can’t find it, click Browse to find it.
4. Tap the Check Your File option and hit Continue.
5. Type your QB admin password and click Next.

If the server can run in multi-user mode, you are free of H202 QuickBooks. If not, then try other solutions.

Solution 10: Get the Windows Access Permissions

Your server computer should offer appropriate Windows admin access permissions for QuickBooksDBXX and QBCFMonitorService. It’ll help open folders in multi-user mode. Every QB version contains components that require updation to work in the multi-user mode. However, before attempting this method to rectify QuickBooks Error H202 Switching to Multi-User Mode, try the following steps:

1. Make sure the installation directories have the correct permissions.
2. The security section may be unavailable in normal mode if you’re running MS Home editions. Reboot the device in Safe Mode to proceed with these steps:
   • Reboot your system and press F8 until the Advanced Boot dialog box opens.
   • Hit the Safe Mode option on the Advanced Boot window. Then, press Enter to boot the system in Safe Mode.
3. The QBDataServiceUSerXX version depends on your QB Desktop version.
4. If multi-user access is enabled on workstations, they can inadvertently enter Alternate Hosting Mode. When this happens, other users won’t be able to access the company file.

Now, let’s look at the steps to ensure appropriate Windows access permissions to share company files in QuickBooks:

1. Click the Windows icon on the keyboard to launch the Windows Start menu. Then, open the File Explorer.
2. Right-click the folder containing the company file and tap “Properties.”
3. Click on the “Security” tab, followed by the Advanced option.
4. Further, select QBDataServiceUserXX and click the “Edit” button to change the permissions.
5. Click on “Add” and type in the name of the user or group you want to grant access to the folder. If you are unsure of the name, click “Advanced” and “Find Now” to see a list of available users and groups. Further, choose the following activities and set them to Allowed:
   • Traverse Folder/Execute File
   • Read Permissions
   • Write Attributes
   • List Folder/Read Data
   • Read Extended Attributes
   • Create Folders/Append Data
   • Read Attributes
   • Write Extended Attributes
6. If your permissions are set accurately, do the following:
   • Right-click the folder with company files and choose Properties.
   • Hit Security, followed by Edit.
   • Select QBDataServiceUserXX, then click Full Control.
   • Further, tap Allow.
   • Hit the Apply option.
   • Finally, click OK.

Further, you can alter folder permissions as follows:

1. Go to the Start menu and select File Explorer.
2. Look for the folders listed below and right-click them:
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v5
   • C:\Program Data\COMMON FILES\INTUIT\QUICKBOOKS
   • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\FAMXX (XX = year)
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v3
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v6.0
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\Entitlement Client
   • C:\Program Data\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions X.0 (X = version) or C:\Program Data\Intuit\QuickBooks 20XX (XX = year)
   • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Sample Company Files\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions X.0 (X = version) or C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Sample Company Files\QuickBooks 20XX (XX = year)
   • C:\Program Data\COMMON FILES\INTUIT
   • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files

It’s critical to ensure that only authorized users or groups can access the company files. Additionally, it’s recommended that access permissions are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are appropriate and up-to-date.

Know that you might not have all these folders as some are specific to particular QB Desktop versions:

1. After right-clicking the specific folder, hit the Properties option.
2. Click Everyone on the Security tab.
3. If you don’t see Everyone listed in the Group or User name checkbox, click Add and type Everyone. Now, select OK.
4. Hit Full Control > Apply > OK.

Hopefully, you won’t see QuickBooks error h202 after this solution.

Need Further Assistance From QB Experts?

The steps described in this post can help you troubleshoot QuickBooks Error H202. However, if you need troubleshooting help from an expert, call us at our Support number: 1-(855)-542-9309. When you connect, you can briefly describe the problem you are facing to get the best assistance from our qualified QB experts.

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Erica watson

Erica Watson is writing about accounting and bookkeeping for over 7+ years, making even the difficult technical topics easy to understand. She is skilled at creating content about popular accounting and tax softwares such as QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Quicken, etc. Erica’s knowledge of such softwares allows her to create articles and guides that are both informative and easy to follow. Her writing builds trust with readers, thanks to her ability to explain things clearly while showing a real understanding of the industry.