QuickBooks is the top accounting software that is helping hundreds of small to mid-size businesses to fulfill their business needs. With the industry-best features, it has evolved as a learning interface, and a lot of the credit for that goes to the regular software updates from Intuit. However, while downloading those updates, users sometimes face issues and report the QuickBooks Error 15311 hitting on their screen. Due to this error code, their active window crashes, and the update process stops abruptly. The error message states that “QuickBooks update cannot be completed successfully,” and there can be a few reasons for this. In this article, we are going to discuss the solutions for terminating the QuickBooks update error 15311 in detail.
Update issues like QuickBooks error 15311 are fairly easy to resolve. However, to ensure a permanent fix, you will need an expert to assist you with the right methods. QuickBooks Support Number 1-(855)-542-9309 anytime to get help on the line.
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Table of Contents
What is the QuickBooks Payroll Update Error 15311?
The QuickBooks error 15311 is a runtime error that occurs while installing QuickBooks or updating the payroll function. Issues with QuickBooks installation and Windows registry can lead to this error code. The error prevents the update process from completing successfully and needs to be addressed immediately by following the right set of steps.
Reasons behind the Occurrence of the QuickBooks Error Message 15311
Before heading straight to the solutions of the QuickBooks update error 15311, let’s first take a look at its causes mentioned below.
- The QuickBooks Desktop installation is corrupted or incomplete.
- Some of the important QuickBooks files are damaged due to malicious activities on the computer.
- Windows registry issues or corruption in the registry can lead to error
- Some other background program is interrupting the download of the update.
- The internet settings of the computer are incorrect and need to be modified.
- The Windows Firewall is obstructing the update download by blocking QuickBooks.
Effective Solutions to Resolve the QuickBooks Payroll Error 15311
Solution- 1: Download a Digital Signature Certificate and Import it
The web-based applications use your computer’s digital signature certificate as its identity, and if it is missing or expired, the service you seek from the web does not complete successfully. Follow the steps mentioned below to install the digital signature certificate and resolve the error code.
- Go to the QuickBooks installation directory, generally located at C:\ Program Files (x86)\ Intuit\ QuickBooks, and search for the QBW32.exe file.
- Then Right-click the file and choose Properties, followed by navigating to the Digital Signature tab.
- Click on the Details button to select View Certificate and go to the General tab.
- After that Select Install Certificate and wait for the Certificate Import Wizard window to appear.
- Verify that the store Location is displayed in the current User and choose Next and select Finish.
- Click on OK once the certificate is successfully imported and rerun the QuickBooks Desktop application.
Solution- 2: Activate the Reboot.bat File to Register the QuickBooks Files
If the QuickBooks-based registries are corrupted and causing the error, you can run the Reboot.bat file to re-register all the QuickBooks files and resolve the QuickBooks update error 15311.
- Exit from QuickBooks and go to your Desktop to right-click the QB icon.
- Select Properties and choose the Open File Location button to go to the QB installation folder.
- Search for the Reboot.bat file and right-click on it to select Run as Administrator and verify your admin credentials.
- Wait for the tool to run through all the QuickBooks files, and after that, a black window will appear and close automatically.
- Try to update your QuickBooks again.
Important– You can follow the steps mentioned below to display the Hidden Files and Folders and locate the .bat file.
- Type Folder in the search box given on the Taskbar to click on Show Hidden Files and Folders and go to Advanced Settings.
- Click on Show hidden files, folders, and drives and click on OK to complete the task.
Solution- 3: Review your Payroll Service Key from the Employees Menu
The payroll updates will fail if you enter an incorrect service key for your subscription, and you need to confirm your service key to fix the issue.
- Open QuickBooks and click on the Employees menu to choose the My Payroll Service option.
- Then Click on Manage Service Keys and select Edit to ensure that the key is correct.
- Click on Next, followed by Finish, followed by rebooting your computer. Try to download the updates again and check the status of the update error code 15311.
Solution- 4: Check the Advanced Internet Settings and Fix Connection Issues
If none of the solutions work, reconfigure your Internet settings by following the steps mentioned below.
- Verify that the time and date settings are correct on the computer and open the Intuit website on your Internet Explorer.
- Then Press the Alt key to open the Menu bar and click on the Files menu to select Properties.
- Under Connection, check your cipher strength to ensure that it is at least 128 bites, otherwise, your Internet Explorer is damaged.
- Go to the General tab to delete the temporary internet files and navigate to the Tools menu.
- After that Select Internet Options and click on the LAN Settings under the Connections tab and go to the Advanced tab.
- Make the necessary changes to ensure that the SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0 are marked and the TLS 1.2 is unmarked.
- Unmark the box against Check for Publisher’s Certificate and save the modifications by hitting Enter.
- Restart the computer system and download the updates again to review the status of the error code..
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Solution-5: Reinstall QuickBooks by Activating the Windows Safe Boot Mode
Run the Windows safe mode to prevent any interference from background programs. For this, you need to go to the Boot options and select the Safe Boot Mode, followed by uninstalling QuickBooks. Next, restart your system and reinstall your QuickBooks Desktop. Once the error is fixed, switch back to the Normal Mode from the boot options.
Solution- 6: Review the webmail preference settings.
QuickBooks uses Internet Explorer’s settings to connect to the internet to send invoices, reports, and download the updates. When you face an error while connecting to the update server, you must check the settings and update them as per the requirement. We will guide you through the complete solution to successfully eliminate the constant occurrence of error 15311 in QuickBooks
- Launch the QuickBooks application and navigate to the Edit menu.
- Click on Preferences.
- From the left panel, choose the Send Forms option.
- Choose the email account you are using from My Preferences.
- Select the Edit option.
- Once you are on the Edit Email Info screen, navigate to the SMTP Server Details section.
- Assign a server name and port where you see the email provider settings option.
Solution 7: Add Intuit to the List of Trusted Sites
For the updates to take place, your browser should be able to allow them to happen. The process is usually hindered when the browser treats Intuit sites as a threat. With this solution, we suggest adding Intuit and related sites in exceptions for the browser.
- First, you must open Internet Explorer (IE).
- Click on the Gear icon towards the top of the screen.
- Choose Internet Options.
- Select the Security tab and then the Trusted sites option.
- Click on Site, and in the list, fill in the following.
- If you use the US version of QuickBooks:
– *.quickbooks.com
– *.intuit.com - For users of the Canadian version of QuickBooks:
– *.quickbooks.ca
– *.intuit.ca - Click on the Close option.
- Select Apply.
- Press Enter key or click on the OK button.
Solution 8: Remove Cache using Flush the DNS Option
When you flush the DNS, you can delete the corrupted caches. The flush can entirely delete any data that is present in the cache.
- Click on the Start menu.
- Enter CMD in the search bar.
- Press the Enter key.
- Command Prompt window will open up. Where you see the cursor, type ipconfig /flushdns, and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
- The process will complete the DNS flushing, and you will receive a message depicting the same.
- Either type Exit into Command Prompt or click on the cross option to exit the Command Prompt.
Conclusion
In the end, we would like to finish our blog on the QuickBooks error 15311. We hope that the steps mentioned in the solutions above help you to troubleshoot the issues with the QuickBooks update process. However, if they don’t work out for you, feel free to seek professional assistance from QB Proadvisorsolutions experts by dialing the QuickBooks Helpline Number 1-(855)-542-9309 anytime.
QuickBooks Error 15311 – FAQs
Why am I unable to update my QuickBooks Payroll in the application?
You might be facing the QuickBooks payroll error 15311 that occurs while updating the payroll function. There might be Windows registry issues, or your digital signature certificate might be missing, which is leading to this error.
How to Eliminate the error 15311 Quickly?
The top solution for the QuickBooks error 15311 is to install the digital signature certificate. You can also try re-installing QuickBooks to fix installation issues leading to the payroll update error.
How can I review my service key to fix the QuickBooks error 15311?
To review your service key, you need to go to the QuickBooks employees menu and select the Manage service key option.
What are Some Common Symptoms of the QB Error Code 15311
Some early signs to identify the QuickBooks update error 15311 are –
1. Firstly, your QuickBooks will start acting up, and then, Windows will experience slow/degraded performance.
2. Your payroll functions will freeze or stop abruptly. You won’t be able to move even a single stride or make any changes in your QuickBooks payroll.
3. Your paychecks will not send and become stuck Online, leading to difficulty or inability in processing the paychecks.
How to Modify TLS Settings in Internet Explorer to Fix Error 15311?
Modifying TLS settings will help you get QuickBooks payroll updates successfully. Here’s how to make the necessary changes to the Internet Explorer’s TLS settings.
1. Launch the Internet Explorer web browser.
2. Click on the Gear icon and then Internet Options.
3. Select the Advanced tab and navigate down the screen to look for:
Use TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, and Use TLS 1.2 options.
4. You must review that the Use TLS 1.0 option is unchecked, but at the same time, select the Use TLS 1.1 and Use TLS 1.1 options.
5. Click on Apply.
6.Press OK before initiating the payroll update process.
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.