What is QuickBooks Error 15215 and Methods to Resolve This Error

Have you ever seen error texts while updating your QuickBooks payroll? QuickBooks error 15215 is one of such payroll update error. This update prevents you from downloading the latest tax table and payroll updates on your computer. This QuickBook maintenance release error occurs when the QuickBooks unable to verify the digital signature of a file needed for the update. Factors affecting a user’s PC to trigger the QuickBooks error code 15215” could be numerous in count. Improperly configured Microsoft Edge while the downloading or installation of QuickBooks Updates is in the process.

We are going to talk about the best ways to fix the look of QuickBooks error 15215. All the mentioned solutions are independent and can quickly resolve the payroll and maintenance update error. But there might be times when you get stuck, and nothing is going to suit you. Under such circumstances, the best thing would be to dial QB Desktop Technical Support at 1-855-542-9309 to get things sorted out instantly.

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What is QuickBooks Error 15215?

QuickBooks error 15215 occurs when the QuickBooks Desktop cannot verify the digital signature of a file during payroll updates or maintenance releases. This error may appear as: 

“Error 15215: Unable to verify digital signature.”

“Error 15215: The server is not responding.”

Problems like conflict with another program, incorrect firewall or network security options, faulty web browser settings, or invalid digital signatures are likely to prompt error 15215 during the upgrade to the newer version.

Details	Particulars
Error Code	QuickBooks Error 15215
Error Description	QuickBooks Error 15215: Unable to verify digital signature / Incorrect Configuration of the Web Browser
Developer	Intuit QuickBooks Incorporations
Applicable On	Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11
Causes	conflict with another application, improper firewall or network security settings, incorrect web browser configurations, or unverified digital signatures

Let’s have a look at the causes of error 15215 in QuickBooks.

Causes of QuickBooks Error 15215 While Updating Payroll

There can be several instances while using the QuickBooks application that can trigger error 15215. Here’s a list of various causes due to which you can experience QuickBooks Payroll Update Error Code 15215:

1. Another application running in the background conflicts with the download of a payroll update by the user.
2. Inappropriate configuration of the Web Browser at the time of downloading and installation of QuickBooks Desktop updates. 
3. The firewall has been configured to limit the QuickBooks Desktop’s connection with the update server. 
4. When QuickBooks Desktop attempts to verify the digital signatures of any file and it is unsuccessful, it leads to the “QuickBooks maintenance release error 15215.”

Now that we know what causes the “QuickBooks Error 15215 Windows 10” to appear in the QuickBooks Desktop version, we shall now hop on to remedial measures, which equip a user with all the tools to fix the occurrence of the Error Dialog Box.

Symptoms of QuickBooks Error Code 15215

Sometimes, it might become unrecognizable for the users to identify the error if the error code is not displayed on the screen. That is why you should know about the generic symptoms of QuickBooks update error code 15215, which are as follows:

1. When error code 15215 appears, it crashes all the running programs & applications. 
2. The system becomes corrupted simultaneously during the execution of the same program.
3. “Error 15215: Unable to verify digital signature” message is displayed.
4. Slow & sluggish performance of Windows.
5. The system responds slowly to the mouse & keyboard input.
6. Computer ‘freezes’ after fix period.

These are the common symptoms that will help you in the identification of error 15215 in QuickBooks Desktop during payroll update or maintenance release. Let’s now proceed to the section you have been waiting for – methods to fix the error.

Solutions to Fix QuickBooks Update Error 15215

There are simple solutions to this error. All you have to do is to follow the steps mentioned in this section carefully. Below are the solutions to resolve QuickBooks update error 15215 in simple and quick ways:

1. Consider restarting your personal computer.
2. Try accessing the QuickBooks Desktop in Windows Admin mode.
3. Verifying the TLS Options in the Microsoft Edge Browser
4. Rebooting Windows in Selective Startup Mode.
5. Updating Microsoft Security Certificates.
6. Updating QuickBooks Payroll Services
7. Installing Manual Updates for QuickBooks Desktop.
8. Disabling the User Account Control (UAC) Settings.

These are the possible methods to resolve the QuickBooks payroll error 15215 in simple and quick ways. Let’s know about these methods in brief.

Solution 1: Restarting Your Computer

Rebooting the user’s workstation is one of the first things to do in order to overcome the “QuickBooks Error 15215.” It enables any application which is forcing QuickBooks Desktop Payroll to exit or attempts to reset its settings to lead to a blocked connection anyhow. If the issue persists and the user keeps receiving the “error 15215” on their screen, one ought to take a note of programs that are running on the user’s PC that can have the potential to conflict with QuickBooks.

1. Go to ‘Start Menu.’ Or press ‘Windows key’ on the keyboard.
2. Near the ‘Shutdown’ button in the Start Menu, click the drop-down.
3. Select ‘Restart’ from the drop-down menu to proceed with the operation of Reboot.

If the above steps still do not resolve the issue, jump to the next step for a stable solution.

Solution 2: Accessing the QuickBooks Desktop in Windows Admin Mode

When you run QuickBooks Desktop with Administrative credentials, it may help prioritize QuickBooks Desktop over other applications in Windows. It directs Windows to permit QuickBooks Desktop to use the required resources to run efficiently.

1. You need to ensure that the QuickBooks Desktop Application is closed. 
2. Then, you must proceed to Desktop, right-click on the QuickBooks Desktop icon. 
3. Here, you have to choose the option Run as Administrator. 
4. When you are asked: “Do you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer?” choose Yes to proceed.’

This solution will allow you to access the QBDT as a Windows administrator, which could possibly resolve error code 15215 in QuickBooks payroll. If this does not work out, you can move to the next solution.

Solution 3: Verifying the TLS Options in the Microsoft Edge Browser

Inside the Internet Options Settings Window of Internet Explorer, keep in check that ‘Use TLS 1.0’ is checked, but ‘Use TLS 1.1’ and ‘Use TLS 1.2’ are both unchecked 

1. Exit the QuickBooks Desktop program. 
2. Go to Mixrosoft Edge or the other default Web Browser.
3. Go to Tools > Internet Options. 
4. Now click the Advanced Tab. 
5. Below the Settings option, inside the scroll window, find the ‘Use TLS 1.0’, ‘Use TLS 1.1’, and ‘Use TLS 1.2’ options. (Note: Chances are you won’t have these options in your web browser.) 
6. Verify that Use TLS 1.0 is checked. 
7. Verify that Use TLS 1.1 and Use TLS 1.2 remain unchecked. 
8. Click ‘OK. ’
9. Exit the web browser.

Restart your PC. Once it’s done, open the QuickBooks Desktop icon shortcut on the Desktop and attempt to re-download the update now. If this method fails to resolve QuickBooks error 15215 in Windows 11, you can try the other solutions as well.

Solution 4: Rebooting Windows in Selective Startup Mode

Still not able to resolve the “QuickBooks Error 15215”? Next, you need to check your PC for the applications that are conflicting while downloading the payroll update. One such application is CA Security Center, which is a notorious application that causes issues with QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Exit QuickBooks Desktop. 
2. Press Windows key + R to open the Run Window. 
3. In the empty field of Run Window, type msconfig and click OK to proceed. 
   
4. The System Configuration Utility window appears on the screen. 
5. Select the radio input Selective Startup. 
6. Below it, uncheck the Load Startup Icons checkbox. 
7. Now click OK to save the settings. 
8. Reboot the PC when prompted on the screen. 
9. After your PC reboots, open QuickBooks Desktop and download the latest tax table. 
10. If the update is successfully downloaded on your PC, we advise you to follow steps 1-4 to return to the System Configuration Utility window. 
11. Now select the radio input Normal Startup and click OK to proceed. 
12. Reboot the system twice.

This solution will restore your device to the normal working environment by resolving the QuickBooks error 15215 Windows 10/11 update error. Meanwhile, you can also check out further options.

You may also Read: How to Fix QuickBooks balance sheet out of balance

Solution 5: Updating Microsoft Security Certificates

An expired Microsoft Security Certificate may cause issues, so you need to fix it by running Windows Update or downloading an Updated Certificate from the Official Website of Microsoft. Here are the steps to update Microsoft Security Certificates to resolve QuickBooks maintenance release error 15215:

To install an Intermediate Certificate in Microsoft Exchange Server 2016, you need to follow certain steps:

1. Double-click on the Start icon, and then double-click on Run. 
2. Type mmc, and then click OK. The Microsoft Management Console (Console1) window is displayed. 
3. In the Console1 window there, you need to click File, and then click Add/Remove Snap-in. 
4. Click on Certificates in the Add or Remove Snap-ins window and click on Add. 
5. In the Computer Account window, click Computer Account, and then click Next.
6. In the Select Computer window, choose Local Computer and click Finish.
7. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins window, click OK.
8. In the Console1 window, click + to open the Certificates (Local Computer) folder on the left side.
9. Right-click Intermediate Certification Authorities, move the cursor over All Tasks, and then select Import.
10. In the Certificate Import Wizard window, click Next.
11. Click Browse to locate the intermediate certificate file.
12. In the Open window, select the file extension filter to be PKCS #7 Certificates (*.spc;*.p7b), choose the *_iis_intermediates.p7b file, and click Open.
13. In the Certificate Import Wizard window, click Next.
14. Choose Place all certificates in the following store, and click Browse.
15. In the Select Certificate Store window, choose Intermediate Certification Authorities and then click OK.
16. In the Certificate Import Wizard window, click Next.
17. Click Finish.
18. Click OK.
19. Close the Console1 window, and then click No to discard the console settings.

Now, 

1. To Install an SSL Certificate in Microsoft Exchange Server 2016
   • Log on to the Exchange Admin Center.
   • From the left menu, choose Servers, and then click Certificates.
   • Choose your certificate (it has a “Pending request” status), and then click Complete.
2. To import from File, type in the certificate file path we gave you (e.g., \\\\server\\folder\\coolexample.crt), and then click OK. Exchange installs your certificate.
3. In the Certificates section, choose your certificate again (the status now is “Valid”), and then click Edit (pencil icon).
4. Click Services, choose the services to which the certificate is applicable (SMTP, UM, UM call router, IMAP, POP, and/or IIS), and then click OK. Your certificate is now ready to use with Exchange 2016.

This solution will help you update the Microsoft Security Settings certificate that will help you in the resolution of the error 15215 in QuickBooks 2024.

Solution 6: Updating the QuickBooks Payroll Resources

Sometimes, it happens that the current version gets outdated, and the payroll services in QuickBooks stop working, and this can cause error 15215. In this case, you need to update the QB resources to the latest versions. The steps for the same are outlined below:

1. Step 1: Launch QuickBooks and explore new QuickBooks updates
2. Step 2: Choose the correct updates to install and click on get updates.
3. Step 3: You need to restart QuickBooks and check for payroll tax table updates
4. Step 4: Now, you need to select the proper update method and wait for the download to be completed.
5. Step 5: Lastly, verify the updates and perform a test run to check for errors.

This was the approach in case your payroll services are not updated to the latest version. This can help in the resolution of the QuickBooks maintenance release error 15215.

Solution 7: Installing Manual Updates for QuickBooks Desktop

If you are getting errors while updating QB payroll services, you can consider updating the application manually. This will bypass error 15215 and perform the QuickBooks update. Below are the steps to update the QBDT manually:

1. Close the company files and QuickBooks from the screen and recent applications.
2. Then, right-click on QuickBooks Desktop and click on Run as Administrator. 
   
3. Here, a dialogue box will appear seeking your permission to update QuickBooks; click on Yes.
4. Now, you need to download the latest payroll and QuickBook updates.

This solution will bypass the error to do your work. You can choose to follow this solution or proceed to the next one in case this does not work out.

Solution 8: Disabling the User Account Control Settings

The User Account Control (UAC) settings are very important for Windows setup, but sometimes, they can be the reason for most QuickBooks payroll errors. Let’s look at the ways of turning off the UAC settings on Windows to resolve the problem of error 15215 in QuickBooks.

1. Step 1: Press the Windows button, type and search for the Control Panel, and open it.
2. Step 2: Search for User Accounts settings and click it.
3. Step 3: Proceed to the Change User Account Control Settings button. 
4. Step 4: Review and revise the UAC settings and restart your desktop.

We hope that it resolves your error related to the payroll in QuickBooks. But if it doesn’t, you can move to the second approach.

Wrapping the Things Up!

This post has covered everything that you might need on how to fix QuickBooks error 15215 while updating payroll. We have covered the definition of the error, the causes of the error, the symptoms, and the methods for resolution. You can easily try to implement the solution on your own. We hope we were able to save your day by equipping you with all the necessary knowledge and tools on this topic. If you still face any kind of difficulties moving along with this issue, you could rely on a promising tech team for a helping hand by Dialling Pro Advisor Solutions Helpline Number +1-855-542-9309.

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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.