This article will be helpful if you are trying to host QB from a NAS, Synology or other unsupported device.
Make certain the computer (server) you setup to host the file is set to never power off and user knows not to power down.
- Make sure QuickBooks Desktop is closed and the QBW32.exe is not running in the task manager.
- Go to C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks (Year).
- Edit the QBW.ini file in notepad.
- Enter ENABLENONRECOMMENDEDMODE=1 directly under the [MISC] section. It should look like this:
- Save the QBW.ini file and open QuickBooks Desktop and try to switch to Multi-User mode.
- When you get the H202 error again, you should see the Alternate Setup button has returned if the .ini file has been correctly edited.
- Select Alternate Setup and select Yes to any proceeding UAC messages and QuickBooks Desktop should now work in the alternate setup mode and Mult-User access restored.
Note: Use at your own risk.
Part 2: Firewall Port
Add Firewall port exception for QuickBooks
If you use multiple versions (years) of QuickBooks Desktop on the same computer, perform these steps for each version:
- Open the Windows Start menu.
- Enter “Windows Firewall” into the search and open Windows Firewall.
- Select Advanced Settings.
- Right-click Inbound Rules (later on, you’ll create Outbound Rules). Then select New Rule.
- Select Port and then select Next.
- Make sure TCP is selected.
- In the Specific local ports field, enter the specific ports needed for your QuickBooks year version:
- QuickBooks Desktop 2020: 8019, XXXXX.
- QuickBooks Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX.
- QuickBooks Desktop 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382.
- QuickBooks Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377.