Did you know that sometimes Windows Firewall is blocking QuickBooks, causing an interruption in your business operations. This uncommon technical glitch prevents you from accessing your financial data and lands you into several errors. Also, this error prevents you from updating the Firewall to the latest version. If this technical bug hampers your work productivity, read this blog. This blog delves deeper into the error and helps you acknowledge why this error happens and what the effective troubleshooting solutions are.
What is a Windows Firewall?
Before proceeding ahead, let us have a quick look on windows firewall. It is an in-built security version, that is designed to protect your system from the unauthorized access or the security threats. It is a must have program and you must turn on the Microsoft firewall on. It monitors and filters the windows traffic based on the previously established security.
QuickBooks Windows Firewall is Blocking: Understanding the Issue
As stated earlier, the Windows Firewall is an essential built-in feature that protects your system from unwanted threats. However, sometimes, Windows firewall misunderstand QuickBooks as a threat and blocks QuickBooks, preventing it from communicating with the Internet or perform the task. This unique issue is know as “Windows firewall is blocking QuickBooks” and occurs due to a number of reasons such as incorrect firewall settings, outdated firewall rules, outdated software, and more.
When windows firewall is blocking QuickBooks database server manager, it give rise to certain errors such as H series error, network issue error or the connectivity issue error. An error message appears at your screen when the error occurs, stating, “Windows firewall is blocking QuickBooks”.
Why is Windows Firewall is Blocking QuickBooks Database Server Manager?
The prime purpose of the Windows firewall is to safeguard your system from the viruses, malware, or the unwanted cyber threats. However, under certain conditions, when the Firewall considers the legitimate program QuickBooks as a threat, it prevents the program from functioning properly. It cause inconvenience for the users who relies on the accounting application for their financial needs.
The possible reasons why QuickBooks Database Server Manager Windows Firewall is blocking include the following:
• QuickBooks application is not properly installed, and Firewall has blocked the damaged installation file.
• The Windows Firewall configuration is not configured properly.
• Specific firewall ports essential for establishing the communication between the QuickBooks and the database sever manager are blocked or not activated.
• QuickBooks company file storing the financial data is damaged or corrupted.
• There is a conflict between QuickBooks and third-party antivirus software.
• You are still using the outdated version of QuickBooks.
What Happens When Windows Firewall is Blocking QuickBooks?
When the QuickBooks database server manager Windows firewall is blocking 2024, a list of issues will trigger, including:
• There is an issue with the multi-user mode and collaboration
• You will face difficulty in connecting to the QuickBooks database server manager.
• Error message when you try to use certain functions in QuickBooks.
• The application freezes or hangs while performing certain functions.
Solutions to Resolve Windows Firewall is Blocking QuickBooks
When windows firewall is blocking QuickBooks, the internet access is blocked which further restricts its processes. In order to resume the smooth operations, you must rectify the error at the earliest. Luckily, there are a few solutions to resolve the windowsfirewall is blocking QuickBooks issue.
Solution 1: Manually Add the Windows Firewall Ports
Having the specific firewall port numbers is essential for the smooth communication between QuickBooks and its database server manager. If you have not added these ports, the Firewall blocks QuickBooks. The steps to manually add the Windows firewall are:
• Click on the Start Menu, type Windows Firewalls in the search bar and press the Enter key to open the Windows firewall.
• Click on Windows Firewall and then choose the Advance Settings option.
• Further, click on the Inbound Rules option and then choose the New Rules option.
• Thereafter, select PORT and press the Enter key.
• Moving ahead, ensure that the TCP is selected and choose the radio button stating “Specific Ports”.
• Enter the ports as per the QuickBooks version you are using:
A. QuickBooks Desktop 2023:8091, XXXXX
B. QuickBooks Desktop 2022:8019, XXXXX
C. QuickBooks Desktop 2021:8019, XXXXX
D. QuickBooks Desktop 2020:8019, XXXXX
E. QuickBooks Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX
F. QuickBooks Desktop 2018: 8019, 56278, 55378-55382
G. QuickBooks Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377
H. QuickBooks Desktop 2016: 8019, 56726, 55368-55372
• Click on the Next button and choose Allow the Connection option.
• Press the Next button and tick mark all the profile files.
• Lastly, press the Enter button to make the changes.
Note: Create the OUTBOUND rules in a similar manner to the INBOUND rules you created.
Solution 2: Run QuickBooks File Doctor Through QuickBooks Tool Hub
QuickBooks tool hub is an amazing centralized platform that consists of multiple tools that can be used to resolve various QuickBooks issues. One of the valuable tools of Tool Hub is QuickBooks File Doctor, which is used to fix company files and network-related issues. The steps that will guide you in resolving the QuickBooks file doctor Windows firewall is blocking issue include the following:
• Open the QuickBooks tool hub application in your system by double-clicking on its desktop icon.
• After opening the tool, move towards the Company File issue tab and click on the QuickBooks File Doctor button.
• Select the company file having the issue and pick the correct repair option from the given options.
• Lastly, press the CONTINUE button to run the tool so that it can automatically diagnose and fix the issues on your own.
Solution 3: Update QuickBooks Application to the Latest Release
At times, using the outdated QuickBooks version will trigger this issue in QuickBooks. All you need to do is update QuickBooks to the latest release version to fix the issue. The steps that will guide you in updating QuickBooks include:
• Open the QuickBooks application and click on the Help menu button.
• Now, choose the update QuickBooks desktop option from the drop menu.
• It will open the update window, where you need to pick the updates that you wish to install in your system.
• After selecting the Updates, click on the GET Updates Now button to download the updates in your system.
• Once, the updates are downloaded, re-open QuickBooks and Press “Install Now” button to install the updates in your system.
Solution 4: Run the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on the Server
By simply running the QuickBooks database server manager on the server system, you can easily fix the issue by following the steps mentioned below:
• Open the QuickBooks tool hub on your server system by double-clicking on its desktop icon.
• Now, move towards the Network issue tab and click on the QuickBooks Database Server Manager button. If it is not installed, the server will ask you to install it.
• Inside the QuickBooks database server manager, click on the Start Scan button if the company file is selected. If not, pick the company file and then press SCAN button.
• The QuickBooks Database Server Manager will automatically fix the firewall permission issue automatically.
Solution 5: Add the QuickBooks Exceptions to the Firewall
At times, when the QuickBooks ports are added, the Firewall tends to restrict the QuickBooks from accessing the Internet. Here, you need to add the QuickBooks as an exception to resolve the issue using the steps mentioned below:
• Open the Windows Firewall and click on the Advance Settings.
• Now, right-click on the Inbound rules and choose the New Rules option.
• Further, choose PROGRAMS and Press the Next button.
• Thereafter, select the THIS Program Path option and click on the BROWSE button.
• Find and select the executable files that have the .exe extension.
• After selecting the files, click on the Next button and choose Allow the connection.
• Press the NEXT button and provide a name that is relevant to the newly created rule.
Winding it Up
Windows firewall is blocking QuickBooks is an uncommon issue that hampers the work productivity. You can easily resolve the issue by following the above mentioned methods described in this blog. We assume that you have successfully resolved the issue on your own.