How to Download QuickBooks Desktop 2013
QuickBooks Desktop 2013 brought a redesigned interface with colored transaction rows, improved search, and faster report generation. If you're running older systems and need dependable accounting software, this version still gets the job done. Here's how to set it up.
Written By Craig Winston
IT Content Strategist
Reviewed By Michael Torres
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Level 3
QuickBooks Desktop 2013 — Download, Install, Activation & Get Started
Complete Guide for QuickBooks Pro 2013, Premier 2013 & Enterprise 13.0
This Version Is Discontinued
Intuit ended all support and online services for QuickBooks Desktop 2013 in May 2016. That means no payroll updates, no bank feeds, no security patches, and no online backup. The software still works for offline bookkeeping — entering transactions, printing invoices, running reports from your local data — but anything that requires an internet connection to Intuit's servers is permanently shut off.
QuickBooks 2013 was a big deal when it came out. It completely overhauled the look and feel of the program with a brand-new left navigation bar, and a lot of people who used it back then still prefer it today. If you have a license and just need to get it back onto a computer for your records or to keep doing local bookkeeping, this page walks you through every step.
Fair warning — because this version is over a decade old, you will run into some friction getting it onto modern hardware. Windows 10 and 11 were not around when this software was built, so compatibility mode is going to be your best friend. We cover all of that below.
What's on This Page:
- What is QuickBooks Desktop 2013?
- Pro vs. Premier vs. Enterprise 13.0 — which one do you have?
- What was new in 2013
- System requirements (and the Windows 10/11 situation)
- What you get after purchasing
- Download steps
- Installation — step by step
- Activation (phone activation required)
- Troubleshooting
- Should you upgrade?
What Is QuickBooks Desktop 2013?
QuickBooks Desktop 2013 was the version that changed how the program looked and felt. Intuit redesigned the entire interface with a left-side navigation panel, replacing the old top-menu-heavy layout that had been around for years. It was a bold move at the time, and it set the template for every version that followed.
At its core, it does what every version of QuickBooks Desktop does — invoicing, bill tracking, expense management, reports, bank reconciliation, and payroll. The difference now is that it's completely cut off from Intuit's servers, so you're working with it as a standalone, offline accounting tool. For some folks, that's perfectly fine. For others, it's a dealbreaker. We'll help you figure that out further down the page.
What Was New in 2013?
When this version launched, it brought some genuinely useful changes that people had been asking for. Here's what stood out:
- Brand-new left navigation bar — This was the headline feature. Instead of hunting through menus at the top, you had a clean sidebar on the left with quick access to Customers, Vendors, Employees, Banking, and Reports. It was a major visual overhaul and made the program feel much more modern.
- Redesigned Customer and Vendor Centers — Both got a facelift with better layouts, easier-to-read transaction histories, and quicker access to contact details and balances.
- Improved search — Finding transactions, customers, or vendors became noticeably faster. The search bar actually worked well for the first time.
- Transaction ribbon toolbar — A new toolbar at the top of transaction windows gave you one-click access to common actions like emailing, printing, or attaching documents.
- Lead Center — A dedicated space for tracking prospects who hadn't become customers yet. Handy for businesses that needed to follow up on quotes and proposals.
- Better inventory tracking — Improved visibility into what was in stock, what was on order, and what needed reordering. Not as advanced as Enterprise, but a solid step forward for Pro and Premier users.
Pro 2013 vs. Premier 2013 vs. Enterprise 13.0
QuickBooks Pro 2013
Best for: Small businesses, sole proprietors, basic bookkeeping
- Up to 3 users
- Invoicing, estimates, billing, and recurring transactions
- Expense tracking by customer, vendor, or job
- 100+ built-in reports — Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, A/R, A/P, and more
- Bill payment scheduling and vendor management
- Basic inventory with quantity on hand
- 1099 contractor tracking
- New left navigation bar and improved search
- Lead Center for prospect tracking
QuickBooks Premier 2013
Best for: Growing businesses, industry-specific reporting, teams up to 5
Everything in Pro 2013, PLUS:
- Up to 5 users
- Industry editions: Contractor, Nonprofit, Manufacturing & Wholesale, Retail, Professional Services
- 150+ industry-tailored reports
- Sales orders and backorder management
- Inventory assemblies — build finished goods from components
- Revenue and expense forecasting
- Budgeting with enhanced detail
QuickBooks Enterprise 13.0
Best for: Larger operations, heavy inventory, bigger teams
Everything in Premier 2013, PLUS:
- Up to 30 users
- Advanced inventory — multiple warehouse locations, bin tracking
- Custom user permissions with role-based access
- Larger data file capacity — handles hundreds of thousands of transactions
- Advanced pricing rules and quantity discounts
- Custom report building with more fields and filters
- FIFO inventory costing
System Requirements
| Requirement | What You Need |
| Operating System | Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7, or Windows 8 |
| Processor | 2.0 GHz minimum |
| RAM | 2 GB minimum (4 GB recommended) |
| Disk Space | 2.5 GB + space for data files |
| Screen | 1024 x 768 or higher |
| Internet | Not required (all online services have been discontinued) |
Important — Windows 10 and Windows 11 Users: QuickBooks 2013 was built before Windows 10 existed, so it does not natively support Windows 10 or 11. You can still get it to run using compatibility mode(we explain how below in the troubleshooting section), but expect occasional quirks. If your only computer runs Windows 10 or 11, be prepared to do some extra setup.
Windows only. Not compatible with Mac.
After You Purchase — What You'll Receive
- Your Product License Key — The unique code that activates your copy. Guard this carefully — you'll need it during installation and for phone activation.
- Download Link — A direct link to grab the installer file for your specific version.
- Product Number — Identifies whether you have Pro, Premier, or Enterprise 13.0. You'll type this in during setup.
- Order Confirmation Email — Your receipt with all the details above bundled together.
Tip: Write your license key down on paper and keep it somewhere safe. Since this version requires phone activation, you'll be reading the key out loud to an agent — having it handy saves a lot of back-and-forth.
QuickBooks Desktop 2013 — Download, Install, Activation & Get Started
Step 1: Find Your Purchase Email
After buying, check your inbox for the email containing your download link and license details. Peek in spam or junk folders if it doesn't show up within a few minutes.
Step 2: Click the Download Link
Click the link in your email. The installer file is around 200-400 MB, so give it a few minutes on slower connections.
Step 3: Locate the Downloaded File
Open your Downloads folder and look for a file named something like QuickBooks2013.exe or Setup_QuickBooks2013.exe.
Step 4: Can't Find Your Setup File?
If you can't locate your QuickBooks setup file or the .exe file isn't in your Downloads folder, don't worry. You can download it directly from Intuit's official download page here: https://downloads.quickbooks.com/app/qbdt/products. Just select your version, enter your license and product number, and the download will start.
Step 5: Have Your License Key Handy
Before you double-click anything, pull up your Product Number and License Key. You'll need both during the installation wizard.
Installation — Step by Step
The installation process is the same whether you have Pro, Premier, or Enterprise 13.0. Budget about 10-15 minutes, maybe a bit more on older hardware.
Step 1: Shut Down Other Programs
Close your browser, email client, Microsoft Office, and any antivirus software. QuickBooks installers are picky about having the stage to themselves.
Step 2: Run the Installer as Administrator
Right-click the setup file and choose Run as administrator. This is especially important on Windows 10 and 11 — without admin rights, the install will likely stall out or throw errors.
Step 3: Accept the License Agreement
Check the "I accept" box and click Next.
Step 4: Type In Your Product Number and License Key
Enter your Product Number and License Key exactly as they appear in your email. Watch out for typos — no extra spaces, no missing dashes. Click Next.
Step 5: Pick Your Installation Type
Express Install
— Go with this if you're putting it on a single computer. It picks the default folder and handles everything automatically.
Custom and Network Install
— Choose this only if you need to install to a specific directory or set up multi-user access across a network.
Select your preference and click Next.
Step 6: Let It Install
Click Install and sit tight for 5-10 minutes. Don't close the window, don't restart, don't unplug anything. Just let it finish.
Step 7: Launch QuickBooks
When the installer finishes, click Open QuickBooks. A desktop shortcut should appear as well.
How to Activate (Phone Activation Required)
Here's the thing about QuickBooks 2013 — online activation through Intuit's servers no longer works. The servers for this version were retired years ago. That means phone activation is your only option. Don't worry, it's straightforward once you know the process.
Step 1:
Open QuickBooks 2013. It will likely pop up with an activation prompt. If the automatic online activation fails (and it will), don't panic — that's expected.
Step 2:
Go to Help → Activate QuickBooks Desktop. Select the option to activate by phone.
Step 3:
QuickBooks will display a Validation Code on your screen. Write this down. Then call the phone number shown on that same screen.
Step 4:
Read your Validation Code to the representative. They will give you back a Confirmation Code. Type that code into the box in QuickBooks and click Next.
Step 5:
You should see a confirmation that activation was successful. Click OK and you're done.
Heads up: If you run into trouble with the automated phone system or the number displayed in QuickBooks isn't working, give us a call at (870) 232-6314. We've walked a lot of people through this and can help you get it sorted.
Troubleshooting — Common Issues
Running on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (Compatibility Mode)
This is the number one issue people run into with QuickBooks 2013 on a modern computer. Here's how to set it up:
- Find the QuickBooks 2013 shortcut on your desktop (or browse to the .exe file in Program Files).
- Right-click it and choose Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and select Windows 7 from the dropdown.
- Also check "Run this program as an administrator" at the bottom.
- Click Apply, then OK.
Do the same thing for the installer file if you haven't installed yet. This one trick solves most of the "won't launch" and "crashes on startup" problems.
Download Stops Midway or Won't Start
Delete the partial file from your Downloads folder, make sure your internet connection is solid, and try again. If your browser keeps stalling, switch to a different one — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, whatever you don't normally use.
Installer Freezes or Throws an Error
Turn off your antivirus temporarily, make sure you have at least 2.5 GB of free disk space, restart your computer, and run the installer by right-clicking and choosing Run as administrator. On Windows 10/11, apply compatibility mode to the installer file before running it.
Printer or PDF Issues
QuickBooks 2013 sometimes struggles with modern printer drivers — especially newer wireless printers. If invoices or reports won't print, try setting the printer as default in Windows Settings, or use the "Save as PDF" option and print the PDF separately. The built-in QuickBooks PDF driver may also fail on newer Windows — installing a free PDF printer like CutePDF can work as a substitute.
Error 3371 — Can't Load License Data
Close QuickBooks. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8 and delete the file called EntitlementDataStore.ecml. Reopen QuickBooks and re-enter your license information when prompted.
QuickBooks Closes Immediately After Opening
Nine times out of ten, this is a compatibility mode issue on Windows 10 or 11. Follow the compatibility mode steps above. If that doesn't fix it, uninstall QuickBooks through Settings → Apps, restart your computer, apply compatibility mode to the installer, reinstall, then apply compatibility mode to the program shortcut too.
"License Already In Use" Message
If you're moving from an old computer to a new one, uninstall QuickBooks on the old machine first. If that machine is gone or broken, phone activation usually resolves it — the rep on the phone can clear the old registration. If you're still stuck, call us.
Still Stuck?
Give us a ring at (870) 232-6314 or drop us an email at info@accountingscart.com. We deal with older QuickBooks versions all the time and know the workarounds that actually work.
Should You Upgrade from QuickBooks 2013?
Let's be real about this. QuickBooks 2013 is more than a decade old. Intuit stopped supporting it in 2016. If you're still using it, you've gotten incredible mileage out of your purchase — but there are some serious reasons to think about moving to a newer version.
Reasons to keep using 2013:
- You only need offline bookkeeping — data entry, invoices, reports from local data
- You don't need bank feeds, payroll services, or online backup
- Your computer still runs it without issues
- You're winding down a business and just need to reference old records
Reasons to upgrade:
- No security updates — The software hasn't been patched since 2016. That's years of potential vulnerabilities sitting on your machine.
- No bank feeds — You can't automatically download transactions from your bank. Everything has to be entered by hand.
- No payroll — Tax tables are frozen at 2016 levels. You cannot run accurate payroll through this version.
- No e-filing — 1099s, W-2s, and other forms can't be e-filed from this version.
- Compatibility headaches — Every Windows update risks breaking something. Running decade-old software in compatibility mode is a ticking clock.
- Accountant compatibility — If you send files to an accountant, they may not be able to open a 2013 file in their current version of QuickBooks.
- No tech support — Intuit won't help you. If something goes wrong, you're on your own (or you call us).
If you rely on QuickBooks as your daily bookkeeping tool, upgrading isn't just convenient — it's a matter of security, accuracy, and compatibility. Your 2013 data file can be converted to a newer version without losing your history. Browse our shop for current versions, or read our guide on buying Desktop without a subscription. We can walk you through that process if you're ready to make the jump.
Need Help with QuickBooks 2013 — or Ready to Upgrade?
We carry QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise for every year. Whether you need 2013 reinstalled or want to move to something current, we've got you covered. Visit our shop.
Call: (870) 232-6314
Email: info@accountingscart.com
