How to Install QuickBooks Desktop, Step by Step

From download to your first invoice in under an hour.

You've bought QuickBooks Desktop and the license email is sitting in your inbox. Now what? Installing QuickBooks is straightforward once you know the order of things, and this guide walks you through every screen, from download to your first company file.

It works for QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise, versions 2021 through 2024. For exact download links by year, see our download and installation guides.

Before You Begin

Have these ready:

• Your license number (15 digits) and product number (6 digits) from your purchase email
• An administrator login for Windows, because installing software needs admin rights
• About 30 minutes and a steady internet connection
• A computer that meets the system requirements

Step 1: Download the Installer

Use the download link in your purchase email, or find your version in our download guides. Both point to Intuit's official servers. Save the file to your Downloads folder. It's usually named something like QuickBooksProSub2024.exe or Setup_QuickBooksPro2021.exe.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Double-click the downloaded file. If Windows asks whether to allow the app to make changes, click Yes. The installer unpacks its files, which can take a minute or two.

Step 3: Accept the License Agreement

Read through it (or at least scroll to the bottom), tick the box to accept, and click Next.

Step 4: Enter Your License and Product Numbers

Type them exactly as they appear in your email. Copying and pasting works too, just make sure no extra spaces sneak in. Click Next.

Step 5: Choose Express or Custom

• Express installs QuickBooks in the standard location with standard settings. Choose this for a single computer.
• Custom and Network Options lets you choose the install folder and set up multi-user hosting. Choose this if the computer will store a company file that others will share.

If you're setting up a shared office, our multi-user setup guide explains which option to pick on each computer.

Step 6: Install

Click Install and let it run. This usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. When it finishes, click Open QuickBooks.

Step 7: Activate QuickBooks

QuickBooks asks you to activate the first time it opens. Go to Help > Activate QuickBooks Desktop if it doesn't prompt you. Follow the steps, entering your business details. If online activation won't complete, which happens sometimes with older versions, choose phone activation and follow the instructions.

Step 8: Update to the Latest Release

Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop, click Update Now, then Get Updates. Restart QuickBooks when it finishes. For versions past Intuit's support window, updates may no longer be available, which is fine; make sure you installed the latest release from the official download link.

Step 9: Create or Open Your Company File

• New business? Choose Create a new company and follow the EasyStep Interview or Express Start.
• Moving from another computer? Choose Open or restore an existing company and restore your .QBB backup. Our guide to moving QuickBooks to a new computer has the details.
• Upgrading from an older year? Open your old company file and QuickBooks will offer to upgrade it. Make a backup first.

Common Install Problems and Fixes

First Things to Set Up After Installing

1. Turn on automatic backups under File > Back Up Company > Schedule Backups.
2. Set up a password for the Admin user.
3. Add your bank and credit card accounts to the chart of accounts.
4. Customize your invoice template with your logo under Lists > Templates.
5. Enter opening balances as of your start date, or ask your accountant to help.