Why QuickBooks Access Denied Keeps Appearing (And How to Remove It Fast)

If you are unable to access the company files, QuickBooks access denied may be the issue. The reason could be damaged company files, insufficient permissions, or incorrect network settings on your system. Another possible cause of the error is an outdated version of QuickBooks Desktop.

You can see the following error messages on the screen:

“QuickBooks Access Denied, HTTP 502 or 350 Error (QBO)”

“QuickBooks Access Denied for Advanced Reports”

“QuickBooks Error 403 – Access Denied”

“QuickBooks Access Denied to Bill Pay”

Through this blog, we will help you overcome the access denial issue without any trouble. 

If you have any issues with the company files on your system, contact our experts for consultation.

Some Common Reasons Why QuickBooks Access is Denied

There are several reasons the access-denial error can occur in your system. Below are the causes.

• If you are using incorrect login credentials to access the QuickBooks application, you may see this error.
• Insufficient user permissions for your application can also cause the QuickBooks access denied error.
• When the firewall blocks QB operations.
• Browser cookies and cache.
• If the files are corrupted or damaged, it can also cause this issue in your system.

Now, let’s move on to the next section to help you understand the methods to solve this issue.

Effective Methods to Overcome QuickBooks Access Denied Error

There can be different case scenarios when you can try the troubleshooting methods mentioned below:

Case 1: QuickBooks Access Denied for Advanced Reports

When you are unable to access the features like reports, advanced reports, or any other online services, here’s what you can do.

Solution 1: Update the QuickBooks Desktop

Updating to the latest version of QBDT can help you resolve the issue.

• Access the QuickBooks application.
• Go to the Help menu.
• Click on the Update QuickBooks option.
• Tap on the Update Now section.
• Then, choose the Reset Update checkbox.
• Next, click on the Get Updates option.

This will help you to update and avail new features for the QB application.

Solution 2: Verify the User Permissions

Verify the user’s permissions and roles to access QuickBooks Desktop.

• Access the QuickBooks Desktop.
• Go to the Company menu.
• Select the Set Up Users and Roles option.
• Tap on New.
• Assign a name and description to the role based on the employee.
• Head to the Area and Activities section and select the area of accounts.
• Verify all areas, then select None, Full, or Partial to assign permissions.
• Tap on OK.

Once the steps are completed, restart your system and check if the error persists.

Solution 3: Verify and Rebuild Data

• Go to the Window, then select Close All.
• Go to File, then select Utilities.
• Select Verify Data. 

Rebuild Company File Data

• Go to File and then Utilities.
• Then select Rebuild Data.
• QuickBooks will prompt you to create a backup before it rebuilds your company file. Select OK. 
• Select where you want to save your backup, then OK. 
• Go to File.
• Select Utilities, then select Verify Data again to check for additional damage.

If this is not the case for your system, let’s proceed to the next step.

Case 2: QuickBooks Access Denied, HTTP 502 or 350 Error (QBO)

This situation or error can be seen on your screen when you are trying to reauthenticate. Listed below are the solutions you can try.

Solution 1: Clear Cache and Cookies

To resolve the QuickBooks access denied error, clear your browser cache and cookies. Below are the steps to delete cookies on Windows and macOS.

Google Chrome

• At the top right, select the More icon.
• Select Settings.
• Select Privacy and security.
• Choose Cookies and other site data.
• Select See all cookies and site data.
• Type “Intuit” in the search bar to find Intuit cookies.
• Select the Remove all shown option.

Mozilla Firefox

• Choose the Menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Select Privacy & Security.
• Select Manage Data under Cookies and Site Data.
• Type “Intuit” in the search bar and select Enter to find Intuit cookies.
• Select Remove All Shown.
• Select Save Changes.

Safari

• Open Safari, then select Safari from the Apple menu in the top-left.
• Select Preferences or Settings.
• Select Privacy, then Manage Website Data.
• Type “Intuit” in the search bar to find Intuit cookies.
• Select Remove All.
• Select Remove Now.
• Select Done.

Microsoft Edge

• Access the Settings menu.
• Choose the Privacy, Search, and Services option.
• Go to the Delete browsing data section.
• Tap on the Clear Browsing Data Now.
• Select Choose what to clear, then under the Time range dropdown, choose the time range to clear data.
• Tap on the Clear Now option.

If the issue is not related to browser-specific cookies, try the next method to resolve it.

Solution 2: Access QuickBooks in Incognito Mode

You can access the browser in incognito or private mode to check if the error persists. We have mentioned shortcut keys below for different web browsers.

• Google Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+N
• Microsoft Edge: Ctrl+Shift+N
• Safari: Command+Shift+N
• Morzilla Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+P

Log in to your account and verify whether the access-denial issue persists.

Solution 3: Disconnect an Account Connected to Online Banking

You can also disconnect a bank account, although it won’t result in loss of any data for your QuickBooks account. So, to disconnect the connection, follow the steps below:

• Head to the Bookkeeping section.
• Choose the Transactions option.
• Choose Banking and select the bank account.
• Tap on the Edit option.
• Select the Edit account info option.
• Tap on the checkbox to Disconnect the account.
• Save the details.

Now, check whether the error has been resolved.

Case 3: QuickBooks Error 403 – Access Denied

When the error code 403 is seen on your screen, here’s what you can do to avoid it.

Solution 1: Change Proxy Server in Internet Settings

• Access the Start menu.
• Search for and access Internet Options.
• Tap on Enter.
• Head to the Internet Options from the list.
• Now, click on the Connections tab.
• Tap on the LAN settings button.
• Unmark the box to Use a proxy server for your LAN.
• Tap OK, then close the LAN settings.
• Click on OK.

Restart your system once the steps are completed to save the changes made.

Case 4: QuickBooks Access Denied to Bill Pay

There are times when the users sign up for QuickBooks Bill Pay and get an error message saying: “We reviewed your info and QuickBooks Bill Pay isn’t available for your business. This may change in the future.”

This is a case when Intuit hasn’t rolled out the Bill Pay service for your business.

A Quick View on QuickBooks Access Denied

In this section, we will cover a quick overview of what we have talked about in this blog.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed the QuickBooks access denied error for your desktop and online versions. For your reference, the root causes of this issue are outlined below. We have outlined several case scenarios where you may encounter this error, along with the corresponding solutions. If you still need help with QuickBooks, feel free to contact our experts now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Gabby Taylor

Gabby Taylor, combines financial expertise with literary prowess. With over a decade in finance, she crafts insightful narratives on navigating fiscal complexities