Sorry 'We Can’t Update Your Account QuickBooks' – This One Hidden Setting Solves It!

I have found that sometimes QuickBooks can’t update your account. This is usually accompanied by an error message.

If you face the same problem, here are different error messages you might see on the screen.

“Error 9999: Sorry, we can’t update your account. Please try updating again later.”

“Sorry, we can’t update your account. Please wait a few hours and try updating again (9999, 163, 176, etc.).”

However, I tried many methods to resolve it and eventually got it fixed. Let me walk you through a list of curated methods to resolve banking errors so you can update your QuickBooks bank account. These solutions are recommended by experts.

To get an expert to help you resolve QuickBooks banking issues, dial 1(800) 780-3064. This will connect you to a QB expert right away!

Possible Reasons Why QuickBooks Can’t Update Your Account

Here are some reasons why you can’t update your bank account in QuickBooks.

The browser you use to access QuickBooks Online banking might have cache and junk files stored there, which could lead to the issue.
The internet connectivity might be poor, or there might be no internet connection.
Your account information might have changed, such as the website, routing number, or account number.
Your bank’s or credit card’s website might be temporarily down for maintenance, or there might be an issue with the bank’s server.
When QuickBooks tries to download the transactions automatically, the bank transactions are downloaded in the form of a file with a format unsupported by QBO.

Now that you have a good idea of possible reasons for the Sorry, we can’t update your account QuickBooks error, let us show you how to fix it.

Try These Solutions When QuickBooks Can’t Update Your Account

First, you must know that this problem is usually temporary and might be resolved within 48 hours. However, if QuickBooks can’t update your bank account for long, you can fix it here.

1. Check Your Bank’s Website

Check your bank to see if it’s currently under system maintenance. To do so, open the bank’s website and log in to your account. Check if everything is alright.

Log in to your bank’s website. If you can’t do so, contact them about the next steps.
See if there are any messages, notifications, or alerts. This will notify you if something isn’t working.
Check the account pages, history, and transactions. If they don’t load, there might be connection issues.

However, if there are no issues from your bank’s side, move to the next step.

2. Open QBO in Incognito Window

QuickBooks Online might be unable to update your bank account due to cache and cookies stored in the browser. You can open QBO in an incognito or private window.

Depending on your browser, here are the keyboard shortcuts you can use to open an incognito or private window.

Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge Ctrl + Shift + N
Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P
Safari: Control + Option + P

Once you have logged into the QBO company in an incognito or private window, move to the next step.

3. Connect Your Bank Account

Now, follow the instructions below to connect your bank account in an incognito window.

Log into your QBO account and click on the Banking option from the left pane.
Choose the Banking tab and select Edit (the option with a pencil icon).
Go to Edit Sign-in Info in the row of your bank account.
Type in the correct login credentials of the bank account for verification.
After you have logged in to the bank account, choose to save the login info.

Now, re-try updating the transactions.

4. Manually Update Bank Transactions if QuickBooks Can’t Update Your Bank Account

Let us try to update bank transactions manually. You can do so by uploading bank transactions in QuickBooks-supported file format, which are:

QuickBooks Online (.QBO)
Quicken (.QFX)
Comma-Separated Values (.CSV)

Therefore, download the bank transactions file from your bank’s website and ensure that it is in one of the three QB-supported formats.

Now, let me show you how to upload transaction files into QuickBooks manually.

From the sidebar menu, choose Banking and then go to the Banking tab.
Click on the drop-down arrow and choose Upload from file (or File Upload).
Click on Browse and choose the file you downloaded from your bank.

Tap on the QuickBooks account drop-down menu, select the account to which you want to upload the transactions, and then click Next.
Now, go ahead with the instructions and choose Next.
Finally, when you are done, choose Let’s Go.

Follow the onscreen steps to match the columns on the file with the correct fields, and choose only the transactions you would like to import.

Now, check if this helps you resolve the sorry, we can’t update your account QuickBooks error message.

5. Disconnect and Reconnect the Bank Account

If you continue having trouble updating your QuickBooks account, I suggest disconnecting and reconnecting your bank account.

However, before you disconnect your bank account, you need to check and make sure there are no transactions in the For Review tab on the Banking page. Go to the For Review tab and either add them all to your register or Exclude them.

Let me show you how to disconnect your bank account.

Choose Banking from the left menu.
Click on the Edit icon for the account you need to disconnect.
Go to the Account window and mark the checkbox to Disconnect this account.
Finally, choose Save and Close.

Now, proceed to connect your bank account by following the instructions given in Step 3.

Final Words

This was all on how to resolve the Sorry, we can’t update your account QuickBooks error. However, if you find that QuickBooks cannot update your bank account even after trying the above-given solutions, contact a QB consultant.

They are available round the clock to help you resolve QB issues and resume your accounting operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What does the QuickBooks message “Sorry, we can’t update your account” mean?

A. This error typically appears when QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop is unable to sync your bank or credit card account. It means QuickBooks attempted to connect with your financial institution but the authentication or data retrieval failed. This is usually caused by bank security updates, expired login credentials, or temporary connection issues between QuickBooks and your bank’s server.

Q. Why does QuickBooks show this error suddenly even if everything was working before?

A. Banks frequently update their backend systems for enhanced security. When this happens, QuickBooks may temporarily lose access until the connection is refreshed. Even minor adjustments—like new OTP requirements, login credential resets, or MFA updates—can cause QuickBooks to stop syncing and show this message.

Q. Does outdated bank login information cause this problem?

A. Yes. If your online banking password was changed recently and you didn’t update the new credentials inside QuickBooks, the system cannot authenticate your connection. As a result, QuickBooks displays the “Sorry, we can’t update your account” message until you re-enter accurate information.

Gabby Taylor

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

Sorry ‘We Can’t Update Your Account QuickBooks’ – This One Hidden Setting Solves It!