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scotley
January 20, 2021
Solved

Fix to the issue of Quickbooks won't open without Internet Explorer

  • January 20, 2021
  • 30 replies
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I think that one of the Windows updates removed Internet Explorer from my Windows 10 computer because they are moving to Microsoft Edge.  However, QB is behind the game and still requires IE.  Some people have been having this issue for a while, but I just started having it a few days ago and have done A LOT of research and tried many things to try to fix it.  I finally found instructions in Microsoft forums to get IE back on my computer that worked!  I have posted instruction below, and I hope it helps others who are having this same aggravating problem!

 

If IE is completely gone from your computer, try this.

 

Click on Start then Settings. Go to Apps | Apps and Features. If you don't see Internet Explorer, click on Manage Optional Features then Add A Feature. You should be able to add or enable it. Restart your computer when done so it takes effect.

    Best answer by ShiellaGraceA

    Thanks for joining us here, @KMagilavy.

     

    I have some information about using other browsers. Currently, QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) only supports Internet Explorer 11.0. To update, please visit Microsoft's website.

     

    After updating, make IE your default browser:

    1. Open Internet Explorer.
    2. Go to the Gear icon in the upper right corner (or click Tools).
    3. Click Internet Options. Then, select the Programs tab.
    4. Under Default Web Browser tap the Make Default button.
    5. Click OK.

     

    With the above steps and a supported operating system, you'll receive technical supports and security updates. Check out this guide for details: Upgrade Internet Explorer to open QuickBooks Desktop.

     

    I'm also attaching this link if you need help with other tasks in QBDT. It has our general topics with articles: Browse all articles for QBDT.

     

    Let me know if you still have questions or concerns with your data file. I'll be around for you. Take care and have a great weekend ahead.

    30 replies

    Show previous replies
    A
    andrewbirch
    May 27, 2022

    so grateful for this. The combination of Intuit and Microsoft has always been a struggle and a nightmare.

    A
    abetterfuture
    June 26, 2022

    Not the best solution, but I think this is one way around it. Works if you're not dependent on the Home page window that shows all the workflow icons when opening QB.

     

    Your company file is likely set to open the "Home Page" window when you launch QB,  Try to 'X' it out as soon as it opens to prevent QB from looking for IE11. (you have to do it quickly like you're playing a game) Then go to Edit -> Prefrences -> Desktop View and disable "Show Home page...when opening..."  While you're there, you might as well go to "General" and put a check mark on "Turn off pop-up messages for products and services." I hope this helps. 

    C
    cjvezeau
    June 27, 2022

    Thanks, but this is not a solution that works. The prompt appears when opening the app itself. There is no ability to CTRL-X out of it. 

     

    Quickbooks needs to send out a communication to ALL registered users of their desktop products ASAP to, a) formally acknowledge this is a known issue (which has been confirmed with support), and b) provide an estimated timeline for resolution. 

     

    Anything less than this is unacceptable and downright deceitful for an established software company. As you can see from this thread alone, there are lots of small business owners who are screwed because they can't conduct business. 

      S
      sachelis
      June 27, 2022

      Has there been a resolution to this? Microsoft retired Internet Explorer, so the options in this thread (to reinstall or enable it) are no longer possible. I have 15 years of data in QuickBooks and run my business using it--I'm f'd.

       

      FWIW, I'm running Windows 10 and QB 2020.

      A
      Anonymous
      June 27, 2022

      I'm very sad and disappointed to see that Intuit has deliberately failed to provide a timely, necessary, and technologically relevant solution for the dependence of its product upon outdated technology and for the dependence of its customers upon the product that they are failing to support.

       

      I had a coach who would say, "You can't let those guys each your lunch... AND throw the bag in your face!" I can see a lot of us are tired of the taste of brown paper with mustard stains on it.

       

      For those who are in dire straits, there seem to be only 9 ways to resolve:1) call QB support, 2) try to upgrade QB, 3) buy a new machine with a clean OS and try installing, 4) find an old machine that will run it and keep off the internet as much as possible to avoid end of life security vulnerabilities, 5) move to QB Online (most likely why Intuit has not resolved this problem), 6) move to a competitor's product (Account Edge, Xero, Freshbooks, NetSuite, or one of Sage products as some possible starts). 7) find another QB user whose system is functioning and who has your or a newer version of QB operating and who is willing to let your run your company file at their location for a short period, 8) purchase a hosting service that offers QB Desktop so that you can run your file while you figure out what to do next, 9) declare bankruptcy. There may be other ideas, but these seem the only ones available to me, and I'd probably try 2, 3, and 8 myself before looking at the others.

       

      By the way, My Edge browser just updated itself and then offered again to be my BBF (best browser forever.) I refused that come-on, but on that screen was a link to a link to this information for IE mode. Perhaps it will be helpful to a few of you whose systems will respond to this solution, so I guess that makes a 10th solution to add to my list.

      Here's the link:

      https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/update/103?exp=e116&form=MT00AC&channel=stable&version=103.0.1264.37

       

      An here's a text paste of the "learn more" link on that page.

       

      Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

      Some sites are built to work with Internet Explorer and have functionality that isn't supported by modern browsers such as Microsoft Edge. If you need to view one of these sites, you can use Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge.

       

      Most sites work better on modern browsers. Support for Internet Explorer 11 ended on June 15, 2022. We recommend only using Internet Explorer mode within Microsoft Edge only when necessary. For more information, see Learn More about Microsoft Edge. 

       

      To turn on Internet Explorer mode, use the following steps. 

      1. In the address bar for Microsoft Edge, type edge://settings/defaultbrowser and then click Enter.

      2. Slide the Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer toggle to ON.

      3. Restart Microsoft Edge.

      Internet Explorer mode is now enabled. To view a website using Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge, use the following steps.

      1. Navigate to the website you want to view in Internet Explorer mode.
      2. Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window.
      3. Select Reload in Internet Explorer Mode.

        If you are on Microsoft Edge version 92 or earlier select More tools > Reload in Internet Explorer Mode


      To return to browsing without Internet Explorer mode, you can click Leave on the information bar at the top of the screen, or close your current tab and open a new tab in Microsoft Edge. 

       

      NOTE: If you are on a device managed by your organization with the latest Windows updates, you will see the option to Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer under edge://settings/defaultbrowser but the setting might be greyed out. On a managed device, you will see the option Reload in Internet Explorer mode ONLY if your organization has configured the policy to "Allow unconfigured sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode".

      See Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation.

       

      END

      P
      PQH
      July 8, 2022

      I'm finding most QB Desktop functions work OK in Edge, but other areas get tripped up.  The Merchant Deposits Service crashes. While it says my browser doesn't support MDS, it tells me to download Edge.

       

        H
        HSV_Pajarito
        July 17, 2022

        THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

        I've been searching for a solution for weeks.  Asked QuickBooks "Support" and they were of no help at all.

         

        You're advice was priceless.

          D
          DebKay
          September 29, 2022
          @troscher - I wish I had read to the end of this long post to see that you had posted the solution. I found this same solution on You Tube and it worked like a charm! Here's the link to the video for anyone who still needs this fixed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1bI1nXd81c Happy Days! I can use QB again!
            T
            tvmediapro2016
            October 18, 2022

            Internet Explorer  takes Quick Books Pro Down!

             

            IE was deleted from my WIN 10 PC.  No, it is not hiding somewhere to be restored by any of the fixes suggested.

             

            I was able to download IE 11 from my cloud backup Carbonite but there is no way to install it.

             

            This means Quick books and its files are in limbo.  Intuit needs to provide the fix for this.

              R
              RoseJillB
              October 18, 2022

              Hello there, @tvmediapro2016.

               

              I’ll chime in on this thread and share some information about using QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) with Internet Explorer (IE).

               

              Since Microsoft no longer supports this started last June 15, 2022. The current default browser has changed from Internet Explorer 11 to our built-in browser in QuickBooks. From June 10, 2022, all supported versions of QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) will begin to use our new custom browser. All you have to do is update to the latest release.

               

              Furthermore, please take note that IE is still required for QuickBooks to work properly. Though, this can’t be used for other online services.

               

              You can refer to this article for more details about the changes: Use our built-in browser in QuickBooks Desktop

               

              If you have further concerns about QuickBooks with IE, you can always post back to get assistance. Stay safe!

              L
              Lisa in Iowa1
              October 19, 2022

              How does this possibly help remedy the issue when QB is still relying on IE to function in any capacity?  IE is no longer a functioning program and no longer supported by Microsoft.  You need to get rid of the reliance completely.  Once Intuit does that then please come back and give us the update.  Thank you

                L
                loisde
                May 3, 2023

                3 hours with tech support including wait times and I still no fix for the error message to upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 on QB 2021 desktop.  Dear QB: IE 11 is no more.  MS replaced it with Edge with an option to enable IE 11 within Edge. Did that. Edge is set as my default browser. Did that. Bought a $125 90-day tech support plan. Tech support installed the latest web patch and ran something within the tool hub. Still no fix. Lost tech support connection after computer restart required to activate the web patch and the tool hub. Called back in for a senior tech and waited an hour on the phone then got disconnected without connecting with level 2 tech support. Why do we keep patronizing companies that take our money and leave us out here with software that's no better than a doorstop. Someone, please tell me what to do next to get this problem fixed. Shame on you Intuit. I'm beyond exasperated. 

                  Fiat Lux - ASIA
                  Fiat Lux - ASIA
                  May 3, 2023

                  @loisde 

                  Which Windows OS do you run?

                  I can still run QBD 2021 Premier on Win 10 Home 21H2 19044 with enabled IE11. I'm holding off on upgrading to the 22H2 to avoid any issues.

                  C
                  C_Geil
                  July 24, 2023

                  Seems MS wormed their way into my computer and I just received the IE death knell a couple of days ago (7/2023).  I tried the solution as posted, however, the "add" and "enable" buttons are no longer visible, only "disable" shows.  Reg Edit appears to be gone as well.  My computer guru spent a couple of hours today trying to fix it and failed.  If he can't figure a way to fix it, I don't think anyone can.  How thoughtful of MS to leave me completely locked out of 15 years of personal financial information.  I don't even use IE, it's just there to make my QB program work so I can track my grocery, utility, and cat food expenses.  Anyone up for a class action????

                  B
                  BrightBoyIT
                  July 24, 2023

                  Microsoft told you 15 years ago that IE was being retired.  PERIOD.  That is NOT microsoft's fault, but QB still using it even today packed under "their own custom browser" is complete BS.

                   

                  You want to talk class action when I can guarantee 90% of the people here don't have cars as old as IE, let alone the better part of the decade that MS gave you to do it differently.  You literally don't have a leg to stand on.  

                   

                  QB is garbage, their support is awful, and getting support is akin to the 7th circle of hell. As someone who has supported this vast garbage heap (seriously, why can't QB use more than 1 processor thread?) for over 2 decades, you're pointing the finger at the wrong subject of your disappointment.

                    A
                    Areaman
                    September 9, 2024

                    Tried all this, but when I got to the last step there were no options to add explorer.

                     

                    Click on Start then Settings. Go to Apps | Apps and Features. If you don't see Internet Explorer, click on Manage Optional Features then Add A Feature. You should be able to add or enable it. Restart your computer when done so it takes effect.

                    E
                    earllanm
                    September 9, 2024

                    Thanks for your efforts in performing the steps provided by my colleague, Areaman. I'll share some information on why you have no option to add Explorer to your desktop.

                     

                    Although Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer (IE), it's still required for QuickBooks to properly function. Ensure that your QBDT is updated to the latest release.

                     

                    If you're using Windows 10 or 11, here's how to enable IE in Microsoft Edge.

                     

                    1. Open Microsoft Edge, then click the Settings and more icon.
                    2. Select Default browser.
                    3. Under Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode), choose “Allow” to enable IE mode.
                    4. Once done, click Restart to restart your browser for this setting change to take effect.

                     

                    If the issue persists, I'd suggest reaching out to Microsoft Support.

                     

                    I'm adding again this article to learn more about the new custom internal browser: Use our built-in browser in QuickBooks Desktop.

                     

                    Furthermore, you can visit these links to manage your data in QBDT:

                     

                     

                    Return to this thread if you need further assistance with adding an explorer. I'd be happy to help you. Take care.

                    A
                    Areaman
                    September 9, 2024

                    Thanks for trying, but it didn't work.  Still cannot open Quickbooks and getting same Warning.  Also... how do you expect us to update our software if we cannot open it?  The IE mode was set to "Allow" when I got there following your suggested steps.  Looking through the web, I am not the only QuickBooks user having this same problem. (complete understatement) I have not been able to use my business QuickBooks software now for approx. 3 weeks and I don't think I need to tell you how much that sucks.  Please get a fix for this problem soon.

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