Preferences is missing from the menu

@MRS79  Could just be that Mac differs from Windows here.

At the risk of asking the obvious, have you tried the Settings option in the screenshot you shared?

Thank you for sharing the screenshots regarding the missing preferences from your QuickBooks menu, @MRS79. Based on the information you provided, this preference should be included in your setup. I'll share some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue.

You can use the Verify and Rebuild tools to identify the most common data issues in a company file and repair them. We can use the verify tool to scan your company file for errors or data damage. Here's how to do that:

1. Go to File, then click Utilities.
2. Select Verify Data, then tap OK to close all windows.

Once done, you can rebuild your company file to resolve any detected mistakes or data damage. If Your data has failed the integrity check prompts when verifying the company file, follow the steps below:

1. Go to File, then select Utilities.
2. Choose Rebuild Data, then click OK to close all windows.
3. QuickBooks will ask you to make a backup before proceeding, you can either pick OK or Cancel to continue.
   1. Update your Backup Preferences and edit as needed if you haven't set them up, then click OK.
   2. When it's finished, press Show in Finder to locate the backup or tap OK afterward.
4. Hit OK.

To ensure your company file is free of errors or data damage, verify it again. If you still encounter errors or damage, rebuild once more.

This article will help you manually correct errors: Verify and rebuild data in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

Additionally, here’s a resource that you can use to learn how to keep QuickBooks for Mac up-to-date, ensuring you have the latest features and fixes: Update QuickBooks for Mac to the latest release. 

For future reference, check this site to access and download the user guide for Mac 2024: QuickBooks Desktop for Mac 2024 User's Guide.

If you need any further assistance with QuickBooks for Mac, please let me know. I can share guides or provide additional details on how to use the program effectively.

Hello @MRS79 , in the newer operating systems on Mac it is no longer called 'Preferences' , the operating system has changed that to be called 'Settings' now in the QuickBooks menu.  That will open up the QuickBooks preferences where you can make changes.