I appreciate the details you've posted about the issue when changing to single-user mode, @Deadwood Al. I know how this unusual behavior affects your productivity so let me help you fix the problem in QuickBooks Desktop.
Remote access doesn't directly cause the software to switch modes. There are also no notices about mode changes on its own. Switching modes can happen when a user does so. However, there's no direct way that we can restrict users from doing it.
Also, other instances, like network setup, can lead to unexpected mode changes. Make sure the server/computer that the file is hosted on has the QB database manager running. If possible, put this on a server, not a workstation.
In that case, you can go to the user who is opening the QuickBooks file and delete it from their recently accessed list. Then, re-add it. In the end, there is an option to "Open file in multi-user mode". They may have it defaulted to a single user.
Additionally, there are two ways to open company files in Multiuser mode automatically. The first one is to check the Open file in multi-user mode option. Here’s how:
- Click the File menu.
- Select Open or Restore Company.
- Choose Open a company file, and then click Next.
- In the Open a Company window, check the Open file in multi-user mode box at the bottom.
Each time you open the company file from the computer, the multiuser mode will be enabled. You can do this on every workstation.
The second one is to edit the QBWUSER.INI file and then change the MULTIUSERMODE value. Due to the technical nature of this method, you might want to reach out to a computer expert.
Moreover, to access the folders in the multi-user mode, the folders need to have the right Windows permissions. Refer to this article for the details: Set up a folder and Windows access permissions to share company files
Just in case you want to know the tasks and features available you can use in single or multi-user mode, you can read this article for more information: Features available and tasks you can perform in single or multi-user mode.
Come back to this post if you have additional questions or concerns regarding switching modes in QuickBooks Desktop, @Deadwood Al. I'll be around to provide the necessary help.