How to use QuickBooks Key

1. Passware QuickBooks Key overview
2. I have a QBB file. How do I remove password protection?
3. How do I use QuickBooks Key?
• How do I recover the original password in QuickBooks Key?
4. I purchased QuickBooks Key, but received a "Slightly damaged" or "File Unsupported" message. What should I do?
5. I have a QBM file. How do I remove password protection?

Passware QuickBooks Key overview

Passware QuickBooks Key is a fast and easy-to-use solution to remove or recover passwords for QuickBooks files (.QBW and .QBA).

Below are the password recovery options depending on the QuickBooks version.

I have a QBB file. How do I remove password protection?

To get access to your QuickBooks Backup (.QBB), convert it to the .QBW type first. The steps should be as follows:

1. Select Restore... from the QuickBooks File pull-down menu.
2. Browse for your QuickBooks Backup file (.QBB).
3. Select the location to save the restored file and rename the company file to avoid overwriting. Click Restore.
4. Click Cancel once you are prompted for the password. QuickBooks displays the following message:

"Restore was successful, but the file cannot be opened without a password."

5. QuickBooks creates a .QBW file named as specified in Step #3.

Passware Tip: Check out alternative instructions on converting a .QBB file to .QBW on the official QuickBooks Support portal. MAC.QBB file can be used to move your QuickBooks Mac file over to QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

6. Run QuickBooks Key against the created .QBW file to remove or recover the password.

How do I use QuickBooks Key?

Once Passware Kit or QuickBooks Key launches, click "Browse" and locate your .QBW file.

Wait for the software to reset the passwords and create an unprotected copy of your .QBW file. The decryption is performed instantly. Passware Kit displays the account names, resets the passwords, and creates an unprotected copy of the file.

You can open this unprotected copy in QuickBooks. In some cases, you might need to enter the exact account name as shown in Passware Kit (example: "Admin") and leave the password field blank.

How do I recover the original password in QuickBooks Key?

During the decryption process, Passware Kit patches the original QuickBooks file to create an unprotected copy. In this case, some sensitive data, such as SSN, may be corrupted or missing. The only way to access this data is to find a password for any account. Once password is found, Passware Kit will create an unprotected copy with the correct sensitive data inside. To recover the missing password, click the "recover" link in the warning message:

Specify the password recovery settings in accordance with the information about the missing password.

NOTE:  Once Passware Kit recovers the password for any account, it stops the recovery process and creates an unprotected copy of the file without corruption.

If you need to recover other passwords, go back to the Home page , click Tools -> Clear History, check "Recovery States..." and click "Clear." Now start the password recovery process again with different settings to avoid recovery of the known password. In this case, Passware Kit will proceed to password recovery for another account.

I purchased QuickBooks Key, but received a "Slightly damaged" or "File Unsupported" message. What should I do?

The most probable reason is that your database is corrupted. Please check that your QuickBooks file can be opened using Intuit QuickBooks software and that you are prompted for a password to continue.

Additionally, make sure that your QuickBooks file is of supported format using our overview table.

For further recommendations, please Contact Support with the details of the problem.

I have a QBM file. How do I remove password protection?

To get access to your QuickBooks portable company file (.QBM), convert it to the .QBW type first.
After you create a portable company file (.QBM), you can restore the file on the destination computer. QuickBooks decompresses the file and then rebuilds your company file. This process may take a few minutes. The steps should be as follows:

1. Select the File menu then choose Open or Restore Company.
2. Select Restore a portable file then choose Next.
3. Browse to the location where you saved the portable file.
4. Select the portable file then choose Open.
5. Select Next.
6. This will open a Save Company File As window.
7. To prevent overwriting your existing company file, rename the company file by typing a new name in the File name field.
8. After renaming the file, select Save. QuickBooks converts the portable file to a regular company file with a .QBW extension.
9. Check the file size. If the file has more than the target limit above then go back and repeat the process and remove as much data as possible. The .QBW file created from the portable company file might be smaller than your condensed .QBW file. This is normal.
10. Run QuickBooks Key against the created .QBW file to remove or recover the password.