Boost Plugins

Connect QuickBooks Desktop

Connect your company file to Boost Connect with QuickBooks Web Connector. Follow the download, permissions, password, and first-update steps.

Before you start

Complete these steps on the Windows computer that runs QuickBooks Desktop. Keep your Boost Connect setup page open while you work.

  • Open the company file you want to connect and sign in as the QuickBooks admin.
  • Install QuickBooks Web Connector if it is not already available. Use Intuit’s installation instructions.
  • Have your connection’s setup page ready. It provides a QWC file and a Web Connector password.

This guide uses access while the company file is open. Keep QuickBooks Desktop, that company file, and Web Connector open whenever you need live requests to run.

1. Download your QWC file

Open the setup link supplied by your app. It takes you to Connect QuickBooks Desktop, shown below.

Starting in the Boost Connect portal? Open Connections, choose Create Connection → In Portal, select a project if asked, enter a connection name, and choose Create Connection.

Choose Download QWC File. Keep the downloaded .qwc file in Downloads (or the folder you chose). Leave the setup page open: the next screen provides your connector password.

Download QWC File is below the checklist. Your app may use its own branding. Select to enlarge.

Use the file and password from the same connection. The username is already included in the file. If you have several company files, set up a separate connection for each one.

Already have a connection? Open it, choose the three-dot Connection Options menu at the top right, then Download QWC File. Use its original setup password.

Creating your first connection? Start with the portal quickstart.

2. Open QuickBooks Web Connector

  1. Switch to QuickBooks Desktop on the Windows computer with your company file open.
  2. Choose File in the top-left menu, then App Management.
  3. Choose Update Web Services. This opens QuickBooks Web Connector in a separate window.

In some QuickBooks versions, Update Web Services appears directly under File. If Web Connector is not installed, follow Intuit’s installation instructions, then reopen your company file.

File → App Management → Update Web Services. QuickBooks Enterprise example. Select to enlarge.

3. Add the app in Web Connector

  1. In the QuickBooks Web Connector window, choose Add an Application at the bottom right.
  2. Open Downloads (or your chosen folder), select the .qwc file from step 1, then choose Open.
  3. Review Authorize New Web Service. Check that the application matches your setup page and the service uses https://boostconnectqbd.boostplugins.app, then choose OK.
Choose Add an Application. Your list may already contain other apps; leave them in place. Select to enlarge.

4. Approve access in QuickBooks

QuickBooks opens an application permission window. If Web Connector appears to be waiting, switch to QuickBooks: this window may be behind Web Connector.

  1. Confirm that the correct company file is open.
  2. Select Yes, whenever my QuickBooks company file is open.
  3. Leave the option to allow access to personal data unchecked for this setup.
  4. Choose Continue, review the confirmation, then choose Confirm.

The confirmation permits the application to read and modify the company file while QuickBooks is running. After approval, the application appears in Web Connector.

Access while the company file is open. Sample company shown; connection names hidden. Select to enlarge.

5. Enter and save the password

  1. Return to your setup page. Under Copy and paste password, choose Copy password.
  2. Paste it into the Password field for your application in Web Connector.
  3. Press Tab to leave the field, then choose Yes when asked to save the password.
Use Copy password. This example shows a placeholder, not a real password. Select to enlarge.

Use the supplied connector password, not your QuickBooks login or an API key. A masked password field does not confirm that the password was saved. If the status says “Password was not saved,” repeat this step and choose Yes.

Keep Auto-Run off until the import, permissions, and password steps are complete.

Choose Yes to save the connector password. Select to enlarge.

6. Enable updates and connect

  1. Check Auto-Run for your application. This enables the Every-Min field.
  2. Set Every-Min to 1 for regular updates.
  3. Check the selection box at the far left of your application’s row, then choose Update Selected.
  4. Wait for the update to finish. Leave QuickBooks Desktop and Web Connector open.

The left selection box chooses which app Update Selected runs. Auto-Run is a separate control for scheduled updates.

Auto-Run on, Every-Min set to 1 (bottom row). Example connection names hidden. Select to enlarge.

7. Verify your connection

Return to the setup page or your connection in the portal. It should show Connected and a recent Web Connector update.

To verify that requests reach the right company, open the connection’s API console. Select the Company endpoint (GET /api/qbd/v1/company), choose Live from QuickBooks as the data source, then choose Run. Confirm that the returned company name matches the file you opened. Your integration can also make this read.

Connected confirms connector contact. A completed company read confirms access to the company file. “User authenticated” or “Update postponed by application” alone does not confirm that a company read completed.

Continue with the portal quickstart for the verification step and API references.

If setup gets stuck

Web Connector is waiting for permission

Switch to QuickBooks Desktop and look for the application permission or confirmation window. Complete it before returning to Web Connector.

“Enter a password” or “Password was not saved”

Paste the password from this connection’s setup page, press Tab, and choose Yes to save it. Then select the application and choose Update Selected again.

QBWC1039 or “Unique OwnerID/FileID pair value required”

Check whether this connection is already listed in Web Connector. If it is, continue with that entry instead of importing the same file again. If no matching entry exists, contact support with the exact error. Do not remove other working connections.

A .NET error appears during import

This is not a normal authorization prompt. Record the error and contact support if the import does not finish. If the application is already listed, keep Auto-Run off until permissions are approved and the password is saved.

The portal stays disconnected or a live read times out

Check that the intended company file and Web Connector are open, the password is saved, Every-Min is 1, and Auto-Run is enabled. Select the application and choose Update Selected; check its Status and Last result. Resolve any QuickBooks prompt, then retry the read.

Still stuck? Contact Boost Plugins support, or use your app provider’s support link. Include the connection name, the exact error, and when it occurred. Keep passwords and API keys out of screenshots and messages.