How to Fix QuickBooks Error ‘Connection has been Lost’?

You may encounter the error “connection has been lost” while opening the QuickBooks company file. This error may occur due to different reasons, such as network issues, anti-virus or firewall settings, incorrect multi-user settings, corrupt company file, etc. This can prevent you from accessing the company file (QBW) in a multi-user environment. In this post, we will discuss the solutions to resolve this QuickBooks error.

What Causes the Error “Connection has been lost” in QuickBooks?

You can experience this error due to one of the following reasons:

• The QBW file is corrupted
• Network connection is unstable
• Incorrect Hosting Settings
• The folder where the company file is saved may require additional permissions
• The Firewall might be preventing access across the network
• Power saving mode is enabled.

Methods to Resolve the QuickBooks Error – Connection has been lost

The “connection has been lost” error can occur if there is problem with internet connectivity. So, first check the internet connectivity. For this, you can go to the Start option and then type Settings. In the Settings window, under the Network and Internet option, check the status of your Internet connection and fix the issue if any. Also, check and reconfigure your system’s firewall settings (if required). If this doesn’t work for you, then follow the below solutions:

Method 1 – Check the Portable Drive and Storage Space

The “connection has been lost” error can appear when accessing the company file from an external device, especially a portable drive. It can occur due to connection issues. So, make sure your portable drive is connected properly. You can disconnect and then reconnect the drive. 

You can also check your system’s drive for storage space. It should not be out of memory. It should have as much free space as your company file size. If your system does not have free storage space, then you can free up drive space to resolve the issue.

Method 2 – Disable Power Management Settings on the Server

Sometimes, power management settings on the server system can interrupt network connection, leading to the “connection has been lost” error. You can check and disable these settings. Steps to disable Power Management settings on your system are:

• On the server system where your company file is stored, press the Windows key.
• Type Power Options and then choose Power Options.
• In the Power & Sleep options, turn off the below modes:

• Sleep 
• Standby
• Hibernation modes

• Next, restart your system to apply the changes.

Method 3 – Check and Change Hosting Settings on Server and Workstations

The “connection has been lost” error can occur while accessing the company file, if the Hosting Settings on either host system or workstations are incorrect. The Host Multi-User Access option should be enabled only on the host system and disabled on all workstations. You can check the hosting settings on both host and workstations. Here’s how:

• • On the Server system, open QuickBooks.

• Click File and then click Utilities. 

• Check if the “Host Multi-user Access” option is enabled. If not, then enable it.

If the issue persists even after enabling this option, you can check the hosting settings on all workstations. To do this, open the QuickBooks on one of the workstations and go to File > Utilities. If ‘Stop Hosting Multi-user Access’ option appears, then click on it to disable hosting. Repeat these steps on all the workstations to change hosting settings (if required).

Method 4 – Recreate the .ND File

Network Descriptor/Network Data (.nd) file contains the host system information and other network-related information required to access QBW file in a network environment. If this .nd file gets corrupt or damaged, it can prevent you from accessing the company file. In such a case, you can recreate the file. For this, just rename the .ND file. Here are the steps:

• Go to Company file folder on your system. Usually, the file path of the company file is:

FilePath=D:\QuickBooks\CompanyFile.QBW

FilePath=\\Server\Share\CompanyFile.QBW

• Find the .ND extension file and right-click on it.
• Select the Rename option.

Method 5 – Repair the Company File

The error may also occur if the QuickBooks company file is damaged or corrupted. In this case, you can use the Intuit-recommended QuickBooks File Doctor tool to repair the company file. The steps to run the QuickBooks File Doctor tool are:

• • Download and install the latest version of QuickBooks Tool Hub.
  • Launch the tool and click Company File Issues. 
  • Click Run QuickBooks File Doctor.
  • In the QuickBooks File Doctor window, click Browse and choose the company file from the dropdown menu.

• Click the option named – Check your file and then click Continue. 

• Enter your QuickBooks credentials and then click Next. Wait a few minutes till the scan is complete.

The QuickBooks File Doctor tool can help you repair minor corruption-related issues in the company file. However, if the company file is severely corrupted, it may not yield effective results. In such a case, you need to use a professional QuickBooks repair tool, like Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. It can repair even severely corrupt or damaged QBW files with ease. It saves the recovered data from the damaged company file in a new, healthy company file without affecting data integrity. The tool supports all editions of QuickBooks, including Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. 

You can download the demo version of the Stellar Repair for QuickBooks to scan the QBW file and preview the recoverable data. This enables you to check the functionality of the tool. 

Conclusion

The “connection has been lost” error can occur while accessing the QuickBooks company file. It can occur due to multiple reasons. Above, we have mentioned some effective solutions to resolve this QuickBooks error. If the error has occurred due to corruption in QBW file, then using a reliable QuickBooks repair tool, like Stellar Repair for QuickBooks is the best option. This tool can repair the QBW file and restore all objects in a new file, thus helping to resolve the error.