Get the best experience in QuickBooks. Here’s helpful info about the operating system, hardware, software, and other requirements to run QuickBooks Desktop.
QuickBooks Pro/Premier 2020 and Enterprise 20.0
Operating Systems
Windows 10, all editions including 64-bit, natively installed
Windows 8.1 (Update 1), all editions including 64-bit, natively installed
Windows 7 SP1, all editions including 64-bit, natively installed (only supported until January 2020)
Windows Server 2019, and Essentials
Windows Server 2016, and Essentials
Windows Server 2012 R2, and Essentials
Windows Server 2012, and Essentials
Windows Small Business Server 2011, Standard and Essentials
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
Note: QuickBooks requires you to use Windows natively and not through an emulator or virtual environment.
Database ServersWindows (natively installed)
Windows Server 2019, and Essentials
Windows Server 2016, and Essentials
Windows Server 2012 R2, and Essentials
Windows Server 2012, and Essentials
Windows Server 2011
Windows Small Business Server 2011, Standard and Essentials
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
Windows 10
Windows 8.1 (update 1)
Windows 7 SP1 (Enterprise and Professional editions only)Linux (when using QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions Database Server-only installation)
OpenSuse 42.3
Fedora 29
Red Hat Enterprise 7 (RHEL 7.4)
Browser Requirements
Internet Explorer 11 (32-bit)
Hardware and Operating system requirements (client and server)
Processor2.4 GHz minimumRAM4GB minimum, 8GB Recommended
Server RAM Requirements
1-5 Users: 8 GB RAM
10 Users: 12 GB RAM
15 Users: 16 GB RAM
20+ Users: 20+ GB RAMDisk space
2.5GB of disk space (additional required for data files)
Additional software: 60MB for Microsoft .NET 4.6 Runtime, provided on the QuickBooks CD
Additional requirements for Intuit Data Protect in QuickBooks Connected Services offerings (applies to the US only).
Require minimum 4.0GB RAM.
Twice the size of the largest file set to back up + 100MB or twice the size to restore. The space is only required from the work folder LocalApplicationData+”Intuit\Intuit Data Protect”.
Note: For the best performance, store your QuickBooks data file on a solid-state drive.Windows
US version of Windows.
Regional settings are supported when set to English.
Administrator rights required for the server computer when hosting Multi-User access.
Natively installed – means it was installed on a particular system or environment that it was designed for. This also means it doesn’t need to run in a virtual environment or emulation software.Optical Drive4X DVD-ROM drive required for CD installations (unless QuickBooks is downloaded from Intuit server).Screen Resolution
Display optimized for 1280 x 1024 screen resolution or higher with up to 2 extended monitors.
Best optimized for Default DPI setting for a given computer.
Note: Internet access is required.
Software compatibility
You can integrate QuickBooks 2020 with hundreds of other apps. Below is a list of the most common apps that our clients use. To learn more about implementing add-on solutions to QuickBooks, contact us at (855) 227-0700
Note: Additional RAM can enhance the use of these features.
Microsoft Office:
Office 2016 (including Outlook 2016) both on 32 and 64-bit.
Office 2010 SP2, Office 2013 and 365 (including Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013) both on 32 and 64 bit. Note: Office 365 is only supported when it is locally installed, not the web version.
Email Estimates, Invoices and other forms with Microsoft Outlook 2010-2016, Microsoft Outlook with Office 365, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and Outlook.com, other SMTP-supporting e-mail clients.
Preparing letters requires Microsoft Word 2016, 2013, or 2010 or Office 365 (includes 64-bit).
Exporting reports requires Microsoft Excel 2016, 2013, or 2010 SP2 or Office 365 (includes 64-bit).
Contact Synchronization with Microsoft Outlook requires Outlook 2010 (32-bit).
Synchronization with Outlook requires QuickBooks Contact Sync for Outlook (the download is available at no charge). Note: Contact Sync does not work with the Microsoft Business Contact Manager Outlook plug-in. Syncing could cause duplicate records.
QuickBooks Point of Sale V18.0 and V12.0
TurboTax 2019, 2018 (Personal and Business)
Quicken 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
QuickBooks for Mac 2020, 2019, 2016
Adobe Acrobat Reader: Business Planner, Payroll and viewing forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or later.
Payroll and other online features and services require Internet access with at least a 56 Kbps connection speed (1 Mbps recommended). DSL or cable modem is recommended.
Gmail, Yahoo Email, Windows Mail, Hotmail and AOL (i.e Mozilla Thunderbird Email Client*). Note: *Supports plain text version in Mozilla.
Internet Explorer 11
Firewall and antivirus software compatibility
We tested QuickBooks Pro 2020, Premier 2020, and Enterprise 20.0 with the following firewall and antivirus programs.
Note: In some cases, you may need to adjust some settings in these programs to get the best possible QuickBooks performance.
Windows Server Firewall (all editions)
Windows 8.1 Firewall (all editions)
Windows 7 Firewall (all editions)
Microsoft Security Essentials
Avast
AVG
Symantec
ESET
Avira
Kaspersky
McAfee
Bitdefender
Malwarebytes
Note: QuickBooks will work with systems running RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) but this is not recommended because it may cause QuickBooks to operate slowly.
QuickBooks Desktop 2020 requires internet security protocol TLS 1.2 for the connected services to work smoothly.
QuickBooks for Mac 2020
Minimum system requirements
At least macOS 10.14 (Mohave); supported by macOS 10.14 (Mojave).
Intel processor, Core 2 Duo or higher.
Multiuser Server: Intel Core 2 Duo or higher processor to run a server.
2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM recommended).
250 MB of available disk space.
CD/DVD drive or Internet connection for downloaded installation.
Printer: 100% Macintosh-compatible printer, if you plan to print invoices, checks, deposit slips, lists, purchase orders, mailing labels, reports, or graphs.
Checks: Use Intuit Checks if you plan to print checks. Canadian Image Ready Checks are not supported.
Product registration required.
Software compatibility
Exporting report data: This requires Apple Numbers v3.5, Microsoft Excel 2016 or later, including Mac Office 365.
Emailing: This requires Apple Mail, Microsoft Outlook 2016 or later, including Mac Office 365.
Payment: This requires Intuit Merchant Service if you accept credit and debit cards. Merchant Service for QuickBooks for Mac is sold separately and subject for application approval. Debit card transactions are processed as Signature Debit, which does not require entering a PIN code.
Payroll: Here are the Payroll services that will work with your QuickBooks for Mac:
Intuit QuickBooks Payroll for Mac
Intuit Full Service Payroll
Note: Payroll for Mac requires your EIN and an internet connection to work. Printing checks and forms also require Adobe Reader. Additional fees may apply.
Mac apps: You can sync QuickBooks Desktop for Mac with Apple’s Calendar, Messages, and Contacts.
File conversion: QuickBooks for Mac 2020 supports:
One-way conversion from QuickBooks Desktop for Windows 2016 to 2019
Two-way conversion from and to QuickBooks Desktop 2020.Important:
If the product requirements above don’t specifically state an operating system, hardware, software, firewall or antivirus is supported, it hasn’t been tested. Intuit can’t promise your experience will be trouble-free.
If you experience problems outside of the supported environment, technical support will be limited to standard troubleshooting. If unresolved, the program should be returned to a supported environment for additional support.
If Microsoft no longer supports the aforementioned products, then neither will Intuit.
Learn more about the how QuickBooks 2020 can help your team succeed and business grow. Give us a call at (855) 227-0700 and get all of your questions answered today!
