QuickBooks Antivirus Exclusions: What to Add and Why It Matters
- jonnrichard
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
Is your QuickBooks running slow, failing to open files, or showing unexpected errors? One often overlooked cause is your antivirus software. While essential for system security, antivirus programs can mistakenly block QuickBooks processes, leading to performance issues or errors. That’s where QuickBooks antivirus exclusions come into play.
In this guide, you’ll learn which QuickBooks files and folders should be excluded from your antivirus scans and how doing this can help prevent issues like installation failures, data file errors, and connectivity problems such as when you can’t communicate with QuickBooks company files.
Why Antivirus Exclusions Are Important for QuickBooks
Most antivirus software automatically scans and blocks files or processes it considers suspicious—even when they're safe. QuickBooks relies on real-time access to company files, network ports, and background services, and antivirus interference can lead to:
Slow performance or freezing
Errors when opening the company file
Blocked multi-user access
Failed updates or installations
Corrupt company files
Excluding QuickBooks folders from antivirus scanning ensures the software runs without interruption and avoids conflicts that lead to critical errors.
Recommended QuickBooks Antivirus Exclusions
Here’s a list of essential QuickBooks files, folders, and processes you should add to your antivirus exclusion list:
Recommended to Read: How to Resolve QuickBooks Error 15311?
Main QuickBooks Program Folders:
C:\Program Files\Intuit\
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\
C:\ProgramData\Intuit\
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Intuit\
QuickBooks Database Server Manager:
QBDBMgr.exe
QBDBMgrN.exe
QuickBooks Company File Extensions:
.QBW – Company file
.ND – Network descriptor file
.TLG – Transaction log file
.DSN – Database source name file
Other Background Services:
QBCFMonitorService.exe
QBUpdate.exe
IntuitSyncManager.exe
How to Add Antivirus Exclusions
While the steps vary by software, the general method includes:
Open your antivirus dashboard
Go to Settings > Exclusions / Exceptions
Add the recommended folders and files
Save changes and restart your system
Here are quick links to instructions for popular antivirus programs:
Windows Defender
Norton/Symantec
McAfee
Bitdefender
Avast/AVG
Kaspersky
Additional Tips to Prevent QuickBooks Conflicts
Always add exclusions before installing QuickBooks
Regularly update antivirus definitions
Use QuickBooks Tool Hub to diagnose and fix installation or connection issues
Keep Windows and QuickBooks updated to avoid compatibility errors
Final Thoughts
Setting up QuickBooks antivirus exclusions is a small but powerful step to ensure your accounting software runs smoothly. Whether you're experiencing update failures, multi-user connection problems, or just sluggish performance, correctly configuring your antivirus settings can make a big difference.
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