QuickBooks desktop is a popular accounting solution among US accountants and CPA firms. Why? Specifically because of the “multi-user hosting capability,” which is only available in the desktop version of QB, However sometimes while accessing this feature for example while viewing or editing a file users encounter the “QuickBooks error 6175”.

When attempting to access your QB company files, “error 6175“ will frequently appear on your screen if multi-user hosting is not properly configured. In today’s article, we’ll go over what to do if you can’t access your data because of error 6175, as well as how to properly configure QB multi-user access.

6175 QuickBooks errors can prevent users from accessing network drives because the database server manager on the host machine is not responding or the Windows firewall is preventing QuickBooks from connecting to the network.

Here is a checklist of steps that must be performed in order to setup multi-user access, if followed correctly, Error 6175 in QuickBooks can be avoided.

1. First, Install QuickBooks Desktop on all the workstations that need access to company files.
2. After that, enable QuickBooks Multi-user Hosting only on the PC that hosts your company files.
3. Then, Install the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on the host computer.(This is the computer where your data files will be stored and hosted).
4. Next, enable network discovery on all the workstations to create a hosting network.
5. Now you can assign or create the users allowed to access to your QB files.

Try accessing your company file from a workstation after you’ve completed all of the preceding steps correctly. If the error persists, keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot multi-user network issues and avoid the 6175 error in the future.

How to quickly fix Error 6175 in QuickBooks Desktop?

Before making any modifications to your present QuickBooks hosting setup, if you are the IT administrator and are aware of the rights provided to each workstation, go straight to the server that hosts your company data.

Check that the workstations where the error 6175 is occurring are listed among the Allowed users with full access to company data.

Next, make sure the server/Host computer has both the QuickBooks Desktop version and the QB Database server manager (required to run QuickBooks in multi-user mode) Installed. If you haven’t already, download it now to go to the next step.
If the database server manager is already installed, launch it, scan for the files you want to enable access to, and see if the issue persists when you open QB from a workstation.

Continue reading to find out more about the multi-user configuration. What causes QuickBooks error 6175? Also, look at the in-depth troubleshooting methods, which describe how to deal with specific issues based on your setup.

Understanding multi-user setup to avoid Error 6175 0 in QB

Their are two common ways to share and transfer data over a network in an organization.

1. The most commonly used method is turning a local computer into a host machine and use it to store QB files and share them with other users on the network.
2. The second option requires the installation of a Windows server and offers advanced sharing features, Managing users, enable or disable access to files and folders, enhanced security etc.

Depending on your current QuickBooks multi-user hosting setup, use the troubleshooting guide below to ensure that everything is configured correctly, and if not, use the instructions in the steps below to quickly resolve the problem.

10 Steps to troubleshoot QuickBooks error 6175,0

Step 1: Turn Network Discovery On

While sharing QuickBooks Company files over the network is simple and takes little effort, getting it to operate effectively is the most difficult part. The inability to see the shared folder or grant appropriate permissions to users are the most common issues. Nevertheless, this tutorial can assist you with this.

The first step is to make sure that Windows 10/11 is updated to the latest release.

Check for windows updates

• Make sure that the computers on which QuickBooks is installed, as well as the Host computer, are all on the same network.
• If you’re going to use a Wi-Fi network, make it private.
• Disable password-protected sharing and enable network discovery and file and printer sharing.
• On the right side, click the Start button, then Settings > Network & Internet, and then Sharing settings.
• Under Private, select Turn on Network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
• Under All Networks, select Turn off password restricted sharing.
• Set your PC to automatically start sharing services when it boots up.
• Hold down the Windows logo key and the R key at the same time.
• Start the following services, one by one, if they are disabled or switched off.
• FDPHost Service
• Identification SSDP
• Device Host for UpnP
• Right-click each of the services listed below, select Properties, then Start if they aren’t currently operating, and set Startup type to Automattic.

Now that Network Discovery has been properly configured, all QuickBooks machines should be able to communicate and share data with one another without any further issues.

But first, let’s select the files you want to share and assign the necessary permissions.

Step 2: Set Permissions and share files with other users

When you specify permissions to a folder, you tell users what they can and cannot do within it, such as save and delete files or create new folders, as well as view and edit.

When folder permissions to share a company file in multi-user hosting mode are not applied correctly, QuickBooks will generate error 6175.

There are six standard permission types for files and folders in Windows:

1. Full Control
2. Modify
3. Read & Execute
4. List Folder Contents
5. Read
6. Write

The steps below will assist you modify the appropriate permissions and share your files with other groups or specific network users.

• Locate the folder you want to share in File Explorer, then right-click on it and select Properties.
• Select the Sharing option.
• Select Advanced Sharing.
• Check the box next to Share this folder.
• Your folder is now shared, and users in the Everyone group will have read-only access to the company file.
• Click on Permissions tab to assign any additional control.
• To modify select a group or a specific user.The first group you’ll notice is Everyone, which has the most basic share permissions.
• Click Apply, then OK.

Step 3: Advanced sharing options for QuickBooks users

• Open the Properties window.
• Go to the Security tab.
• Click Advanced near the bottom right of the Properties dialog box (Optional) If you don’t want the new folder to have the same permissions as the “parent” (original) folder and want to give it its own set of permissions, click the Change Permission button near the bottom. A similar window will appear.
• Uncheck the box that says Include inheritable permissions from this object’s parent.
• If you want someone removed from permission entirely, click Remove.
• Select the Change Permissions option.
• Choose the appropriate user. OR
• Click Add and enter the user or group name who will have access to the folder.
• Select Edit…
• Set the appropriate permissions using the check boxes in the Permissions section
• NOTE: If you are not the owner of the folder or have not been consented by the owner, all check boxes will be gray. As a result, you won’t be able to modify anything unless the Aministrator gives you permission.
• Select the level to which you want to apply these permissions from the Apply to: pull-down menu.
• Select OK.
• Click OK in the Advanced Security Settings dialog box.
• From the duplicate Advanced Security Settings, hit OK.
• Also click OK in the Properties dialog box.
• New folder permissions have been added for QuickBooks user.

Step 4: Resume QuickBooks Database server manager

When you have multiple versions of QuickBooks installed on your server, the database server manager is essential. Often, due to network issues, the QBDSM application may not be responding, resulting in error 6175 in QuickBooks on a user’s workstation.

Restarting the service may sometimes fix the error.

• Navigate to the Windows Start menu.
• Type Control Panel on the search bar and open.
• Open Administrative Tools by selecting it.
• Choose Services from the drop-down menu.
• Restart the QuickBooksDBXX service by right-clicking it. Please keep in mind that XX represents the year of your Database Server Manager. QuickBooksDB30, for example, is the 2020 version.

Step 5: Scan the files you want to share

Once the QuickBooks database server manager has been installed, The next step is to scan the company files before you can share them with other users.

Here is how:

• Open the Windows Start menu on the computer that hosts your company’s files.

• Type “Database” into the search box and open QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
• Next Click on the Scan Folders tab.
• Important: If you’re using Database Server Manager 2019, this process shares all of your folders. You may want to set your folder permissions so you only give access to specific users.
• Choose Browse. Then select the folders containing your company’s files with the extension (QBW).
• Select Ok, after you have selected the files.
• Next start the scanning process.

The folders will appear in the “QuickBooks company files found” section as soon as the scan is finished. Other workstations on your network can now access the company files in these folders.

Step 6: Give admin access to QuickBooks to Fix Error 6175

On a multi-user network, you may need admin credentials to launch QuickBooks.
When you install the Database Server Manager, a new Windows user is created, On your network, you must give this user administrative capabilities.
To grant admin privileges to a user or program, follow these instructions.

• Shut down QuickBooks Desktop
• Navigate to the Windows Start menu.
• Select User Accounts from the Control Panel.
• Locate the QBDataServiceUserXX for your QuickBooks Desktop version. Look for QBDataServiceUser30 in QuickBooks Desktop 2020.
• Click Change Account Type, select Administrator. Then click on Change Account Type.
• Hit Apply to apply your changes.
• Repeat these steps for each QuickBooks Database Server Manager version that you use.
  QuickBooks Database Server Manager can now run on your network.
• Launch File Explorer from the Windows Start menu.
• Open the folder containing your company files and right-click it.
• Go to Properties, then Sharing, and finally Share Add.
• For your version, select the corresponding QBDataServiceUserXX.
• Set both users’ permission levels to Full Control and select Share.

Step 7: To avoid QuickBooks Error 6175, ensure that users have administrative privileges.

Follow the steps from Microsoft to create Windows users and give them admin rights:

Solution 1: Create a new user in Windows

• Open the Windows start menu
• Go to settings
• Now open Acounts and select Family and others.
• Next to add another user, select Add account.
• Select the option that says Add a user without a Microsoft Account.
• Enter the user name of your choice, choose a password.
• After that select a choose a security question and Click next.

Solution 2: Give the new user Administrative control

• Go to start>settings>Accounts.
• under Family and other users choose the acccount you want to modify.
• then select change account type.
• Now under account type, choose Administrator and Hit OK.

Return to the workstation where the initial QuickBooks error occurred and log in with the new Admin user’s credentials. Open QuickBooks on your desktop. Then, access your company file from the network drive. If you can access your files from the host computer without an issue, then allowing the user administrative privileges has resolved QuickBooks Error 6175.

Solution 3: Add new user in Small Business Server 2011 and 2008 R2

• Open the Windows Start menu.
• Select All Programs. Open Windows Small Business Server and then select Windows SBS Console.
• Select Users and Groups. Then select the Add a new user account tab.
• Fill out the user info, then follow the Add a New User Account wizard.
• Give the new user administrator rights.
• When you’re done, select Finish.

For further information on user role manage on windows server please read how to manage user accounts on a windows server.

Step 8: Allow QuickBooks through Firewall on Windows 11/10

Error 6175 in QuickBooks mostly occurs when a security firewall is blocking the application to run on a network.

Use the following steps below to allow QB through Windows Firewall.

• Open the Windows Security software.
• Click on Firewall and network protection tab.
• Select “Allow and app through firewall” Option.
• Click on change settings.
• Now check the QuickBooks app to allow through the windows 11 firewall.

Quick Tip: If QuickBooks isn’t on the list then simply click on Allow another app option and select the app from your computer you want to allow.

• Next, choose the network to which QuickBooks Desktop users can connect.
• That’s it; click the OK button to finish configuring firewall exceptions for QB.

Step 9: Analyze your QuickBooks Hosting Setup

QuickBooks can be installed on multiple computers, and any of these workstations can be configured to serve as a host or server.
However, only one of these workstations can be in hosting mode. (This computer stores and hosts your company’s files.)
In this step, we will ensure that hosting is disabled on all machines except the one that hosts your files.

Here’s how to double-check your settings so you can host your company file on your network without encountering the error 6175.

• Check each workstation (the computers on the network that do not host your company’s files) to ensure that the Host Multi-User Access option is turned off.
• Open QuickBooks on any workstations where you see H202, 6189, or 6123.
• Click on the File menu and hover over Utilities.
• If the Host Multi-User Access option appears, do not select it. Continue to the next workstation. This one isn’t the source of the problem.
• Select Stop Hosting Multi-User Access if it is an option.
• image
• Repeat the steps on workstations where you see Error -6175,0.

Step 10: Run file doctor to fix company file error 6175

• Get QuickBooks Tools Hub.
• Choose Company file issues.
• From the menu, select and run QuickBooks File Doctor. The file doctor may take some time to activate in rare cases. If it takes more than 5 minutes, open it manually.
• Next, in QB File Doctor, choose the file displaying Error 6175 from the drop down menu. If the file is not found in the list, go to its location to open it and wait for the scanning process to finish.
• Next, select the Check Your File option.
• Enter the admin password for the company file and click the next button.

How long it takes to scan will depend on how big your files are. Most of the time, it can take up to 5 minutes. Launch QuickBooks and your company file after the scan is complete. At times, even if the scan fixes the problem, it may still say that it failed. however, if you can access company files from work stations without getting the 6175 error, your problem is fixed.

To Sum up:

We really hope that one of the solutions in this article helped you fix QuickBooks Error 6175, 0 and that you can now get to your company files and keep working. To conclude multi-user hosting feature gives a lot of freedom and makes it easier for large businesses to handle accounting data. However, it can be very frustrating when you can’t access the data during business hours, Specially if you are not technically savvy and don’t know how the multi-user network is set up.

If you require any additional assistance or have questions about an error, please contact our experts at +1 805 669 7851.