Run QuickBooks and the Web Connector at the same permission level

Windows runs programs at one of two levels: normal, or “as administrator”. A program running as administrator cannot hand work to a program running normally, and the reverse is also blocked. QuickBooks and the Web Connector have to talk to each other, so they must run at the same level. Both normal is the simplest choice and works for most offices.

Signs of a mismatch

• The Web Connector reports that it could not start or reach QuickBooks, even though QuickBooks is open with the right company file.
• You see “Unable to cast COM object” in the Web Connector.
• Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” every time QuickBooks or the Web Connector starts.
• The connection works after you start both programs by hand, but fails after a restart.

Check how each program starts

Do this for QuickBooks and for the Web Connector.

1. Find the program’s shortcut. For QuickBooks, use the desktop icon or the Start menu entry you normally click. For the Web Connector, check the Startup folder (press Windows+R, type shell:startup, press Enter) or C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBWebConnector\QBWebConnector.exe.
2. Right-click the shortcut or program and choose Properties.
3. On the Compatibility tab, look at Run this program as an administrator.
4. On the Shortcut tab, click Advanced and look at Run as administrator.

If either box is checked for one program and not for the other, you have a mismatch.

Fix it: run both normally

1. Exit QuickBooks and the Web Connector.
2. For each shortcut and program you checked, clear Run this program as an administrator and Run as administrator, then click OK.
3. If you created a Task Scheduler task to start the Web Connector, open it in Task Scheduler, and on the General tab clear Run with highest privileges.
4. Sign out of Windows and sign back in.
5. Start QuickBooks and the Web Connector the way you normally do.

If someone set QuickBooks to run as administrator to fix a different problem, ask them first. In that case, set the Web Connector to run as administrator too, so both match. Windows then asks for permission when the Web Connector starts. See Windows asks to allow this app to make changes.

Note

The checkbox can be greyed out when your Windows account is not allowed to change it, or when an administrator set it for all users. Click Change settings for all users on the Compatibility tab, or ask your IT person.

Check that it worked

1. Restart the computer and sign in.
2. Windows does not ask for permission when QuickBooks or the Web Connector starts.
3. Do something in the app that needs QuickBooks. It succeeds.

When to contact the app’s support team

Contact them if both programs run at the same level and requests still fail. Send the exact message, the time, and a screenshot of the app’s row in the Web Connector.

Related pages

• Unable to cast COM object
• QuickBooks could not be started
• Start QuickBooks and the Web Connector at sign-in