How to Move Quicken to a New Computer

The fastest way to transfer Quicken is to back up your data file on the old computer, then restore it on the new one

Quicken stores all your financial information in a single data file. When you move to a new computer, you are moving that file. The process takes about 15 minutes if you have your Quicken password and the new computer is already set up. You do not need to reinstall Quicken on the old machine or do anything complicated — you back up, transfer the file, and restore it on the new machine.

The method depends on which version of Quicken you own. Quicken for Windows and Quicken for Mac handle backups slightly differently, but both use the same principle: export your data, move it to the new computer, and import it there. If you are moving between Windows and Mac, the process is a bit longer because Quicken files are not directly compatible across operating systems, but it is still straightforward.

Key Takeaways

Back up your Quicken data file on your old computer before you do anything else, using the File menu's Backup option.
Transfer the backup file to your new computer using a USB drive, cloud storage, or email — whichever is easiest for you.
Open Quicken on the new computer and restore the backup file using File > Restore, then enter your Quicken password when prompted.
If you are switching from Windows to Mac or vice versa, export your data as a QFX or OFX file instead, then import it into Quicken on the new system.
Your online account connections (bank logins, investment accounts) will need to be re-entered on the new computer for security reasons.

Back up your data file on the old computer

Open Quicken on your old computer and go to File at the top left. Click Backup and Restore, then select Backup. Quicken will ask you where you want to save the backup file — choose a location you can easily find, like your Desktop or Documents folder. The backup file will have a name like "Quicken Backup 2024" and will be quite small, usually under 10 megabytes.

Quicken may ask you to enter your Quicken password during this step. This is the password you use to open Quicken itself, not your bank password. If you have not set a password, Quicken will let you create one now. Write down this password or store it somewhere safe — you will need it to restore the file on the new computer.

Do not close Quicken yet. Wait until the backup is complete and Quicken confirms it has finished. You should see a message saying the backup was successful.

Move the backup file to your new computer

Once the backup is done, you need to get that file to your new computer. You have several options depending on what you have available. The easiest is usually a USB drive: plug a USB drive into your old computer, copy the backup file to it, then plug it into the new computer and copy the file to the Desktop or Documents folder.

If you do not have a USB drive, you can email the backup file to yourself, upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive, or use a file-sharing service. The file is small enough that email will work fine. Just make sure you know where the file ends up on the new computer before you proceed.

Restore the backup on your new computer

On your new computer, open Quicken. If this is the first time you are opening Quicken on this machine, it may ask you to set up a new file or sign in. You can skip this — go straight to File at the top, then Backup and Restore, then Restore. Quicken will ask you to locate the backup file you just moved over. Navigate to wherever you saved it and select it.

Quicken will then ask for your Quicken password — the one you used (or created) during the backup step. Enter it and click Restore. Quicken will import all your accounts, transactions, and settings from the old computer. This usually takes a minute or two. When it is done, you should see all your financial data exactly as it was on the old computer.

Re-enter your online account connections

Your bank logins, investment account connections, and other online links will not transfer with the backup. This is intentional — Quicken does not store passwords for security reasons. You will need to reconnect each account on the new computer.

Open each account in Quicken and look for an option like Connect Account or Update Account. Quicken will prompt you to log in to your bank or investment website. Once you do, the connection is re-established and Quicken can read your latest transactions. This takes a few minutes per account, but you only have to do it once.

Transferring between Windows and Mac

Quicken for Windows and Quicken for Mac use different file formats, so you cannot straightforward restore a Windows backup on a Mac or vice versa. Instead, you need to export your data as a universal file format that both versions can read.

On the old computer (Windows or Mac), open Quicken and go to File > Export. Choose Export to QFX or Export to OFX — both formats work on either operating system. Save the file to your Desktop or a USB drive. Then move that file to the new computer, open Quicken, go to File > Import, and select the exported file. Quicken will import all your accounts and transactions. You will still need to reconnect your online accounts afterward.

What to do if something goes wrong

If the restore does not work, the most common reason is that the backup file got corrupted during transfer or the password was entered incorrectly. Try the restore again and make sure you are typing your Quicken password exactly as you set it — passwords are case-sensitive.

If you cannot find your backup file or it seems to be missing, check your old computer one more time. Go back to File > Backup and Restore > Backup and create a new backup. Then transfer that new file to the new computer. If you still have trouble, Quicken's support website has troubleshooting steps for your specific version, and you can contact their support team directly — they can walk you through the process over the phone or email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall Quicken from my old computer?

No. You can leave Quicken installed on the old computer or uninstall it — it does not affect the transfer. Once your new computer is working, you can uninstall Quicken from the old one if you want to free up space, or keep it there as a backup. Just remember that if you update accounts on the new computer, those changes will not sync to the old one.

Will my online banking connections transfer with the backup?

No. Quicken does not store your bank passwords in the backup file for security. You will need to log in to each account again on the new computer. This usually takes a few minutes per account.

Can I transfer Quicken if I forgot my Quicken password?

If you set a password when you created the backup, you will need that password to restore it. If you cannot remember it, you can create a new backup without a password (or with a new password you choose), then restore that instead. Go to File > Backup and Restore > Backup on your old computer and follow the prompts.

What if my new computer does not have Quicken installed yet?

You need to install Quicken on the new computer first. read it from Intuit's website or use your installation disc if you have one. Once it is installed, you can restore your backup file. You do not need to set up any accounts or data — the restore will replace everything with your old computer's information.

Can I keep Quicken running on both computers at the same time?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. If you update an account on one computer, those changes will not appear on the other. You can end up with duplicate transactions or missing data. Pick one computer as your main Quicken machine and use that one going forward.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.