ERROR 3371

How to Fix QuickBooks Error 3371 (License Data Validation Failed)

⏱ 10–20 minutes ● Easy difficulty Updated May 2026

What it means: QuickBooks cannot initialize its license properties. This usually happens after a Windows update, hard drive clone, system restore, or when the EntitlementDataStore.ecml file gets corrupted.

Before you start: Close QuickBooks on all computers. Make a backup of your company file if you can open it. Have your QuickBooks license and product numbers ready — you may need to re-register.

Fix 1: Delete the EntitlementDataStore.ecml File

Close QuickBooks completely.

Press Windows + R, type %programdata%\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8, and press Enter.

If that folder does not exist, try v7 or v6 instead.

Find the file named EntitlementDataStore.ecml.

Right-click it and rename it to EntitlementDataStore.ecml.old.

Open QuickBooks again. You will need to re-register your license, but the error should be gone.

Fix 2: Run as Administrator

Right-click the QuickBooks desktop icon.

Choose Run as administrator.

If QuickBooks opens without error 3371, the issue is Windows permissions.

To make this permanent: right-click the icon → Properties → Compatibility → check "Run this program as an administrator."

Fix 3: Update QuickBooks to the Latest Release

Open QuickBooks and go to Help → Update QuickBooks Desktop.

Click Update Now.

Check all available updates and click Get Updates.

Restart QuickBooks when prompted.

Intuit often patches license validation issues in updates.

Fix 4: Reinstall QuickBooks Using Clean Install

If the above steps do not work, a clean install usually fixes it.

Download the QuickBooks Clean Install Tool from Intuit.

Run the tool to remove QuickBooks completely.

Restart your computer.

Reinstall QuickBooks from your original download or CD.

Enter your license and product numbers during setup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my data if I delete the .ecml file?

No. The .ecml file only stores license and registration info. Your company files (.QBW) are completely separate. You will just need to re-enter your license key.

Why did this happen after cloning my hard drive?

QuickBooks ties its license to hardware identifiers. When you clone to new hardware, those identifiers change and QuickBooks thinks the license is invalid. Deleting the .ecml file forces it to re-register.

Do I need to buy a new license?

Usually not. If you have a legitimate license, re-registering with your existing product and license number should work. If Intuit says the license is already in use, call their support to release it.