ERROR H505

How to Fix QuickBooks Error H505 (Cannot Connect to Company File)

⏱ 15–25 minutes ● Medium difficulty Updated May 2026

What it means: QuickBooks is in multi-user mode but cannot reach the host computer that stores the company file. This is usually a network, DNS, or firewall issue — not a problem with QuickBooks itself.

Before you start: Close QuickBooks on all computers. Make a backup of your company file if you can open it. Write down any error codes you see — they help narrow down the cause.

Fix 1: Verify the Host Computer is On and Awake

Go to the host computer (the one with the company file).

Make sure it is powered on and not asleep.

Open QuickBooks and confirm you can open the company file in single-user mode.

If the host cannot open the file, fix that first before troubleshooting workstations.

Fix 2: Check Hosting is Turned On

On the host computer, open QuickBooks to the "No Company Open" screen.

Go to File → Utilities.

You should see "Stop Hosting Multi-User Access". If you see "Host Multi-User Access," click it.

Restart QuickBooks Database Server Manager if prompted.

Fix 3: Ping the Host from the Workstation

On the workstation showing H505, press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

Type ping [host-computer-name] and press Enter.

If you get "Request timed out," the workstation cannot see the host on the network.

Try pinging by IP address instead: ping 192.168.1.xxx (replace with the host's actual IP).

Fix 4: Use the IP Address Instead of the Computer Name

On the host, press Windows + R, type cmd, and run ipconfig.

Write down the IPv4 Address (usually 192.168.1.xxx).

On the workstation, open QuickBooks and browse to the company file.

In the file path, replace the computer name with the IP address: \\192.168.1.xxx\SharedFolder\Company.qbw

If this works, your DNS or computer name resolution is broken — a common cause of H505.

Fix 5: Check Windows Firewall on the Host

On the host computer, open Windows Defender Firewall.

Click Allow an app through firewall.

Make sure QuickBooks and QuickBooks Database Server Manager are allowed on both Private and Public networks.

If they are missing, add them manually from the QuickBooks program folder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fix H505 without being at the host computer?

Sometimes, but you need to know the host's IP address and have remote access to it. If the host is asleep or offline, someone needs to physically wake it up.

Why does H505 happen after a Windows update?

Windows updates often reset firewall rules, network profiles, or power settings. The host computer may go to sleep faster, or the firewall may block QuickBooks again.

Is H505 the same as H202?

Related but different. H202 means QuickBooks cannot switch to multi-user mode. H505 means it is already in multi-user mode but cannot reach the host. The fixes overlap, but H505 is more network-focused.