Recovering Password Protected Files in Quicken

Help! I Forgot My Quicken File Password!

When you password protect a Quicken data file, choose the password wisely and write it down somewhere.

Common Fixes for Password Errors

1. If the password contains numbers, be sure the keyboard Num Lock is turned on.

2. Be sure the Caps Lock key is not on, and then retype the password, being careful to use the correct capitalization. Quicken passwords are case-sensitive.

3. Try all passwords you may have used for Quicken files or for other password-protected functions

Restore a Backup

If the common password fixes did not work, consider restoring a Quicken backup if you made a backup copy of the file before adding the password. You will need to manually re-enter any data that you added to the password protected file since the backup.

To safely restore the backup without overwriting your existing (password-protected) file:

1. Move the password protected Quicken file to a different or new directory (folder) on your hard disk. This leaves the password protected file untouched in case you recall the password later or need to send it to Intuit for password removal.

2. Restore the backup (Quicken File menu >> Restore) and manually reenter any data needed to update the file. You may choose a new Quicken file password that is easier to remember.

Restore a Quicken Automatic Backup File

If you do not have your own backup file, try restoring an automatic backup which Quicken makes every seven days. If you put a password on your data file recently, the password may not be on this backup copy of your data. Quicken places automatic backups in the BACKUP folder, which you´ll find in the same folder as your data file.

1. If you haven't already, move the password-protected Quicken file to a different or new directory (folder) on your hard disk in case you recall the password later or need to send it to Intuit for password removal.

2. Choose the most recent backup file from the BACKUP folder that you think doesn't have the password protection: (Quicken File menu >> Open >> Data folder >> BACKUP folder) If you've used Quicken for awhile, you will most likely see a number of Quicken automatic backup files.

3. If the file opens, copy it (Quicken File menu >> File Operations >> Copy) to the folder where you usually keep your data. Manually reenter any data needed to update the file.

Consider Creating a New File

If your file doesn't contain a lot of information, you may want to consider creating a new file and reentering the data. In some cases, reentering the data may be quicker and easier.

1. If necessary, Click Cancel in the Quicken Password window.

2. From the Quicken File menu, choose New.

3. Enter a filename, and then click OK.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the New User Setup.

Have Intuit Remove the Password

If the file contains critical information or must be immediately accessed, consider having Intuit remove the password from your file. You will need to send a copy of your data file to Intuit Data Services for password removal, which is a strictly confidential procedure. Password removal done by Intuit Data Services costs $9.95 per file.