QuickBooks Desktop users need regular product and payroll updates to keep their software current, apply available fixes, and use the latest payroll tax calculations. However, QuickBooks Desktop updates can become difficult when QuickBooks shows errors such as QuickBooks Error 12002, Error 15215, Error 15106, or other update-related messages.

Updating QuickBooks Desktop helps users access the latest maintenance improvements and fixes, while QuickBooks payroll tax table updates keep payroll calculations aligned with the latest available tax data. Because Windows and Mac follow different update procedures, users must use the appropriate method and confirm that the update completed successfully.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to update QuickBooks Desktop and the payroll tax table on Windows and Mac, enable automatic updates, verify the installed versions, and fix common QuickBooks Desktop update problems.

What Is a QuickBooks Desktop Update?

A QuickBooks Desktop update installs available fixes, maintenance improvements, security updates, and product improvements for your supported QuickBooks Desktop product. These updates can address known software issues, improve performance and stability, and provide new features or security improvements.

An update doesn’t automatically mean that your payroll tax table is current. If you use QuickBooks Payroll, you need to download the latest payroll tax table separately to keep payroll calculations aligned with the latest available tax data. On Windows, you can check for product updates through Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop, while the update process differs on Mac.

What Is a QuickBooks Payroll Tax Table Update?

A QuickBooks payroll tax table update updates the tax information that QuickBooks uses to calculate employee pay and payroll taxes. It can include changes to tax rates, income limits, and other payroll rules. Keeping the tax table current helps QuickBooks use the latest available tax information when you run payroll.

Unlike a QuickBooks Desktop update, the payroll tax table updates the tax information used for payroll calculations. In supported QuickBooks Desktop versions, you can check for a payroll update from Employees > Get Payroll Updates. You need an active QuickBooks Payroll subscription to download the latest tax table.

What Are the Signs You Need to Update QuickBooks Desktop?

You need to update QuickBooks Desktop when it shows an update alert, causes bank feed or payroll issues, crashes frequently, or displays compatibility and security warnings. Listed below are the signs that you need a QuickBooks Desktop Update.

Update notification
Bank feed connection errors
Outdated payroll tax information
Frequent QuickBooks crashes
QuickBooks freezing or becoming unresponsive
Problems opening company files
Errors when connecting to online services
Security or compatibility warnings

What Should You Do Before Updating QuickBooks Desktop?

Before you update QuickBooks Desktop, back up your company file, check your QuickBooks version, confirm your internet connection, and verify your payroll subscription if you also need a payroll tax table update.

Parameters	Details
Back Up Your Company File	Create a recent local or cloud backup of your company file, preferably a .QBB backup file, before starting the update.
Sign Out Other Users	If you use QuickBooks in multi-user mode, make sure all other users sign out of the company file before you begin.
Use Administrator Access	Sign in to Windows with an account that has Windows Administrator privileges so QuickBooks can install the update properly.
Check System Requirements	Compare your computer’s operating system and hardware with the official QuickBooks Desktop system requirements for your version.
Close QuickBooks and Related Programs	Exit QuickBooks and close other programs or background tasks that could interfere with the update.
Check Your Internet Connection	Use a reliable internet connection because QuickBooks needs it to download the update files.
Keep License Details Available	Keep your QuickBooks product and license information accessible in case QuickBooks asks you to activate the software again after the update.
Check Your Payroll Subscription	If you also plan to update the payroll tax table, make sure your QuickBooks Payroll subscription is active.
Check Security Settings	Confirm that your firewall or security software allows QuickBooks to connect to its update service.

How to Update QuickBooks Desktop on Windows?

You can update QuickBooks Desktop on Windows through the Help menu, enable automatic updates, or download the latest maintenance release from Intuit. Before updating, check your current QuickBooks release so you can confirm that the latest update installed correctly. Here are the methods to update QuickBooks Desktop on Windows.

Method 1: Update QuickBooks Desktop from the Help Menu

The Help menu provides the main way to check for and install the latest QuickBooks Desktop release. Follow these steps to check your current QuickBooks version and release:

Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Press F2 or Ctrl+1 on your keyboard.
Check the Product Information window for your QuickBooks version and release.
Close the window when you finish checking the details.
Now, use the Update QuickBooks Desktop window to download the latest available release. Follow these steps to update QuickBooks Desktop manually:
Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop.
Select the Update Now tab.
Select Get Updates.
Wait for QuickBooks to download the available update.
Close QuickBooks Desktop after the download finishes.
Reopen QuickBooks Desktop.
Select Install Now when prompted.
Wait for the installation to finish.
If prompted, restart your computer.
Open QuickBooks Desktop and press F2 or Ctrl+1.
Check the release number to confirm that the update installed successfully.

If you need administrator permissions to complete the update, close QuickBooks, open the Windows Start menu, right-click QuickBooks Desktop, select Run as administrator, and then perform the update from the No Company Open window.

Method 2: Enable Automatic QuickBooks Desktop Updates

Automatic updates let QuickBooks check for available maintenance releases without requiring you to start the update manually each time. Follow these steps to turn on the QuickBooks Desktop update on Windows.
Open QuickBooks Desktop.

Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop.
Select the Options tab.
Select Yes under Automatic Updates.
Select Close to save the setting.

Method 3: Download the Latest QuickBooks Desktop Update from Intuit

You can download an update directly from Intuit when the in-product update does not work or when you need to install the same release on another computer. Follow these steps to download and install the QuickBooks Desktop update on Windows.

Close QuickBooks Desktop.
Open Intuit’s QuickBooks Desktop Downloads & Updates page.
Select your Country, Product, and Version (Year).
Select Search.
Select Get the latest updates.
Save the update file to your computer.
Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Wait for the installation to finish.
If prompted, restart your computer.
Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Press F2 or Ctrl+1.

How to Update QuickBooks Desktop on Mac?

You can update QuickBooks Desktop on Mac through the QuickBooks application or manually reinstall the latest available release from Intuit. The in-product method is simpler, while the manual method can help when QuickBooks cannot complete the update from within the application.

Method 1: Update QuickBooks Desktop from Within the Application

The in-product update checks for a newer release and installs it without requiring you to remove the existing QuickBooks application. Follow these steps to update QuickBooks Desktop on Mac from within the application:

Open QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
From the QuickBooks menu, select Check for QuickBooks Updates.
If an update is available, select Install Update.
When prompted, select Install and Relaunch.
Wait for QuickBooks to complete the update and reopen.

Method 2: Manually Reinstall the Latest QuickBooks Release

The manual method removes the existing QuickBooks application and installs the latest release from Intuit. Follow these steps to update QuickBooks Desktop on Mac:

Close QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
Open Finder and select Go > Applications.
Drag the QuickBooks icon to the Trash.
Open Intuit’s QuickBooks Downloads & Updates page.
Select the correct Country, Product, and Version (Year).
Select Search.
Download the latest available installer.
Open the downloaded .dmg file.
Drag the QuickBooks icon to the Applications folder.
Open QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
Press Command + 1 to open the Product Information window.
Check the release number to confirm that the latest release is installed.

Important: Back up your company file before performing a manual reinstall. Also, make sure you select the correct QuickBooks product and year when downloading the installer.

How to Update the QuickBooks Payroll Tax Table?

You can update the QuickBooks payroll tax table from Employees > Get Payroll Updates in QuickBooks Desktop. The update downloads the latest available payroll information that QuickBooks uses to calculate payroll taxes. An active QuickBooks Payroll subscription is required to download the latest payroll update.

Check Your Current Payroll Tax Table Version

Checking the current tax table version first helps you determine whether QuickBooks needs a newer payroll update. Follow these steps to check your current tax table version:

Open QuickBooks Desktop and your company file.
Select Employees from the top menu.
Select Get Payroll Updates.
Look for “You are using tax table version:” in the payroll update window.
Note the displayed tax table version.

Download the Latest QuickBooks Payroll Tax Table

You can download the available payroll update directly from the Get Payroll Updates window. Follow these steps to download the payroll tax table:

Open your QuickBooks Desktop company file.
Select Employees > Get Payroll Updates.
Select Download Entire Update.
Select Update.
Wait while QuickBooks downloads the payroll update.
When QuickBooks confirms that the download is complete, select OK.

Verify the Payroll Tax Table Update

Check the tax table version after the download to confirm that QuickBooks installed the payroll update successfully. Follow these steps to verify the payroll update:

Open your QuickBooks Desktop company file.
Select Employees > Get Payroll Updates.
Select Payroll Update Info.
Review the information displayed for the installed payroll update.
Confirm that the update matches the latest release available for your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll subscription.

How to Enable Automatic Updates in QuickBooks Desktop?

You can enable automatic updates in QuickBooks Desktop by going to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop > Options, selecting Yes for Automatic Updates, and saving the setting. Here are the detailed steps to enable automatic updates in QuickBooks Desktop.

Enable Automatic Updates on Windows

QuickBooks Desktop for Windows includes an automatic update setting that checks for available product releases without requiring you to start each update manually. Follow these steps to turn on automatic updates in Windows:

Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Select Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop.
Open the Options tab.
Select Yes for Automatic Updates.
Select Close.

Enable Automatic Updates on Mac

QuickBooks Desktop for Mac provides a separate option to download and install future updates automatically from the update window. Follow these steps to enable automatic updates on Mac:

Open QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
From the QuickBooks menu, select Check for QuickBooks Updates.
Select Automatically download and install updates in the future.
If an update is already available and you want to install it immediately:
Select Install Update.
When prompted, select Install and Relaunch.
Wait for QuickBooks to complete the update and reopen.

Common QuickBooks Desktop and Payroll Tax Table Update Issues & Their Solutions

You can resolve common QuickBooks Desktop and payroll tax table update problems by checking your payroll subscription, retrying the update, clearing stuck payroll data, or using QuickBooks Tool Hub to repair update-related issues.

Common Issues	Solution
QuickBooks Payroll Error PS038	Send the pending payroll data and then download the payroll update again.
QuickBooks 15XXX Update Errors	Run QuickBooks as an administrator and retry the update. If the error persists, use Quick Fix my Program in QuickBooks Tool Hub.
Payroll Tax Table Will Not Update	Go to Employees > Get Payroll Updates, select Download Entire Update, and then select Update.
QuickBooks Update Gets Stuck	Close QuickBooks and run Quick Fix my Program from QuickBooks Tool Hub > Program Problems before trying the update again.
Payroll Subscription Is Inactive	Check your payroll service status and renew or reactivate the subscription if required.

How to Avoid Facing QuickBooks Desktop Update Issues?

To prevent QuickBooks Desktop update issues, keep QuickBooks and Windows current, maintain a stable internet connection, protect your company file with regular backups, and ensure QuickBooks has the permissions and security access required to install updates.

Maintain a stable internet connection during update downloads and installations.
Allow legitimate QuickBooks processes and connections through your firewall and security software.
Keep TLS 1.2 enabled for secure communication with Intuit services.
Ensure your computer’s date, time, and time zone are accurate.
Create a company file backup before installing major updates.
Avoid closing QuickBooks, restarting the computer, or interrupting the process while an update is running.

Conclusion

To update QuickBooks Desktop and the payroll tax table, use Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop for product updates and Employees > Get Payroll Updates for payroll tax table updates. You can also enable automatic updates or manually download the latest QuickBooks Desktop release from Intuit. If a QuickBooks Desktop update on Mac or Windows fails, check your payroll subscription, resolve stuck payroll data, retry the download, or use QuickBooks Tool Hub to troubleshoot update problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I use QuickBooks Desktop without updating it?

Ans: Yes, you can continue using QuickBooks Desktop without every update, but outdated versions can lose access to supported services, security fixes, and certain connected features.

Q2. How often should I update QuickBooks Desktop?

Ans: You should install QuickBooks Desktop updates whenever Intuit releases a supported maintenance update for your version.

Q3. Does updating QuickBooks Desktop change my company data?

Ans: No, a standard QuickBooks Desktop update is designed to update the application while keeping your existing company data intact, but you should always create a backup before updating.

Q4. Will updating QuickBooks Desktop affect my existing payroll settings?

Ans: No, updating the application does not intentionally change your existing payroll setup, employee records, or company preferences.

Q5: Can an outdated QuickBooks Desktop version affect bank feeds?

Ans: Yes, an outdated QuickBooks Desktop version can cause problems with connected online services, including bank feeds, when required security or service components are no longer supported.

How to Update QuickBooks Desktop & Payroll Tax Table (Win/Mac)