QuickBooks System Requirements: Pro, Premier, Enterprise, and Mac Versions

Before installing or upgrading QuickBooks Desktop, it is essential to confirm that your computer or server meets the official system requirements. Running QuickBooks on unsupported hardware or outdated operating systems can cause errors, slow performance, or even prevent the software from opening. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the official system requirements for QuickBooks Desktop (Enterprise, Pro, and Premier), as well as QuickBooks Mac Plus. You’ll also learn about supported operating systems, hardware specifications, browser requirements, and compatibility with other software. 

Latest QuickBooks Enterprise System Requirements Update 

• Windows 10 support will end on October 14, 2025. Intuit has confirmed that QuickBooks Desktop will also stop supporting Windows 10 after that date. Businesses should plan to move to Windows 11 before the deadline. If you don’t upgrade to Windows 11, you can still use QuickBooks Desktop. However, newer Windows versions offer better protection for your QuickBooks data. 

• As of September 30, 2024, Intuit no longer sells new subscriptions for Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus, or Enhanced Payroll in the U.S. (existing users can renew). Enterprise remains available. 

System Requirements for QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Pro, and Premier 

1. Operating System Requirements 

QuickBooks supports the following operating systems: 

• Windows 11 (64-bit), natively installed 

• Windows 10, all (64-bit editions), natively installed 

• Windows Server 2022, Standard and Essentials 

• Windows Server 2019, Standard and Essentials 

• Windows Server 2016, Standard and Essentials 

Important notes: 

• Linux, Windows 10 S Mode, and Windows IoT are not supported. 

• QuickBooks must run natively on Windows. Emulators, virtual environments, or compatibility layers are not supported. 

• If you’re still using Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2, be aware that Microsoft ended all support and security updates on October 10, 2023. As a result, QuickBooks Desktop 2024 and later versions are not compatible with Windows Server 2012. 

2. Database QuickBooks Server Requirements 

QuickBooks Desktop uses the QuickBooks Database Server Manager, which must be installed on a supported Windows Server operating system when hosting company files in multi-user mode. 

Supported database server environments (natively installed): 

• Windows Server 2022 – Standard and Essentials 

• Windows Server 2019 – Standard and Essentials 

• Windows Server 2016 – Standard and Essentials 

3. Browser Requirements 

QuickBooks requires a stable internet connection and a supported web browser. 

• Google Chrome (latest version) is the recommended browser for all online services, such as payroll, payments, and connected apps. 

Tip: Always keep Chrome updated to the latest version to ensure security and compatibility with QuickBooks services. 

4. Hardware and Operating System Requirements 

QuickBooks Desktop is designed to run on 64-bit Windows operating systems only. It will not install or run on 32-bit versions. (You can check if your PC is 64-bit by going to Settings > System > About.)  

Component	Minimum Requirements	Recommended for Best Performance
Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit), Windows Server 2016/2019/2022	Latest Windows 11 (64-bit), fully updated
Processor (CPU)	2.4 GHz	Multi-core 3.0 GHz or higher
RAM (Workstation)	8 GB	16 GB
RAM (Server – Multi-User)	1–5 users: 8 GB 10 users: 12 GB 15 users: 16 GB 20+ users: 20+ GB	Add extra headroom (20–32 GB) for larger company files or heavy multi-user activity
Disk Space	2.5 GB free (plus space for company files) Microsoft .NET 4.8 Runtime – 60 MB, provided with the installation files. Intuit Data Protect in QuickBooks Connected Services offerings: Requires a minimum of 4.0GB RAM Twice the size of the largest file set to back up + 100MB or twice the size to restore. The space is only required from the work folder LocalApplicationData+ “Intuit\Intuit Data Protect”.	SSD with ample free space for QuickBooks data files and backups
Optical Drive	4X DVD-ROM (only for CD installations)	Not required if installing via download
Display Resolution	1280 × 1024	Higher resolution with up to 2 extended monitors
Windows	North American version of Windows. Regional settings are supported when set to English. Administrator rights are required for the server computer when hosting multi-user access. Natively installed and doesn’t need to run in a virtual environment or emulation software.	–

5. Other Hardware Devices 

If you use the Warehouse Manager feature in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise (mobile app), Intuit supports specific devices for smooth performance.  

Supported Mobile Computers 

• Zebra TC20 / TC25 / TC51 (Android 6.0 and above) is recommended. 

• Zebra MC40 (Android 6.0 and above) 

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Also Supports 

• Honeywell Voyager 1602g Pocket Scanner 

• Socket Mobile CHS 7CI 

• Symbol CS3070 

Note: Using devices outside of the supported list may cause connectivity or compatibility issues with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Warehouse Manager. 

6. Software Compatibility 

QuickBooks Desktop integrates with a wide range of Microsoft products, email services, tax software, and productivity tools. Below is the official list of supported applications. 

Note: Additional RAM is recommended for better performance when using these integrations. 

Microsoft Office (32-bit & 64-bit) 

• Office 2021, 2019, 2016 

• Outlook 2016  

Supported features: 

• Microsoft Outlook 2016–2021: Emailing estimates, invoices, and forms 

• Microsoft Outlook with Microsoft 365: Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook.com, and other SMTP-supporting clients 

• Microsoft Word (2016, 2019, 2021) or Microsoft 365 (includes 64-bit): Preparing letters 

• Microsoft Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365 (includes 64-bit): Exporting reports 

• Microsoft Outlook 2021, 2019 (32 and 64-bit), or 2016: Contact synchronization 

Tax Software 

• TurboTax 2023 (Personal and Business)  

• Lacerte 2023 

• ProSeries 2023 

Other Financial & Productivity Software 

• Quicken (2016–2023) 

• QuickBooks Desktop for Mac (2021–2024 versions) 

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or later (required for Business Planner, Payroll, and form viewing) 

Internet Requirements 

• Payroll and other connected online features require an active internet connection. 

• Minimum speed: 56 Kbps (1 Mbps or higher recommended). 

7. Anti-Malware and Antivirus Software Compatibility 

QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise 24.0 have been tested with several leading antivirus and anti-malware solutions. While QuickBooks works with these programs, you may need to adjust certain security settings to ensure smooth performance.  

Tested Antivirus Software  

• McAfee 

• Avast 

• Bitdefender 

• Norton 

• Kaspersky 

• Trend Micro Security 

• Webroot 

• Cylance (Internet/Regression only) 

• ESET 

• Panda Dome 

• Sophos 

• Avira 

• Symantec 

• F-Secure 

• Microsoft Windows Defender 

Tested Anti-Malware Software 

• Bitdefender 

• AVG 

• Malwarebytes 

• Spybot 

• Emsisoft 

• McAfee 

• Avast 

• Webroot 

• ZoneAlarm 

• Kaspersky 

• F-Secure 

Important Notes 

• RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks): QuickBooks will run on RAID systems, but it’s not recommended. RAID setups can make your software run slowly. 

• Internet Security Protocol: QuickBooks Desktop requires TLS 1.2 enabled for payroll, payments, and other connected services to function properly. 

Suggested Read: QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Error PS038 – Causes and Solutions

Minimum System Requirements for QuickBooks Mac Plus 

To install and run QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus, make sure your system meets the following requirements: 

1. Operating System & Hardware 

• macOS Monterey v12.0 or later 

• Compatible with both Intel processors and Apple Silicon (M1/M2) CPUs 

• iOS 12.0 or later is required for iPhone-related QuickBooks features 

• Multi-user server: Intel Core 2 Duo or higher processor 

2. Memory & Storage 

• RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB recommended) 

• Disk Space: 250 MB available storage 

3. Connectivity and Printing 

• Internet connection required for updates, payroll, payments, and online services. 

• Mac-compatible printer for invoices, checks, deposit slips, purchase orders, mailing labels, reports, and graphs. 

• Intuit Checks are recommended if you plan to print checks. 

4. Integration and Compatibility Requirements 

QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus integrates with popular productivity tools and supports specific file conversion options to simplify data sharing. 

Exporting Reports 

• Apple Numbers v12.0 or later 

• Microsoft Excel 2016 or later, including Microsoft 365 

Emailing as PDF 

• Apple Mail 

• Microsoft Outlook 2016 or later, including Microsoft 365 

File Conversion Support 

• QuickBooks Online: One-way conversion from QuickBooks Mac to QuickBooks Online. 

• QuickBooks Desktop for Windows: 

• One-way conversion from QuickBooks Desktop for Windows 2021 and 2023 to Mac 2024. 

• Two-way conversion is supported between QuickBooks for Windows and QuickBooks Mac. 

QuickBooks Hosting System Requirements 

If you choose to run QuickBooks in the cloud through a hosting provider, the system requirements differ from those for local installation.

With hosting, most of the heavy lifting, including processing power, storage, backups, and security, occurs on the provider’s servers.   

Why Do Requirements Differ? 

With traditional QuickBooks Desktop, your PC or server carries the full software load. In contrast, QuickBooks Hosting offloads that workload to enterprise-grade servers in secure data centers. Your device only needs enough power and internet bandwidth to connect remotely, making it possible to use QuickBooks on laptops, tablets, or even thin clients. 

Read the full blog for a deeper dive into QuickBooks Hosting system requirements. 

Get Your System Ready for Smooth QuickBooks Installation 

Ensuring your computer or server meets the official QuickBooks system requirements is the first step toward smooth performance, data security, and reliable access. Whether you’re running QuickBooks Desktop or Enterprise, using QuickBooks for Mac, or working in QuickBooks Online, the right setup helps you avoid downtime and compatibility issues. 

QuickBooks Hosting is a strong option if you prefer flexibility and don’t want to worry about local hardware limits. All the processing happens on secure cloud servers, leaving your device free to act as a simple access point. 

Before upgrading or installing QuickBooks, ensure that your system meets the following requirements. A few minutes of preparation can save hours of troubleshooting later and ensure that your accounting runs as efficiently as your business.