QuickBooks Error 179: Bank Sign-On Error

Quick Fix: Log in to your bank's website directly, complete any security prompts or multi-factor authentication, then retry the connection in QuickBooks.

What Causes Error 179?

Error 179 occurs when QuickBooks can't complete the sign-on process with your bank. The most common causes are:

1. Changed bank credentials — Your bank password was recently updated, or your username changed, but QuickBooks still has the old credentials stored.
2. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) required — Your bank is prompting for a security code, security question, or device verification that QuickBooks can't pass through automatically.
3. Bank website changes — Your financial institution updated their login process, security protocols, or website structure, breaking the existing connection.

How to Fix QuickBooks Error 179

Solution 1: Update Your Bank Credentials in QuickBooks

1. Log in to your bank's website directly in a browser — complete any security prompts, accept new terms, or verify your identity.
2. In QuickBooks Online, go to Banking (or Transactions) from the left menu.
3. Click Update next to the affected bank account.
4. If prompted, enter your updated bank username and password.
5. Complete any additional security verification steps.
6. Wait for the connection to refresh and transactions to download.

Solution 2: Disconnect and Reconnect the Bank Account

1. Go to Banking → select the affected account.
2. Click the pencil (edit) icon → Edit account info.
3. Check Disconnect this account on save and click Save.
4. Click Link account and search for your bank.
5. Enter your current bank credentials.
6. Map the bank account to your existing QuickBooks account (do NOT create a new one).
7. Set the start date for downloading transactions to avoid duplicates.

Solution 3: Clear Browser Cache and Use Incognito Mode

1. Clear your browser's cache and cookies completely.
2. Open an incognito/private browsing window.
3. Log in to your bank's website first — verify everything works.
4. In a new tab (still incognito), log in to QuickBooks Online.
5. Go to Banking and click Update on the affected account.
6. Enter credentials when prompted.

Still Getting Error 179?

If the error persists after trying all three solutions:

• Contact your bank to confirm there are no holds, restrictions, or security blocks on your account.
• Check the QuickBooks Online Status Page for known bank connection outages.
• Contact QuickBooks Support at 1-800-446-8848 and reference Error 179 — they can reset the bank connection on their end.
• Some banks require you to grant explicit permission for third-party access (like Plaid or Direct Connect). Ask your bank about this.

Prevent This Error in the Future

• Update QuickBooks immediately when you change your bank password — don't wait for the error.
• Log in to your bank regularly to clear any pending security prompts before they block QuickBooks.
• Enable app-specific passwords if your bank offers them — these bypass MFA for trusted connections.
• Check your bank's third-party access settings quarterly to ensure QuickBooks/Plaid/Yodlee is still authorized.
• Update your bank connection weekly rather than waiting for auto-sync to catch issues early.

Related Errors

• QuickBooks Error H101
• Bank Connection Error
• Bank Feed Not Working
• Sync Error
• Login Error

> Tired of QuickBooks errors? Ketchup's AI-powered bookkeeping catches up your books in 3–7 days — so you can stop troubleshooting and start running your business. Get your price →