QB Error 6073: Company File Already in Use by Another Pro...

Quick Fix: Close QuickBooks on all computers, restart the server hosting the company file, then reopen QuickBooks. If that doesn't work, delete the .ND and .TLG files next to your company file.

What Causes Error 6073?

Error 6073 occurs when QuickBooks can't access the company file because another process or user already has an exclusive lock on it. This is most common in multi-user environments. Common causes:

1. Another user has the file open in single-user mode — Someone opened the company file on a different workstation without switching to multi-user mode, locking everyone else out.
2. Stale lock files — QuickBooks creates .ND (Network Data) and .TLG (Transaction Log) files alongside the company file. If QuickBooks crashed or was force-closed, these lock files may remain and falsely indicate the file is in use.
3. Database Server Manager issue — The QuickBooks Database Server Manager (QBDBMgrN) on the file server is stopped, hung, or running an incompatible version, preventing proper multi-user file access.

How to Fix QuickBooks Error 6073

Solution 1: Close QuickBooks on All Machines and Clear Lock Files

1. Close QuickBooks on every computer that might have the file open, including the server.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your company file (.QBW).
3. Find and delete these files (same name as your company file, different extensions):

- [CompanyName].QBW.ND (Network Data file)

- [CompanyName].QBW.TLG (Transaction Log file)

1. Open QuickBooks on the server/host computer first in multi-user mode.
2. Then open QuickBooks on workstations.

Solution 2: Restart QuickBooks Database Server Manager

1. On the computer that hosts the company file, press Windows + R → type services.msc → Enter.
2. Find QuickBooksDBXX (where XX is the version number, e.g., QuickBooksDB30 for QB 2020).
3. Right-click → Restart.
4. If the service won't restart, try Stop, wait 30 seconds, then Start.
5. Open QuickBooks Database Server Manager (from Start menu → Intuit → QuickBooks Database Server Manager).
6. Click Scan Folders → add the folder containing your company file → Scan.
7. Try opening the file from a workstation.

Solution 3: Verify Folder Permissions

1. On the server, navigate to the company file folder.
2. Right-click the folder → Properties → Security tab.
3. Ensure the QBDataServiceUserXX account has Full Control permissions.
4. Also ensure Everyone or the specific user accounts have Read & Execute, List folder contents, Read, and Write permissions.
5. Click Edit to modify permissions if needed → Apply → OK.
6. Also check the company file itself — right-click the .QBW file → Properties → Security → same permissions.
7. Restart QuickBooks Database Server Manager and retry.

Still Getting Error 6073?

• Check Task Manager on all machines for lingering QBW32.exe or QBDBMgrN.exe processes and end them.
• Use the QuickBooks Tool Hub → Company File Issues → Quick Fix my File.
• Verify all machines are running the same version and year of QuickBooks — mismatched versions cause locking conflicts.
• If the file is on a mapped network drive, try using the UNC path instead (e.g., \\ServerName\SharedFolder\CompanyFile.QBW).
• Contact Intuit Support at 1-800-446-8848 for multi-user configuration help.

Prevent This Error in the Future

• Always use multi-user mode when multiple people need access — train all users to check their mode.
• Close QuickBooks properly on all machines before shutting down — use File → Exit.
• Keep QuickBooks versions consistent across all computers — update all at the same time.
• Set up QuickBooks Database Server Manager correctly on the host machine and ensure it starts automatically.
• Back up regularly — multi-user environments are more prone to file access issues.

Related Errors

• QuickBooks Error 6129
• QuickBooks Error 6189
• QuickBooks Error 6190
• Multi-User Mode Error
• QuickBooks Error 6000-301

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