QuickBooks Error 80070057: The Parameter is Incorrect

12-minute fixVerified for QB 2024/2025Medium difficulty

Quick Answer:

Error 80070057 occurs when QuickBooks encounters an invalid parameter, often due to special characters in file names, long file paths, corrupted registry entries, or incorrect permissions. Fix it by renaming files, repairing registry, and setting proper permissions.

What is QuickBooks Error 80070057?

QuickBooks Error 80070057 is a Windows system error indicating "The parameter is incorrect." This error occurs when QuickBooks attempts to access a file or perform an operation with invalid parameters, such as incorrect file paths, unsupported characters in file names, or corrupted system registry entries.

Error 80070057: The parameter is incorrect

QuickBooks encountered an invalid parameter when accessing files or performing operations.

Symptoms:
  • •Error 80070057 when creating backups
  • •Cannot open company file with parameter error
  • •Backup fails with 80070057
  • •Error when saving reports or files
  • •Cannot restore backup with parameter error
Resolution Steps:
  1. 1.
    Rename file to remove special characters
  2. 2.
    Shorten file path to less than 260 characters
  3. 3.
    Repair QuickBooks registry entries
  4. 4.
    Configure proper file permissions

Quick Fix for Error 80070057 (12 Minutes)

Fastest Solution

  1. Check company file name for special characters (&, #, %, apostrophe)
  2. If present, close QuickBooks and rename file:
    • Remove special characters
    • Use only letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores
  3. Move file to shorter path if needed (C:\QB\CompanyFile.qbw)
  4. Right-click company file folder → Properties → Security
  5. Ensure your user account has "Full Control"
  6. Download and run QuickBooks Tool Hub → File Doctor
  7. Select company file and run repair

Detailed Solution Steps

  • 1
    Check and Fix File Name Issues

    Identify and remove problematic characters from file name:

    1. Navigate to company file location (usually in Documents or Public Documents)
    2. Check file name for these problematic characters:

      Avoid: & # % * < > ? / \ | : " '

    3. If special characters found, close QuickBooks completely
    4. Right-click company file → Rename
    5. Replace special characters with spaces, hyphens, or underscores

    Example:

    Bad: John's Company & Co #2024.qbw
    Good: Johns_Company_Co_2024.qbw

    Important: Also rename the associated .TLG file if it exists (same name as company file with .tlg extension).

  • 2
    Verify and Shorten File Path

    Ensure file path length is within Windows limits:

    1. Check total path length (folder path + file name)
    2. Windows has 260-character limit for full file paths
    3. If path is too long, move file to shorter location:
    Path Length Comparison
    Too long (285 chars):
    C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\QuickBooks\Company Files\Accounting\2024\Fiscal Year End\John's Amazing Company & Associates #2024.qbw
     
    Better (35 chars):
    C:\QB\Johns_Company_2024.qbw
    1. Create simple folder: C:\QB
    2. Copy (don't move yet) company file to new location
    3. Open file from new location to test
    4. If successful, you can delete old file

    Why This Helps

    Long file paths with nested folders exceed Windows limitations and cause Error 80070057. Shorter, simpler paths improve compatibility and performance.
  • 3
    Configure File and Folder Permissions

    Ensure proper Windows permissions for company file:

    1. Right-click the folder containing company file
    2. Select Properties → Security tab
    3. Click "Edit" button to modify permissions
    4. Select your user account in the list
    5. In "Permissions" section, check "Full Control" under "Allow"
    6. Also add "Everyone" group with Full Control:
      • Click "Add" button
      • Type: Everyone
      • Click "Check Names" → OK
      • Select "Everyone" → Check "Full Control"
    7. Click "Apply" → "OK"
    8. Repeat for the company file itself (right-click .QBW file)

    Security Note: In a business environment, consult with IT before granting "Everyone" permissions. You can grant specific users instead.

  • 4
    Repair QuickBooks Registry Entries

    Fix corrupted registry entries using QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool:

    1. Close all QuickBooks programs
    2. Download QuickBooks Tool Hub from Intuit website
    3. Install Tool Hub (right-click → Run as administrator)
    4. Launch QuickBooks Tool Hub
    5. Click "Installation Issues" tab
    6. Click "QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool"
    7. Tool will run for 10-30 minutes - let it complete
    8. Restart computer when tool finishes
    What This Tool Fixes
    ✓ Corrupted registry entries
    ✓ Missing Windows components
    ✓ Damaged Microsoft .NET Framework
    ✓ MSXML issues
    ✓ C++ runtime errors
  • 5
    Run QuickBooks File Doctor

    Repair file access and network issues:

    1. Open QuickBooks Tool Hub
    2. Click "Company File Issues" tab
    3. Click "Run QuickBooks File Doctor"
    4. Browse to company file location
    5. Select your company file from the list
    6. Select "Check your file" option
    7. Enter QuickBooks admin password if prompted
    8. Click "Diagnose File"
    9. Wait for scan to complete (5-15 minutes)
    10. Review results and follow any additional recommendations

    Expected Result

    File Doctor will identify and repair file access issues, permission problems, and network configuration errors that cause Error 80070057.
  • 6
    Configure Windows Backup Settings (If Error During Backup)

    If Error 80070057 occurs during backup creation:

    1. In QuickBooks: File → Create Backup
    2. Select "Local backup" → Next
    3. Click "Options" button
    4. Change backup location to simple path (C:\QB_Backups)
    5. Uncheck "Add date and time to backup file name"
    6. Uncheck "Limit number of backup copies"
    7. Click OK → Save It Now
    8. Specify backup file name without special characters
    9. Click Save

    Backup Location Best Practices:

    Good: C:\QB_Backups\
    Good: D:\Backups\
    Avoid: Network drives with long paths
    Avoid: OneDrive, Dropbox sync folders
  • 7
    Test the Fix

    Verify Error 80070057 is resolved:

    1. Open QuickBooks
    2. Open company file from new location (if moved)
    3. Perform the action that previously caused error:
      • Create a backup
      • Save a report
      • Access file properties
    4. If successful, error is resolved
    5. Update file location in backup configuration if moved

    • Why Does Error 80070057 Occur?

    Root Causes

    • Special Characters in File Names: Apostrophes, ampersands, pound signs, or other special characters causing Windows to misinterpret file paths
    • File Path Too Long: Total path exceeding Windows 260-character limit for file paths
    • Incorrect Permissions: User account lacks full control permissions on company file or folder
    • Corrupted Registry Entries: Windows Registry entries for QuickBooks are damaged or invalid
    • Damaged System Files: Windows system files or .NET Framework components corrupted
    • Backup Destination Issues: Backup location has invalid path, insufficient space, or permission problems
    • Network Drive Problems: Backing up to network drive with unstable connection or long UNC path

    How to Prevent Error 80070057

    Best Practices:

    • Use only letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores in file names
    • Keep file paths short - store files in C:\QB or similar simple location
    • Avoid deeply nested folder structures for QuickBooks files
    • Create backups to local drives with short paths, not network or cloud locations
    • Maintain proper permissions on QuickBooks folders (Full Control for users)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What causes QuickBooks Error 80070057?

    Error 80070057 is caused by invalid parameters when QuickBooks accesses files. Common causes include special characters in file names, file paths exceeding 260 characters, incorrect permissions, corrupted registry entries, or backup destination issues.

    Can special characters in file names cause Error 80070057?

    Yes, special characters like apostrophes ('), ampersands (&), pound signs (#), percent signs (%), or quotation marks (") in company file names or folder paths commonly cause Error 80070057. Use only alphanumeric characters, spaces, hyphens, and underscores.

    Will renaming my company file cause data loss?

    No, renaming your company file does not affect your data. The financial information is stored inside the .QBW file, not in the file name. Just ensure you close QuickBooks before renaming and also rename associated .TLG file if present.

    What is the maximum file path length for QuickBooks?

    Windows limits file paths to 260 characters total (folder path + file name). QuickBooks works best with paths under 200 characters. Shorter paths (like C:\QB\CompanyFile.qbw) provide better reliability and performance.

    Can I backup to OneDrive or Dropbox?

    While technically possible, backing up directly to cloud sync folders (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive) is not recommended and can cause Error 80070057. Create backups to a local folder first, then copy completed backups to cloud storage separately.

    Related Resources

    Error 6000-83 Solution

    Fix file opening corruption issues

    Offsite Backup Guide

    Best practices for QuickBooks backups

    Tool Hub Installation

    Install and use QuickBooks Tool Hub

    File Corruption Recovery

    Complete file repair guide

    Need Professional Help?

    If you're still experiencing Error 80070057 after following these steps, or need help with file recovery and data integrity, our QuickBooks specialists are here to help.

    Get Expert Support