Fix QBCFMonitorService Stopped: QuickBooks Monitor Service

2-minute fixVerified for QB 2024Easy difficulty

Quick Answer:

QBCFMonitorService is a critical QuickBooks background service that monitors company files. If it's stopped, open Windows Services (services.msc), locate QBCFMonitorService, set it to Automatic, and click Start.

What is QBCFMonitorService?

QBCFMonitorService (QuickBooks Company File Monitoring Service) is a Windows background service installed with QuickBooks Desktop. It continuously monitors your QuickBooks company files, manages file locking mechanisms, and ensures data integrity in multi-user environments. When this service stops, you may experience issues opening company files or accessing QuickBooks in multi-user mode.

Error QBCFMonitor: Database monitor service stopped

The QBCFMonitorService Windows service has stopped running, which can prevent proper QuickBooks operation.

Symptoms:
  • •QuickBooks runs slowly or freezes
  • •Cannot open company file in multi-user mode
  • •Error messages about file access or locking
  • •QuickBooks Desktop won't start or crashes
Resolution Steps:
  1. 1.
    Open Windows Services
  2. 2.
    Locate QBCFMonitorService
  3. 3.
    Set startup type to Automatic
  4. 4.
    Start the service

Quick Fix for QBCFMonitor (2 Minutes)

Fastest Solution

  1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter
  3. Scroll down and find "QBCFMonitorService"
  4. Right-click on it and select "Properties"
  5. Change "Startup type" to "Automatic"
  6. Click "Start" button to start the service now
  7. Click "OK" to save changes

Detailed Solution Steps

  • 1
    Open Windows Services Manager

    Access the Windows Services control panel:

    1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
    2. Type services.msc in the text box
    3. Press Enter or click OK
    4. The Services window will open showing all Windows services

    Alternative: You can also right-click the Start button, select "Computer Management", then navigate to "Services and Applications" → "Services"

  • 2
    Locate QBCFMonitorService

    Find the QuickBooks monitoring service in the list:

    1. Services are listed alphabetically
    2. Scroll down to the "Q" section
    3. Look for "QBCFMonitorService"
    4. Check the "Status" column - it may show "Stopped" or be blank
    5. Check the "Startup Type" column - it should be "Automatic"
  • 3
    Configure Service to Start Automatically

    Set the service to start automatically with Windows:

    1. Right-click on "QBCFMonitorService"
    2. Select "Properties" from the context menu
    3. In the Properties window, find "Startup type" dropdown
    4. Change it from "Manual" or "Disabled" to "Automatic"
    5. This ensures the service starts whenever Windows boots

    Note: You need administrator privileges to change service settings. If the options are grayed out, right-click Services and select "Run as administrator"

  • 4
    Start the Service Immediately

    Start the service right now without rebooting:

    1. In the same Properties window, look for the "Service status" section
    2. Click the "Start" button
    3. Wait a few seconds for the service to start
    4. The status should change to "Running"
    5. Click "OK" to close the Properties window
    6. Verify the service shows "Running" in the main Services window
  • 5
    Test QuickBooks Operation

    Verify QuickBooks is working properly:

    1. Close and reopen QuickBooks Desktop
    2. Open your company file
    3. If in multi-user mode, verify you can access the file
    4. Test basic operations (creating transactions, running reports)
    5. Monitor for any performance improvements

    • Why Does QBCFMonitorService Stop?

    Common Causes

    • Startup Type Set to Manual: Service configured to Manual instead of Automatic startup
    • Windows Updates: System updates sometimes reset service configurations or stop services
    • Antivirus Interference: Security software blocking or stopping the service
    • Service Crash: The service encountered an error and stopped unexpectedly
    • Corrupted Installation: QuickBooks installation files damaged or incomplete

    How to Prevent QBCFMonitor Issues

    Best Practices:

    • Always keep startup type set to "Automatic" for QuickBooks services
    • Add QBCFMonitorService to antivirus exclusions list
    • Check service status after Windows updates
    • Keep QuickBooks updated to the latest release
    • Monitor Windows Event Viewer for service crash logs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is QBCFMonitorService?

    QBCFMonitorService is a Windows background service that monitors QuickBooks company files for changes and helps manage file locking in multi-user environments. It ensures data integrity and proper multi-user access.

    Why does QBCFMonitorService keep stopping?

    QBCFMonitorService may stop due to Windows updates, startup type set to Manual instead of Automatic, conflicts with antivirus software, or corrupted service files.

    Is QBCFMonitorService safe?

    Yes, QBCFMonitorService is a legitimate Intuit service that comes with QuickBooks Desktop. It is safe and necessary for proper QuickBooks operation, especially in multi-user mode.

    Can I disable QBCFMonitorService?

    No, you should not disable QBCFMonitorService as it is essential for QuickBooks to function properly. Disabling it can cause file access errors, data corruption, and multi-user mode failures.

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