How to Fix QuickBooks Error 6190: Company File in Use by Another User
Published July 21, 2026 · By [Owner Full Name], QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor · 1 min read
Quick answer
QuickBooks Error 6190 means your company file and transaction log are out of sync, usually showing as "in use by another user" even when no one else has it open. Back up your file, make sure only one person has it open, and run QuickBooks File Doctor to fix it.
Error 6190 (often shown as Error -6190, -816) typically appears when you try to open a QuickBooks company file and get a message that it’s “in use by another user,” even when no one else has it open.
Why this happens
QuickBooks keeps a transaction log file (.QBW.TLG) alongside your company file (.QBW). Error 6190 usually means these two files are out of sync — often because of a previous crash, an interrupted update, or someone opening the file in single-user mode on another machine.
Steps to fix it
- Back up your company file first. Copy the
.QBWand.QBW.TLGfiles to a safe location before doing anything else. - Make sure only one person has the file open. Ask everyone on your network to close QuickBooks completely.
- Switch to multi-user hosting on the correct computer. On the server/host machine: File → Utilities → Host Multi-User Access.
- Run the QuickBooks File Doctor (part of the QuickBooks Tool Hub, available from Intuit’s official site) to detect and repair file/network issues.
- Rename the .ND and .TLG files in the folder where your company file lives, then reopen QuickBooks — it will recreate these files automatically.
- Restart your server and workstations if the issue persists after the steps above.
When to get help
If you’ve tried the steps above and still see Error 6190, or you’re not comfortable working directly with the file, that’s a sign to get hands-on help rather than keep guessing. Intuit’s official guide to fixing error 6189, 816 and 6190, 816 covers this in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
What causes QuickBooks Error 6190?
Error 6190 usually happens when your company file (.QBW) and transaction log file (.QBW.TLG) are out of sync, or when another user has the file open in single-user mode.
Will I lose data fixing Error 6190?
Following the steps below (especially creating a backup first) should not cause data loss. Always back up your file before attempting any repair.
Still stuck after trying these steps?
Some QuickBooks errors need hands-on troubleshooting in your actual company file. [Owner Full Name] (QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor) can take a look and fix it directly — call FindMeXpert and we'll walk through it with you.
Call [(555) 123-4567]FindMeXpert is an independent QuickBooks ProAdvisor practice, not affiliated with Intuit Inc.
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Written by [Owner Full Name]
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