Quicken Performance Troubleshooting (2024)

Always make a backup before performing complex procedures.This ensures that you have a "fall-back" file you can use to get back to where you were when you started.

1. Go to File >Copy or Backup File (do notchoose Year End Copy for this procedure).
2. Select Create a copy or template and click Next. Leave all the settings, including file name and checkboxes, at their default (change nothing on this screen). Simply click Save Copy.
3. After the Copy is complete, choose to Open New Copy.
4. In the New Copy, go to File > Validate & Repair File,check theValidate file box, and click OK.This will ensure there are no lingering issues with the data in this file.
   
   • If your issue was with Investmentaccount(s) slowness or other data issues with an investment account, be sure to also select Rebuild Lots and Correct investing price history: Repairduring this procedure.
5. After the Validation process is finished, you will seetheData_Logappear in aNotepad window. This file is a summary of the Validation results.
6. Review the Data_Log.txt for messages pertaining to the quality of your data and resolve any that are advised with instructions you should follow.

Example of Data Integrity Issues in Data Log

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In the example above, further instructions are given advising to review and set the categories correctly.

• If you receive the message "Damaged data block" in theData_Logafter the Validationcompletes, the file is not repairable.We recommendrestoring a backupfrom prior to the date listed on this message.

7. Test your regular procedure(s) to see if the issue you were encountering is now resolved.

For accounts with a large proportion of closed positions, theArchive Investment Transactions featurecan improve register and report performance noticeably.

It is available only in the Subscription Release of Quicken andit is designed to reduce the number of transactions in an investment account by moving inactive transactions to a different account within the same data file.

Instructions

1. Archive Investment Transactions can be accessed from the gearicon menu above the investment register.

2. SelectArchive Transactions.

Because Archive potentially affects a large numberof transactions, you will be prompted to make a backup of your data file as part of the operation.

Quicken will also perform a File Validation, which could take several minutes.

1. When the validationis complete, go to the Investing tab.
2. ClickTools in the upper right and select Security list.
3. Uncheck the Download Quotes boxes next to the tickers you no longer watch.
4. Click Done.

If Quicken is slow to open, this could be caused by alerts updating during launch. You can turn alerts off to improve performance.

To do this:

1. Go toEditmenu >Preferences.
2. Select Mobile & Webin the left panel.
3. Click EditAlert settings.
4. Uncheck all the boxes.
5. Click OK.

If Quicken runs slowly when backing up your data file or when closing the program, you may need to make a copy ofyour data file without attachments.

To do this:

1. ChooseFilemenu >Copy or Backup File.
2. SelectCreate a copy or templateand clickNext
3. In theCopy or Template window, accept or change the location and name for the file copy.You can also click theBrowsebutton to change the location the file copy will save to.

Naming Rules: When naming the Quicken file, don't use any of these characters: * ? < > | " : \ / (asterisk, question mark, left and right-angle bracket, pipe, straight quotation marks, colon, backslash, forward slash). Also, don't add the .qdf extension; Quicken does that for you.

4. Uncheck theAttachmentsbox (thisreduces the size of the file copy by removing attachments).
5. ClickSave.
6. SelectNew Copywhen the file has copied successfully.
7. ClickOK.
8. Test your regular procedure(s) to see if the slowness issue you were encountering is now resolved.