Mandatory Password Reset

Yes, customers or users who get locked out generally need to contact Intuit Experts to regain access since the program cannot bypass password protection for security reasons.

If you have any more questions about QuickBooks Desktop, please click the Reply button below.

Another option, you can purchase a 3rd party service to reset the password.

A mandatory password reset in QuickBooks typically happens for one of three reasons: Intuit's security system detected unusual sign-in activity, your password expired under your company's security policy, or there was a recent update to Intuit's account protection requirements. This is a normal security measure and does not mean your data is lost.

If this is a QuickBooks Online password reset, go to the Intuit sign-in page and click "I forgot my user ID or Password." Enter your email address or user ID, and Intuit will send a reset link or a verification code to the email or phone number on file. Follow the link, create a new password (at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols), and you should be back in.

For QuickBooks Desktop, if you know your password but are being forced to change it, simply log in and QuickBooks will prompt you to set a new one. If you have forgotten your password, go to Company > Set Up Users and Passwords > Change Password. You will need to answer the security question you set up originally, or enter your Intuit account credentials if your file is linked to an Intuit account.

If the reset email never arrives, check your spam or junk folder first. Also confirm that the email address on file is still active and accessible. If you no longer have access to that email or phone number, use the Intuit Account Recovery tool at accounts.intuit.com, where you can verify your identity with alternative information to regain access.

One thing our team sees frequently: if multiple users are getting mandatory resets at the same time, it usually means the Admin triggered a company-wide password policy update. Check with your QuickBooks Admin to confirm whether this was intentional before assuming it is a security issue.