> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.conductor.is/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ensuring QuickBooks Desktop and the Web Connector run with the same permissions

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<Info>
  This guide is provided by Conductor, the service that powers the QuickBooks
  Desktop integration for many business tools, including the one that sent you
  here.
</Info>

QuickBooks Desktop and the QuickBooks Web Connector **must run with the same Windows permission level**. The normal, recommended configuration is for *neither* program to be launched “as administrator”.

If you arrived at this guide because you are troubleshooting the [**Web Connector cannot connect to QuickBooks Desktop**](/help/connection-errors/cannot-connect-to-quickbooks), a mismatch in permission levels is a common cause: one program is running with elevated permissions while the other is not.

Follow the steps below to ensure the **“Run this program as an administrator”** option is ***unchecked*** for both programs.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the QuickBooks Desktop shortcut location">
    1. Click the Windows **Start** button and type "**QuickBooks Desktop**" in the search box.
    2. In the search results, **right-click** the QuickBooks Desktop app and select **Open file location**. This opens the folder that contains the shortcut Windows uses to launch QuickBooks Desktop.

    <Image src="/images/help/guides/run-as-administrator-disabled/quickbooks-file-location.jpg" alt="File Explorer window showing shortcuts for both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Web Connector" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable ‘Run as administrator’ for QuickBooks Desktop">
    1. In the folder that appears, **right-click** the QuickBooks Desktop shortcut and choose **Properties**.
    2. Select the **Compatibility** tab.
    3. Near the bottom of the window, **ensure the box for “Run this program as an administrator” is *unchecked***.
    4. Click **Apply**, then **OK** to save the change.

    <Image src="/images/help/guides/run-as-administrator-disabled/compatibility-tab-run-as-admin.jpg" alt="Properties window → Compatibility tab showing ‘Run this program as an administrator’ unchecked" width={400} />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the QuickBooks Web Connector shortcut location">
    1. Click the Windows **Start** button and type "**Web Connector**" in the search box.
    2. In the search results, **right-click** the QuickBooks Web Connector app and select **Open file location**.

    <Info>
      This will likely be the same folder as the QuickBooks Desktop shortcut from the previous step.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable ‘Run as administrator’ for the Web Connector">
    Repeat the same steps you performed for QuickBooks Desktop:

    1. **Right-click** the QuickBooks Web Connector shortcut and choose **Properties**.
    2. Select the **Compatibility** tab.
    3. **Ensure “Run this program as an administrator” is *unchecked***.
    4. Click **Apply**, then **OK**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close QuickBooks Desktop and the Web Connector">
    1. **Exit QuickBooks Desktop** by clicking **File → Exit** to close the program completely.

    2. **Exit the Web Connector** - either approach below will work:
       * In the Web Connector window, click **Exit**. If a confirmation dialog appears, click **OK**.
       * Or, open **Task Manager**, locate **QBWebConnector.exe**, and click **End task**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="REQUIRED: Recreate the Web Connector log file">
    After closing QuickBooks Desktop and the Web Connector, **you must [complete this guide](/help/connection-errors/there-was-a-problem-with-the-log-file#solution%3A-delete-the-web-connector-log-file) to delete the Web Connector log file** and auto-generate a new one. This resolves a permissions-related issue that occurs after changing permission settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open QuickBooks Desktop and the Web Connector again">
    After deleting the log file, re-open QuickBooks Desktop and the Web Connector:

    1. Launch QuickBooks Desktop as you would normally.
    2. In QuickBooks Desktop, click **File → App Management → Update Web Services** to open the Web Connector.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stop the UAC pop-ups">
    Finally, we recommend [completing this guide](/help/connection-errors/do-you-want-to-allow-this-app-to-make-changes-to-your-device) to stop the **“Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”** prompts that can interrupt syncing. These pop-ups may start appearing after the recent permission change, which is why we recommend completing this step last.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your QuickBooks Desktop and Web Connector are now configured with the **same** permission level. If you are still encountering connection errors, return to the [main troubleshooting guide](/help/connection-errors/cannot-connect-to-quickbooks) and continue with the remaining steps.