Block QuickBooks Desktop 2020 Updates After Sunset (May 2023)

QuickBooks Desktop 2020 lost services in May 2023. Learn how to permanently disable automatic updates so your stable install never changes unexpectedly.

QuickBooks Desktop 2020 officially reached the end of its supported lifecycle on May 31, 2023. With services and live updates cut off, keeping your 2020 install running smoothly means locking it down exactly as it is today. Allowing the software to search for discontinued updates or apply unexpected patches can trigger activation loops or break your working environment. Here is how to permanently block automatic updates for QuickBooks Desktop 2020.

Turn Off In-App Automatic Updates

The first line of defense is disabling the update setting inside QuickBooks itself. This step is identical across most recent QuickBooks Desktop versions:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop 2020 and go to the Help menu.
2. Select Update QuickBooks Desktop (or Update QuickBooks).
3. Navigate to the Update Now tab.
4. Click the Options tab.
5. In the Automatic Update section, select No for the "Automatic Update" option.
6. Uncheck the box for "Show summary of features before downloading."
7. Click Save.

This prevents the application from quietly fetching and staging files in the background while you work.

Disable the QuickBooks Update Service

QuickBooks installs a background service designed to push updates to your machine. To stop it entirely:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down and locate QuickBooks Update Agent Service (sometimes labeled Intuit Update Service).
3. Right-click the service and select Properties.
4. Change the Startup type to Disabled.
5. If the Service status says "Running," click Stop.
6. Click Apply and OK.

Lock Down the Intuit Update Folders

Even with the in-app settings turned off, QuickBooks may still attempt to write staging files to your hard drive. Locking down the folders where these updates are downloaded ensures that no hidden background processes can execute an installation.

You will want to restrict write permissions for two primary locations. The first is the common download folder located at C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks. The second is the components folder located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\Components.

To secure these folders:

1. Right-click the folder in File Explorer and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab and click Edit.
3. Select the Users group.
4. Check the box under the Deny column for Write access.
5. Click Apply and OK.

Block the Updater Executables

For maximum certainty that your 2020 install will never change, you can block the specific executables responsible for fetching updates from reaching the internet.

1. Press the Windows Key, type Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, and open it.
2. Click Outbound Rules on the left pane, then click New Rule... on the right pane.
3. Select Program and click Next.
4. Browse to the QuickBooks installation directory (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks 2020) and select the QBUpdate.exe executable.
5. Select Block the connection and apply it to Domain, Private, and Public networks.
6. Name the rule "Block QB 2020 Updater" and save it.

Verify Your Setup

Once you have applied these settings, restart your computer. Open QuickBooks and navigate back to the Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop menu. The software should no longer attempt to search for new patches on startup. By freezing your software in its current state, you protect your company data from unexpected changes and keep your accounting environment stable for the long term.