Verify and Rebuild Your QuickBooks Data

QuickBooks' verify and rebuild features allow you to check for damages in your company file and fix them.

Verify

QuickBooks' Verify is a feature that scans your company file to see if there are any damages in it.

To Verify Your Data:

  1. Choose File > Utilities > Verify Data...
  2. QuickBooks will give you a warning message that says it must close all windows before continuing. Click OK.
  3. If QuickBooks displays another warning message that begins with "Your data has failed the integrity check", you'll need to rebuild your data. If you've received a message saying that there are no problems with your data, you're done.

Note: If there were no problems with your data when you verified it, but you're still experiencing difficulties with your company file, try rebuilding it.

Note: If there are errors in your company file, you can use record numbers to locate them. Learn more about using record numbers.

Rebuild

QuickBooks' Rebuild is a feature that tries to fix the damages in your company file.

To Rebuild Your Data:

  1. Choose File > Utilities > Rebuild Data
  2. QuickBooks will give you a warning message that says it must close all windows before continuing. Click OK.
  3. Another message will appear that says a backup must be made before rebuilding the data file. Click OK.
  4. Note: If you haven't already, QuickBooks will ask you to update your backup preferences. Click Backup Preferences and edit as needed. When you're done, click OK.

    Note: If you don't want to back up your company file, you can click Cancel and continue to rebuild your company file without the backup. However, making a backup of your company file before trying to rebuild it is highly recommended.

  5. QuickBooks will back up your company file. When it's done, you can click on Show in Finder to locate your backup or, if you're ready to move on, click OK.
  6. QuickBooks will rebuild your data. A message will appear when it's complete. Click OK.

Note: If you want to double-check your data, you can verify it again and see if the problems are gone. Sometimes rebuilding up to 3 times will correct additional problems.

Note: If you still have problems after rebuilding your company file, try rebuilding the database completely. To do this, hold down the "option" key and select File > Utilities > Rebuild and Reload Data.

For further help: