Error: Failed or Error: Restore Failed in QuickBooks

Learn what to do when you get Error: Failed or Error: Restore Failed while restoring a backup copy of your company file in QuickBooks Desktop.

Here are some of the errors you may see when restoring a backup:

• Error: Failed
• Restore Failed. This is an Invalid Format of a Post QuickBooks 2007 Backup File
• Error: Restore failed. Can’t remove log file

The file name may also display as *.qbw when attempting to save the restored file.

What causes Error: Failed or Error: Restore Failed when restoring a backup?

These errors may appear when:

• The company file name includes special characters ( / \ < > ! $ *).
• The backup was restored over an existing company file.
• The backup was restored from a USB flash drive to a network drive (Error -6189, -816).
• The backup was made in a newer version.Example: Backup was created in QuickBooks 2018 but you’re restoring it in QuickBooks 2017.
• The file you’re trying to restore isn’t an actual backup file.
• The company file is compromised and has corrupted data.

To fix the problem, try one of the following solutions. For the best results, perform the solutions in the order shown.

1. Remove special characters “/” “\” “!” “$” “<” “>” and “*” from your company file name
2. Avoid overwriting an existing file when you restore your backup
3. Copy your backup from your flash drive or network drive to the Server’s local drive before restoring it
4. Copy a backup file to a new folder before restoring it
5. Use the same or newer version of QuickBooks when restoring your backup
6. Repair your company file

If none of these solutions work, try to restore a different copy of your backup file, or contact us at the number below for additional support.

Get hep with QuickBooks Desktop errors, upgrades, and data migrations. Give us a call at (855) 227-0700 and get all of your questions answered today!