The File Specified Cannot Be Opened Error Message

Method 1: Update Windows Permission

Since the utilization of QuickBooks requires permission in configuring files, any disabled windows permission can cause the file you specified cannot be opened error. Hence, update your windows permission by following:

• Firstly, ensure if the system has access to admin credentials.
• Thereafter, tap “Start” and locate/open “File Explorer”.
• Next, visit the folder where the QB Company-related files remain.
• Afterward, right-tap on the malfunctioning file.
• Then, select “Properties” followed by “Security”.
• Now, tap “Edit” and hit “Add”.
• Thereafter, you must hit “Everyone” followed by “Ok”.
• And ensure to checkmark the box entitles “Full Control”.

• Afterward, hit “Ok”.
• Perform the same for “Users”.
• Thereafter, tap “Apply”.
• Finally, hit “Ok”.

Now, check if your issue is resolved or else perform the next methods.

Method 2: Configuring Firewall/Antivirus Settings

The restrictive settings of the Firewall/Antivirus are the major reason for the file you specified cannot be opened QuickBooks issue. 

Users can configure the Firewall and Antivirus ports settings of your system by following:

• Tap on “Start” and Input “Control Panel”,
• After that, locate and select the “Security and Firewall Settings” from there.
• Configure the security level to “Allow”.

• Afterward, hold “Ctrl+Alt+Del”.
• Select “Task Manager”.
• Visit “Processes”.
• Locate your antivirus and hit “End Process”.

In case, the error still emerges, make sure to check the quarantine folder of your antivirus.

Method 3: Repairing QuickBooks Software

A corrupt QB Software can cause the QB file cannot to be opened in error. Therefore, repairing the QuickBooks software is crucial. Here’s how:

• Firstly, close any “QuickBooks” active tab.
• Perform a restart.
• Afterward, Hold “Win+R”.
• Input “Control Panel” and hover to “Program and Features” or “Uninstall a Program”.
• Thereafter, locate/select the program named “QuickBooks” and tap “Uninstall/Change”.

• Now, tap “Continue” and hit “Repair Your-QuickBooks” on the uninstallation screen.
• Finally, wait and hit “Finish”.

After undertaking these steps, ensure to reboot the system and launch QuickBooks Desktop to test if the file has any issue.

Method 4: Use “Run QuickBooks As-An-Administrator” Option

If QuickBooks has no administrative rights, then It affects the QuickBooks performance resulting in the QB error: File can’t be opened issue.

Therefore, in order to free QuickBooks from restrictions, the QuickBooks application should be “Run as an-Administrator”. Here’s how:

• From the home screen, right-tap the “QuickBooks Desktop” icon.

Note: In case when you can’t locate the QB icon on the desktop, follow:

• Click “Start”.
• Input “QuickBooks”.
• Right-tap on it.
• Thereafter, from the listed options, tap “Run as admin” and grant permission if prompted.

Method 5: Update Your QuickBooks

Having an updated version of the QuickBooks ensures any previous glitches and bug fixes. Therefore, update your Quickbooks to the latest version by performing these steps:

• Firstly, run “QuickBooks-Desktop”.
• Visit “Help Menu” and tap “Update QuickBooks” followed by “Update Now”.
• Thereafter, install them and perform a quick restart.

Now that the QuickBooks Desktop is successfully updated, try accessing the file that was unable to be opened. Otherwise, use the file doctor by taking the next method.

Method 6: Launch “QuickBooks File Doctor Tool”

The QuickBooks-File Doc Tool is well-known for eliminating various errors including the file specified cannot be opened error message issue.

This crucial tool requires the download/installation of the QuickBooks Tool-Hub that can be done by following:

• Visit Intuit’s website and locate/download the “QuickBooks Tool Hub”.
• Thereafter, install it by performing the directions appearing on the installation screen.
• Next, launch the tool and visit ‘Company Files-Issues”.

• Now, hit “Run QuickBooks-File doc”.
• Finally, the tool will automatically diagnose and treat the file exists issue.

If somehow the Quickbooks file doctor Tool cannot treat the issue, it might be because of the UAC. Hence try disabling your UAC.

Method 7: Disable The UAC

Disabling the UAC (User Account Control)on the system requires users to visit the “UAC Settings” and select “Never Notify”. Perform these:

• Hold “Win+R” together to launch the Run dialog box.
• Thereafter, Input “Control Panel” then hit “Enter”.
• Now, from the control panel locate/tap “User Account”.
• Afterward, hit “Change User-Account Control-Setting” followed by “Yes”.
• Here, set “Never Notify” by simply moving the slider.
• Thereafter, tap “Turn off UAC” followed by “Ok”.

Now, execute a quick reboot of your system and check for The file specified cannot be opened error message again.

Method 8: Utilize The “Reboot.bat” File

In case the registration files such as “.DLL” or “OCX” are damaged/corrupt, it can cause the QuickBooks to cause the file cannot to be opened in error.

Therefore, execute the below steps sequentially for registering them again through the “Reboot.bat” file.

• At first, exit from the “QuickBooks”.
• Thereafter, visit the home page of your system and tap right on “QuickBooks.exe”.
• Now, click “Properties”.
• Afterward, tap “Open File-Location” and locate/select “Reboot.bat”.

• Next, tap-right and use the “Run-as admin” feature.
• Thereafter, the command prompt will begin to scroll names.
• Finally, on completion of the task, the corrupt registration files will work effectively.

Note: In case, you face an error stating the file exists while printing, apply the method provided below.

Method 9: Fixing “The File Exists” Error During Printing

• To begin with, hold “Win+R” for the dialog box.
• Thereafter, type “Control Panel” and press “Enter”.
• Now, from the control panel, choose “Devices and Printers”.
• Afterward, select the printer facing trouble and tap-right to choose “Remove”.
• Now, quit “QuickBooks”.
• Then, hold “Ctrl+Alt+Del” for selecting “Task Manager”.
• Visit “Processes” and look for “QBW32.exe” followed by right-tap on it.
• Thereafter, choose “End-Task” and tap “Yes”.
• Furthermore, Visit “QuickBooks Folder” by navigating to “C: Drive”.
• Then “Program Data”.
• Followed by “Intuit” and then “QuickBooks”.
• Finally, locate and delete the file entitle “QBPRINT.qbp” and perform a fresh reboot.

Method 10: Reinstall QuickBooks Program Via Clean Install Tool

At events, when any of the above-mentioned methods to fix the file specified cannot be opened error message then it is crucial to reinstall QuickBooks using the Clean Install Tool.

• Firstly, launch the “Run-Command” via Holding “Win+R”.
• Thereafter, input “appwiz.cpl” in the text box.
• Next, hit “Enter” and you’ll reach the “Uninstall-Programs” on Control Panel.
• Afterward, locate “QuickBooks” from the results and tap “Uninstall” upon selecting it.
• Now, follow the on-display directions to uninstall the “QuickBooks Desktop”.
• Then, download “QuickBooks Tool Hub” and visit “Installation Issue” after its launch.

• Finally, click “Clean Install Tool”.

Now, you can reinstall the “QuickBooks-Desktop” appropriately and the file can’t be opened error will be rectified.