How to Eliminate QuickBooks Error 15101 Once and For All?

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QuickBooks error 15101 is a common 15XXX error that can arise while downloading QuickBooks or payroll tax table updates. As this error restricts the updates, several crucial business activities are affected.

It can occur due to a lack of admin rights or firewall blockages, among other reasons. To know more about how to resolve this error, follow this comprehensive blog till the end.

Update errors in QuickBooks need to be resolved on time; otherwise, they can severely impact a business. If you need additional assistance fixing this error, reach out to our team of experts at 800-580-5375.

Primary Causes Behind QuickBooks Update Error 15101

QuickBooks error 15101 can arise for many reasons. You must know about these reasons before following the troubleshooting process for clarity and a better understanding of the error. The reasons listed below are responsible for QB error code 15101–

• You are not downloading the QB and payroll updates as an admin user, which can lead to update restrictions.
• The QuickBooks Desktop version you are using is outdated, which can cause compatibility issues while updating payroll.
• The Windows firewall or your antivirus program is misconfigured, creating blockages while getting QB updates.
• Your QB Desktop program is damaged/corrupted or incorrectly installed on the system.
• The digital signature certificate in QuickBooks Desktop might be unverified, expired, or outdated.
• The File Copy Service (FCS) in QuickBooks is disabled, which can cause problems in the update process.
• An incorrectly mapped shared download drive can be another reason for the error 15101.
• Essential files and components needed to update QB payroll are missing from the system.
• Crucial Windows system files might be damaged or corrupted.
• IE is not set as the default browser before downloading the QB updates, or it might be misconfigured.

Now that we have understood why QuickBooks error 15101 arises let’s learn about the troubleshooting solutions in the next section.

Effective Solutions to Resolve QuickBooks Desktop Error 15101

Until this update error is fixed, you won’t be able to download the latest QB and tax table updates. Thus, after understanding the reasons for QuickBooks error message 15101, follow these troubleshooting solutions to eliminate it –

Solution 1 – Configure the Firewall and Internet Security Settings

Misconfigured Windows firewall settings might restrict QB updates as QuickBooks can’t connect to the internet to download the updates. To fix this issue, configure Windows firewall and internet security settings in the following manner –

Step 1 – Download QB Tool Hub

The first step is downloading the QuickBooks Tool Hub to get access to the required troubleshooting tools. To download and install this program, you can go through the steps given below –

• First, close QuickBooks, then download the latest QuickBooks Tool Hub version (click HERE), and save the .exe setup file to an easily accessible location.

Note: If you have already installed QB Tool Hub on the PC, check out the current version at the bottom of the Home section. If you don’t have the most recent QuickBooks Tool Hub version (1.6.0.5), follow the steps below to continue downloading and installing the latest version.

• Next, open the downloaded QuickBooksToolHub.exe setup file, follow the on-screen instructions to install the program, and accept the terms and conditions.

• Lastly, once the installation process is complete, double-click the QB Tool Hub icon on your Windows desktop to launch it.

Note: If you face trouble while locating the QB Tool Hub icon, manually search for “QuickBooks Tool Hub” in the Windows search bar and select it to launch it.

After installing the QB Tool Hub, the next step is to run the QuickBooks File Doctor tool.

Step 2 – Run QuickBooks File Doctor

QuickBooks File Doctor is an essential utility that can automatically fix network problems and configure the Windows firewall. To run this tool, go through the detailed steps provided below –

• In QB Tool Hub, navigate to the Company File Issues menu, then click the QuickBooks File Doctor tool.

Note: This tool might take up to a minute to open, but if it isn’t accessible, manually open it. Search for “QuickBooks Desktop File Doc” in the Windows search bar and select it to open it.

• Now, open the drop-down menu and select the QB company file you want to repair. If you can’t find the file, click Browse and Search, then select the company file that needs to be repaired.

• Click Check your file and network, hit Continue, enter your QB admin credentials, and click Next.
• Wait for the company file scan process to complete, then launch QuickBooks Desktop and access the company file.

Note: QB File Doctor usually takes up to 5 minutes to scan the company file, depending on its size. Remember, the scan may sometimes say that the process wasn’t successful, even if the problems are resolved.

Once done, check if the firewall is still restricting the download of the updates. If you still get QuickBooks error 15101, move to the next step and configure the Windows firewall manually.

Step 3 – Configure Windows Firewall Settings Manually

If you cannot remove firewall restrictions using QuickBooks File Doctor, you must manually configure it. For this, create Windows firewall exceptions by implementing the following steps –

Create Firewall Exceptions for QB Ports

Creating Windows firewall exceptions will provide QuickBooks uninterrupted access to the internet to download the updates. To create firewall exceptions for QB ports, go through the following steps –

Note: If you use multiple QB versions of QuickBooks on the same computer, you must configure the firewall for each version. Additionally, include each QB version’s port number in the “specific ports” field in step 4 below.

• Type “Windows Firewall” in the Windows search bar, open the firewall and then move to the Advanced Settings tab.

• Next, right-click Inbound Rules, click New Rule, and select Port.
• Click Next, ensure TCP is checkmarked, then refer to the following list to find the specific ports for your QBDT version.
  • QuickBooks Desktop 2020 and later: 8019, XXXXX.
  • QuickBooks Desktop 2019: 8019, XXXXX.
  • QuickBooks Desktop 2018: 8019, 56728, 55378-55382.
  • QuickBooks Desktop 2017: 8019, 56727, 55373-55377.
• Further, enter the port number in the Specific Local Ports field and click Next.

However, if you use QBDT 2019 or later versions, find and add the Dynamic Port Number as per the QB version by following the steps below-

• Type “QuickBooks Database Server Manager” in the Windows search bar, open the program and select the Port Monitor tab.

• Now, locate your QBDT version, note the port number, and add it to the port exceptions list.

Note: You can select Renew to modify the assigned port number (for QuickBooks Desktop 2019 and future versions). To renew the port number, open the Scan Folder menu, select Scan Now, and reset the Windows firewall permissions.

• Click Next, select Allow the Connection, then hit Next again, and ensure all profiles are marked (if prompted).
• Select Next, create a new exception rule named “QBPorts(year),” and click Finish.
• Lastly, repeat these steps (Steps 1 to 6) to create Outbound Rules for QBDT ports. While creating outbound rules, select Outbound Rules instead of Inbound Rules in Step 2 above and end the process.

Once the QB port exceptions are created, rerun QuickBooks and try downloading the latest updates. If you still encounter the QuickBooks error 15101, create firewall exceptions for QB executable files in the next section.

Create Firewall Exceptions for QB Executable Files

If creating port exceptions doesn’t help resolve the update issues, create exceptions for QB executable files. QuickBooks Desktop uses these files to perform different tasks, including updates. Implement the steps given below to create firewall exceptions for QuickBooks .exe files –

• Type “Windows Firewall” in the Windows search bar, launch the program and go to the Advanced Settings menu.
• Further, right-click Inbound Rules and select the New Rule option.

• Next, select Program, then hit Next and click This Program Path.
• Select Browse and pick a QB executable (.exe) file from the list below-

• Now, click Next, select Allow the Connection, then hit Next again.
• Ensure all the profiles are selected (if required), then hit Next and create an exception rule named “QBFirewallException(name.exe), followed by hitting Finish.
• Lastly, follow this same process (Steps 1 to 6) to create outbound rules for QB executable files. While creating the outbound rules, select Outbound Rules rather than Inbound Rules in step 2 above.

After creating the exception rules, reopen QuickBooks Desktop and download the latest QB and tax table updates. Configure the antivirus program in the following section if you still encounter error code 15101 in QuickBooks.

Step 4 – Configure the Antivirus Program Settings

Sometimes, misconfigured antivirus settings can cause restrictions that prevent users from downloading QB updates. By configuring the antivirus settings, you can ensure that QuickBooks has proper permissions to connect to the internet to download the updates. To modify the settings, follow your antivirus program’s specific steps and guidelines. To learn how to configure the antivirus, visit the program’s official website or contact your vendor for instructions.

Once the antivirus settings are configured, check if blockages are removed by running the QB updates again. However, if QuickBooks error 15101 persists, move to troubleshooting solution 2 below.

Solution 2 – Update QB and Payroll Tax Table as an Administrator

Problems while updating QB or payroll can arise due to a lack of administrative rights. Thus, download the latest updates as an admin user following the instructions below –

Log in to QuickBooks as an Admin

Implement the following steps to run QuickBooks with admin privileges-

• Close QB and your company files, then right-click the QuickBooks Desktop icon and select Run as Administrator.

• Next, when the “Do you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer?” message comes up, select Yes and enter your admin credentials.

Once logged in as an admin user, download the QBDT updates in the next section.

Download the Latest QBDT Updates

To update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release, follow the steps mentioned below –

• Go to the Help tab in QuickBooks, select Update QuickBooks Desktop, then click Update Now.

• Now, mark the Reset Update checkbox, click Get Updates, and wait for the download process to complete.
• Once the updates are downloaded, reopen QuickBooks, hit Install Now to install the updates, and restart your PC.

Once QBDT is updated, the next step is to download the payroll tax table updates.

Update the Payroll Tax Table

The last step is to download the latest payroll tax table updates, which you can do by following the instructions below –

• Launch QuickBooks Desktop, then select Get Payroll Updates from the Employees tab.

• Further, click Download Entire Update, select Update, and once the update process ends, an informational window will appear confirming the same.

You will now have the latest QuickBooks and tax table versions. However, if you still face QuickBooks error code 15101 while running the updates, move to the next solution.

Solution 3 – Install QuickBooks Digital Signature Certificate

An unverified, invalid, or expired digital signature certificate can be another reason for the update error in QuickBooks. To fix this error, install the digital signature certificate by following the steps file-

1. Open the C Drive, then go to Program Files, select Intuit, and access the QuickBooks folder.
2. Now, find and right-click the QBW32.exe file, select Properties, and click Digital Signature.
3. Next, verify that Intuit is selected in the signature list, click Details, and go to the Digital Signature Details window.
4. Select View Certificate, then in the Certificate window, click Install Certificate.
5. Further, hit Next until Finish is displayed, then select Finish and restart your PC.

Now, reopen QuickBooks and try downloading the latest updates again. If QuickBooks error 15101 persists, move to the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 4 – Edit QuickBooks Components Folder Name

A damaged component folder in QuickBooks can be a trigger behind the update issues. To fix the damage, rename the component folder in the following way –

• Exit QuickBooks and follow one of these navigation paths to find the components folder-
  • C:\Program Data\Intuit\QuickBooks XX (your version)\Components
  • C:\Program Data (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks XX (your version)\Components

• Now, right-click the QuickBooks Components Folder, select Rename, then add .old to the file name and press Enter.

Once the folder is renamed, check if you can update QB and payroll without any errors. If the QuickBooks error 15101 persists, move to solution 5 below.

Solution 5 – Use QB Tool Hub and Repair QuickBooks 

If the QBDT program is damaged or incorrectly installed, you need to repair the application to fix the update issues. To repair QB, use the QuickBooks Tool Hub features (to download the program, see ‘Step 1: Download QB Tool Hub’ of ‘Solution 1: Configure the Firewall and Internet Security Settings’ above) in the following manner – 

Step 1 – Use the Quick Fix My Program Utility

Quick Fix My Program terminates background processes that QuickBooks uses and can resolve general program issues. To run a QB program repair, use this tool in the following manner –

1. Launch the QB Tool Hub program, then select the Quick Fix My Program tool from the Program Problems section.
2. Now, run the tool and repair QuickBooks. Once the tool stops, open QBDT and access your data file.

After running the tool, try running the updates in QB to check if you still encounter QuickBooks error 15101 while updating the payroll. If the update error persists, move to step 2 and use the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool.

Step 2 – Run the QB Install Diagnostic Tool

QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool helps address the installation problems in the QB application. Thus, if the Quick Fix My Program tool doesn’t help, run this tool to repair QuickBooks by following the steps below-

1. Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub program, move to the Installation Issues section, and click the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool to open it.
2. Next, run the tool and let it fix the installation problems, which can take up to 20 minutes.
3. Lastly, once the tool stops running, restart your computer and relaunch QBDT.

Once done, run the QB and payroll updates again and check the status of the update error code. However, if you still face the error, follow the next solution to fix it.

Solution 6 – Use Windows Selective Startup Mode and Reinstall QB

Installation problems in QuickBooks can be fixed by using a freshly installed version. Reinstalling QuickBooks in Windows selective startup mode allows users to install the app without interference from other applications. Before following this process, back up your company file and keep the product and license details handy. Then, reinstall QBDT in selective startup mode by following the detailed steps below –

Step 1 – Run Windows in Selective Startup Mode

Activate the Selective Startup Mode in your Windows OS by following the steps below –

• Press the Windows + R keys to access the Run window, open the command box, and enter the “msconfig” command.
• Click OK, move to the General tab, then select Selective Startup, and choose Load System Services.

• Now, go to the Services menu, click Hide All Microsoft Services, then select Disable All.
• Uncheck the Hide All Microsoft Services option, then select Windows Installer from the service list, and click OK.
• Lastly, open the System Configuration window and click Restart to open Windows in selective startup mode.

Once the PC opens in the Selective Startup mode, follow step 2 below and uninstall QuickBooks.

Step 2 – Uninstall QB Desktop

After activating the Windows Selective Startup mode, remove/uninstall QuickBooks from the PC by using the steps given below-

• Open the Windows Start menu, and select the “Programs or Features” or “Uninstall a Program option to access the program list.

• Now, select the QuickBooks Desktop version you wish to remove, then choose Uninstall/ Change, Remove, and click Next.

Note: If you can’t locate the “uninstall/change, remove” option, log back into Windows as an admin user and then try to uninstall QB.

After uninstalling QuickBooks, move to the next step and reinstall it.

Step 3 – Install QuickBooks Again

Before reinstalling QB, ensure the QuickBooks system requirements are met, and the license details are handy. Then, implement the following steps to proceed with the QuickBooks installation process –

Note: New folders will be created automatically, and QuickBooks will rename the old folders during installation.

1. Open CAMPs or the download site to download your QBDT version, then save the file to an easily accessible location and open it.
2. Run the setup file, follow the on-screen instructions, accept the software license agreement, and click Next.
3. Further, enter the product and license numbers, click Next, and then ensure an active internet connection before proceeding.
4. Select Express as the Installation Type, then select Next and click the Install option.
5. Once the installation process is complete, launch QuickBooks and move to the Help menu.
6. Lastly, click Activate QuickBooks Desktop, follow the on-screen prompts to verify your information, and complete the activation process.

After installing and activating QuickBooks, move to step 4 and switch back Windows to Normal Startup Mode.

Step 4 – Switch Windows Back to Normal Startup Mode

After completing the reinstallation process, switch Windows back to Normal Mode by implementing the following steps –

• Press the Windows + R keys, access the Run window, and type “msconfig” in the command box.
• Click OK, select Normal Startup from the General menu, and hit OK again.

• Now, move to the System Configuration window, select Restart, and restart your PC in Normal Startup mode.

Now, rerun QuickBooks and download the latest QB and payroll tax table updates. If you still encounter QuickBooks error message 15101, move to the next solution to eliminate it.

Solution 7 – Map the Network Drive

If the network drive is not mapped or the mapping is incorrect, it can lead to update problems in QuickBooks. To fix this, map the network drive in Windows by going through the following steps –

Windows 10

You can map the network drive in Windows 10 by using the steps mentioned below-

• Press the Windows key, then type “This PC” in the Windows search bar and click This PC.

• Now, go to the Computer menu, select Map a network drive, then pick any unused drive letter, and hit Browse.
• Next, go to the network location where your QB company file is stored, then click OK and Finish.

Note: If you can’t map the network drive using the UNC path, use the server’s IP address to map the drive instead.

• Lastly, access your QuickBooks Desktop company file again by using the new mapped drive.

Windows 11

If you use Windows 11,  map the network drive by using the following steps-

1. Press the Windows key, enter “This PC” in the search bar, select This PC, and click More.
2. Further, click Map network drive and select a drive letter in Drive. If you can’t find the Map network drive option, right-click This PC, then select Map network drive.
3. Next, enter the full path of the folder you want to map or enter only the path to the computer from which the file is hosted. You can locate the folder by selecting Browse.
4. Lastly, select Reconnect at sign-in to keep the drive mapped every time you sign in to your PC, and hit Finish.

Once the network drive is successfully mapped, rerun QuickBooks and check the status of the 15101 error code. If it continues to appear, move to solution 8 below.

Solution 8 – Turn On QuickBooks File Copy Service

The File Copy Service in QuickBooks helps initiate and execute the update process. When this service is disabled, it can lead to the update error in QB. Thus, you need to enable QuickBooks FCS by going through the following steps –

• Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run window, and type COMPMGMT.MSC into the command box, and click OK to run the command.

• In the Computer Management Window, select Services and Applications, then click Services to access the service list.
• Next, scroll the cursor down, find Intuit QuickBooks FCS, and double-click the service.
• Further, click Startup Type, choose Manual, then click Apply and OK to start the service.

Now, validate the QB payroll service key again and refresh the connection in the following way-

• Move to the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose My Payroll Service, and click Activate Service Key.

• Next, go to the Service Keys window, highlight the current payroll, and select Edit.
• Now, select Next until Finish comes up, then hit Finish to end the process.

Once QuickBooks FCS is enabled, try running the updates again. Then, check if QuickBooks error 15101 is resolved. If not, move to the next solution and set IE as the default browser.

Solution 9 – Update IE and Set it as the Default Browser 

Not using Internet Explorer as the default browser for running QB updates can lead to QuickBooks error 15101. To resolve the error, update IE to the latest version and set it as the default browser following the instructions below-

Update IE to Version 11.0

To update Internet Explorer to the 11.0 version, go through the following steps –

1. Go to the Windows Start menu, choose the Settings, and select Update & Security.
2. Go to the Windows Update section, then hit the Check for Updates option to let Windows find the available updates.
3. Once the updates are downloaded, restart the PC and wait for the IE updates to be installed.

Once done, set IE as the default browser in the next section.

Make Internet Explorer the Default Browser

To set IE as the default browser for running QB updates, follow the steps below –

1. Open Internet Explorer, click the Gear icon in the upper-right corner (or select the Tools menu).
2. Next, click Internet Options, select the Programs menu, and move to the Default Web Browser section.
3. Lastly, tap the Make Default button and click OK to save the settings.

Once IE is set as the default browser, rerun QBDT updates and check if the update error is fixed. However, if the error persists, move to the next solution and verify the IE settings.

Solution 10 – Verify the Internet Explorer Settings 

If setting IE as the default browser doesn’t help with the update error, review the Internet Explorer settings and make the necessary changes –

• Open IE and press the Alt key to open the Menu bar.
• Next, go to the File tab, select the Connections menu, and then choose Properties.
• Check the number before the “bit encryption” phrase; if it is below 128, IE is damaged.
• On the other hand, if the cipher strength is 128, go to Settings and select the Tools menu.
• Now, click Internet Options, open the General tab, and select Delete.
• Further, select Temp Internet Files, click Delete, and go to the Connections tab.
• Open LAN Settings and ensure the Automatically Detect Settings checkbox is selected, then make sure that the Proxy Servers are blank.

• Hit OK twice, go to the Advanced tab, and checkmark the SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0 checkboxes.
• Next, clear the Check for Publisher’s Certificate checkbox and select the TLS 1.2 option.
• Lastly, ensure that TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 options are unmarked and save the settings.

Once the IE settings are configured, run the QB and payroll updates again. However, if QuickBooks error 15101 persists, move to the next troubleshooting solution.

Solution 11 – Repair the Damaged Windows OS Files

If none of the above solutions work, try repairing the Windows OS files. Fixing the damaged Windows OS files in the following manner can help fix the update error in QuickBooks –

Step 1 – Scan the Windows System Files

You can run a scan and inspect all of the Windows system files for issues by implementing the following steps –

1. Go to the Windows Start menu, select Search, then enter “SFC/SCANNOW” in the search box, and run the command.
2. The Windows System File Checker will now scan every system file to detect any potential damage and repair them automatically.

Note: Scanning the system files is a time-consuming process and will take several minutes to complete.

Now, move to the next step and check the disk for issues.

Step 2 – Check the Disk for Errors

To check the disk and identify the issues, implement the following steps –

• Open the Windows Start menu, select Computer, then right-click the C:/ Drive.
• Now, move to the Tools tab (If you are a Windows 7 user, select Properties, then open the Tools menu).

• Lastly, go to the Error-checking section, select Check Now, and proceed to check the disk for errors.

Note: Unmark the two boxes on the Check Disk window unless your business IT department indicates otherwise.

Now, check if the damaged Windows OS files are fixed and the QB update error is rectified. However, if the error persists, move to troubleshooting solution 12.

Solution 12 – Run the Reboot.bat File as an Admin

Running the reboot.bat batch file can help re-register the .DLL and .OCX files in QuickBooks. To run this file as an admin and fix error 15101 in QuickBooks, implement the following steps –

1. Exit QuickBooks, right-click the QB Desktop icon, and choose the Properties option.
2. Next, select Open File Location and look for the Reboot.bat file, then right-click on it and choose Run as Admin.
3. Select Yes for user account permissions, and when the Command Prompt window appears, you will see different files scrolling on display.
4. Lastly, reboot the PC and reopen QuickBooks Desktop to run the updates again.

Check if you can update QB and payroll after implementing this last solution. 

Conclusion 

We hope this detailed blog helps you navigate QuickBooks error 15101 with ease. However, if these solutions aren’t helping or you are stuck in the troubleshooting process, you can contact our support team at 800-580-5375 for quick troubleshooting help and guidance.

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