How to Prepare Your QuickBooks Desktop System for 2026: Updates, OS Support & Best Practices
- Susan Cook
- Dec 22, 2025
- 2 min read
As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect time to ensure your accounting systems are ready to support a more efficient, streamlined year ahead. If you're using QuickBooks Enterprise 24.0, Intuit just released a small but impactful update that will help you kick off 2026 with cleaner records and less manual cleanup.
One quick heads-up: If your system is still running Windows 10, now's the time to upgrade—Microsoft officially ended support in October, and it's no longer recommended for QuickBooks users going into the new year.
New QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Feature: Mark Estimates Inactive for a Cleaner Start
Starting December 9, 2025, QuickBooks Enterprise users can now mark an estimate as “inactive” when creating a sales order or a non-progressing invoice from an estimate. This means outdated estimates won’t continue to clutter your system or create confusion for your team.
By simplifying your open estimates list, your sales and accounting teams will have better clarity and a more streamlined workflow. This update makes it easier to keep your pipeline and reporting clean—without the extra effort.
Enterprise 24.0 users (as well as other Desktop 2024 users) will receive updates automatically when they become available, but you can always manually install an update as well. Just look for an in-app message.
Is Your Operating System Ready for 2026?
While we’re on the topic of updates, it’s important to double-check that your QuickBooks software is running on a supported version of Windows.
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. As a result, Intuit no longer recommends using QuickBooks Desktop 2024 on that platform. While you can still install QuickBooks on Windows 10, using an unsupported OS can put your data at risk.
For the best performance and protection, make sure you're using one of these supported systems:
Windows 11 (64-bit, natively installed)
Windows Server 2022 (Standard and Essentials)
Windows Server 2019 (Standard and Essentials)
Windows Server 2016 (Standard and Essentials)
But before you hit update, we have one last reminder: back up your QuickBooks Desktop file before any software or system updates. It’s a simple step that offers big peace of mind in the event that something goes wrong.
It’s time for an accounting system check-up.
Ready to prepare your systems and workflows for a smoother 2026? The new year is a great opportunity to review your accounting processes and find an easier way to run your business.
Schedule a accounting system check-up with us today. we’re here to help you enter the new year with confidence and clarity.
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