How to Transfer Quicken Data to a New Computer

Quicken Starter Edition 2010 is a valuable tool for managing your bills, income and expenses. If you've upgraded your computer, you'll want to move your Quicken data to your new computer. The process is relatively easy.

How to Transfer Quicken Data to a New Computer

Backup and Restore

Install Quicken on the new computer. With the standard license, Quicken can be installed on up to three computers within the same household. If you have upgraded your version of Quicken on the new computer keep in mind that it will convert the data file for use with the newer version and the file will no longer be able to be used in the previous version.

Insert your storage device, such as a disk or flash drive, into the old computer.

Open Quicken and select "File," "Backup and Restore," then "Back up Quicken File." Select "Back up on my computer or hard drive (CD, hard drive, thumb drive)" and choose the location for your backup, by clicking "Change." Alternatively, you can select "Use Quicken Online Backup," however, Quicken's online backup service starts at $9.99 per year. You must first create an account to utilize the service.

Select "Back up Now." Eject.

Insert the flash drive into the new computer. Open Quicken and select "File" "Backup and Restore," then "Restore from Backup File." Navigate to the location of the file and click "Restore Backup." If restoring from an online backup, select "Restore from online backup."

Copy and Paste

Previous versions used a number of different file extensions when saving data. The 2010 series no longer supports separate files. All Quicken files have a .QDF file name extension. This makes finding your Quicken data that much easier. It also allows you the option to simply copy and paste a backup file to your thumb drive.

If you don't know where your Quicken files are stored on your computer, click "Start Menu" and type "QDF" in the search box. Right click on any one of the Quicken files returned and select "Open file location." This will open the folder containing the Quicken, or QDF files. Copy the desired backup and drag it to your thumb drive.

Insert the drive into your new computer and copy the files to the Quicken folder. Launch Quicken and use the restore feature to locate and restore the file.