Managing bank transactions efficiently is essential for accurate bookkeeping. QuickBooks bank feeds make this easier by automatically importing transactions from your financial institution. However, there are situations where you may need to disable or remove bank feeds from an account. Whether you no longer need automatic downloads, have closed a bank account, or your bank no longer supports the service, knowing how to turn off bank feeds correctly can save you time and prevent errors.
This comprehensive guide explains how to turn off bank feeds in QuickBooks Desktop (Windows and Mac) and also covers how to get rid of bank feeds in QuickBooks Online. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and error-free process.
If you’re looking to turn off bank feeds in QuickBooks Desktop or Online and want to ensure it’s done correctly without disrupting your financial data, our experienced support team is here to help—call us today at 1-888-820-7278 for fast, reliable, and step-by-step assistance.
What Are Bank Feeds in QuickBooks?
Bank Feeds are a feature in QuickBooks that allow you to connect your bank or credit card accounts directly to your company file. Once connected, QuickBooks automatically downloads transactions so you can review, match, or add them to your books.
Bank Feeds are helpful for:
- Reducing manual data entry
- Improving accuracy in bookkeeping
- Speeding up bank reconciliations
Despite these advantages, Bank Feeds are not always necessary. In some cases, turning them off is the best option.
Why You Might Need to Turn Off Bank Feeds?
You may want to deactivate Bank Feeds in QuickBooks for several reasons, including:
- You no longer want to download transactions automatically
- The bank account has been closed or is inactive
- Your financial institution no longer supports Bank Feeds
- You prefer manual transaction entry
- You are troubleshooting Bank Feed errors
Regardless of the reason, QuickBooks requires a few checks before allowing you to disconnect an account.
Important Step Before Turning Off Bank Feeds
Match or Delete Downloaded Transactions
Before you deactivate bank feeds, you must review all downloaded transactions for the account. QuickBooks will not allow you to turn off bank feeds if there are pending transactions waiting to be matched or added.
Make sure to:
- Match downloaded transactions with existing entries, or
- Delete transactions you do not need
Once the transaction list is clear, you can safely proceed to turn off Bank Feeds.
How to Turn Off Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop (Windows)?
Follow these steps to deactivate bank feeds for an account in QuickBooks Desktop for Windows:
- Open QuickBooks Desktop and go to the Lists menu
- Select Chart of Accounts
- Right-click the bank or credit card account you want to disconnect
- Choose Edit Account
- Select Bank Settings
- Click Deactivate all online services
- Select OK to confirm
- Click Save & Close
After completing these steps, QuickBooks will stop downloading new transactions for that account.
How to Turn Off Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac?
If you are using QuickBooks Desktop on a Mac, the process is slightly different:
- Go to the Lists menu
- Select Chart of Accounts
- Highlight the account you want to edit
- Click the pencil icon to open account settings
- Select Online Settings
- Under Download Transactions, choose Not enabled
- Select OK to confirm
- Click OK again to save changes
Once disconnected, the account will no longer receive bank transactions automatically.
What Happens After You Turn Off Bank Feeds?
After you deactivate Bank Feeds:
- QuickBooks will stop importing new transactions
- Existing transactions already in your register remain unchanged
- You can still enter transactions manually
- The account remains active in your Chart of Accounts
Turning off Bank Feeds does not delete your account or historical data. It simply removes the online connection.
How to Fix Issues When You Can’t Turn Off Bank Feeds?
Sometimes, QuickBooks may display an error or prevent you from disconnecting Bank Feeds. Common reasons include:
- Pending downloaded transactions
- Damaged company file
- Connection issues with the bank
To resolve these problems:
- Ensure all transactions are matched or deleted
- Update QuickBooks to the latest release
- Run file verification and rebuild utilities
- Try disconnecting the account again
If issues persist, professional QuickBooks support may be helpful.
How to Disconnect Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online uses a different interface, but removing Bank Feeds is still straightforward.
- Sign in to your QuickBooks Online account
- Go to Settings and select Chart of Accounts
- Locate the bank account you want to disconnect
- Select Edit from the Action column
- Go to the Bank Settings or Online Banking section
- Click Disconnect this account on save
- Save your changes
QuickBooks Online will stop downloading new transactions after the account is disconnected.
Things to Consider Before Removing Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Online
Before you remove Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Online, keep these points in mind:
- Review all transactions in the For Review tab
- Download or save bank statements if needed
- Ensure your books are up to date
Disconnecting Bank Feeds does not delete past transactions, but it does stop future imports.
Best Practices for Managing Bank Feeds in QuickBooks
To avoid issues in the future, follow these best practices:
- Regularly review downloaded transactions
- Reconcile accounts monthly
- Disconnect Bank Feeds for closed or unused accounts
- Keep QuickBooks updated
- Use manual entry only when necessary
Proper bank feed management helps maintain accurate and reliable financial records.
Final Thoughts
Turning off bank feeds in QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online is a simple process when done correctly. By clearing pending transactions and following the right steps for your version of QuickBooks, you can disconnect your bank accounts without errors. Whether you are streamlining your workflow or resolving technical issues, understanding how to deactivate Bank Feeds gives you full control over your accounting system.
With the steps outlined above, you can confidently manage your accounts and keep your QuickBooks file clean, accurate, and efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bank feed errors in QuickBooks Desktop can occur for several reasons. Common causes include outdated QuickBooks software, changes made by the bank to its security or login process, incorrect bank credentials, or temporary server issues at the financial institution. Corrupted company files and pending or unreviewed transactions can also trigger errors. Keeping QuickBooks updated and regularly reviewing bank feed transactions helps reduce these issues.
To delete bank feed transactions in QuickBooks Desktop, open the Bank Feeds Center and review the downloaded transactions. Select the transaction you want to remove, then choose Ignore or Delete, depending on your QuickBooks version. Ignored transactions will not be added to your register. Make sure to delete or match all unwanted transactions before turning off Bank Feeds or reconciling the account.
To set up Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Desktop, go to Lists and select Chart of Accounts. Right-click the bank account you want to connect and choose Set Up Bank Feeds. Follow the on-screen prompts to sign in to your bank, select the correct account, and complete the connection. Once set up, QuickBooks will begin downloading transactions automatically based on your bank’s availability.
You can update Bank Feeds in QuickBooks Online by going to the Banking or Transactions menu. Select the bank account and click Update to refresh the connection and download the latest transactions. If updates fail, you may need to reconnect the account by editing the bank settings or re-entering your bank login credentials.
To set up a bank feed in QuickBooks Online, sign in to your account and go to the Banking section. Click Link account, search for your bank, and enter your online banking credentials. Choose the appropriate account type and link it to an existing QuickBooks account or create a new one. Once connected, QuickBooks Online will start importing transactions automatically.
Bank Feeds may not work in QuickBooks Desktop due to connectivity problems, expired bank credentials, unsupported bank changes, or an outdated QuickBooks version. In some cases, damaged company files or incomplete bank feed setup can also cause issues. Verifying your company file, updating QuickBooks, and re-establishing the bank connection often resolve most Bank Feed problems.
