What is a QBO file?
QBO is QuickBooks's Web Connect file format for importing bank transaction history into QuickBooks Desktop. Banks that support QuickBooks Direct Connect or Web Connect provide QBO downloads. The file contains your transactions in a structure QuickBooks can read and match to existing accounts.
Like QFX, QBO is based on OFX 1.x SGML. The QBO-specific element is INTU.BID in the SONRS block, which identifies the financial institution in QuickBooks's database. Unlike QFX, QBO should not contain INTU.USERID.
QuickBooks Online (the subscription web product) is unrelated to the QBO file format despite sharing the name. QuickBooks Online imports transactions via direct bank feeds or CSV/OFX upload — not via .qbo files.
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How to import a QBO file into QuickBooks Desktop
- In QuickBooks Desktop: File → Utilities → Import → Web Connect Files.
- Browse to your .qbo file and open it.
- QuickBooks matches the INTU.BID in the file to a bank account. If matched, transactions import automatically.
- If QuickBooks prompts to set up a new account, select 'Use an existing QuickBooks account' and choose the correct bank account.
Questions
Does QuickBooks Online use QBO files?
No. QuickBooks Online (the web product) does not use .qbo files for import. The name overlap is confusing but the two are different things. QBO files are for QuickBooks Desktop's Web Connect import.
How do I get a QBO file from my bank?
Log in to your bank's online portal and look for transaction export options. Banks that support QuickBooks typically label the option 'QuickBooks (Web Connect)' or '.qbo'. If your bank only offers QFX or OFX, use QBOConvert to convert.
Can a QBO file contain multiple accounts?
Most QBO files from banks contain a single account's transactions. QuickBooks assigns each import to one account during the import dialog.