Disconnecting a bank account removes the live link between your bank and QuickBooks

When you disconnect a bank account from QuickBooks Online, you stop the automatic flow of transactions from your bank to your software. The account itself stays in QuickBooks—your historical data and records remain—but new transactions will no longer pull in automatically. You can reconnect the same account later, or leave it disconnected and enter transactions manually.

The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely within QuickBooks. Your bank account itself is not affected, and your bank login credentials are not stored in QuickBooks after disconnection.

Key Takeaways

  • Disconnecting removes automatic transaction downloads but keeps all your existing QuickBooks data and transaction history intact.
  • You disconnect through QuickBooks settings, not through your bank, and the process does not require contacting your bank.
  • After disconnection, you can still see and work with all transactions already imported; you straightforward will not receive new ones automatically.
  • You can reconnect the same account at any time using the same method you used to connect it originally.
  • If you are disconnecting because of connection errors, you may need to reconnect with updated login credentials or check your bank's app password settings.

Steps to disconnect in QuickBooks Online

Open QuickBooks Online and go to the Settings menu (the gear icon in the top left). Select Accounts and Settings, then choose the Linked Accounts tab on the left side.

Find the bank account you want to disconnect in the list. Click the three-dot menu next to that account name and select Disconnect. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm—click Disconnect again. The account is now disconnected.

If you do not see a Linked Accounts tab, your version of QuickBooks may use a different layout. Look instead under Settings > Connected Services or Bank Feeds, depending on your subscription level and when your account was created.

What happens to your data after disconnection

All transactions you have already downloaded and imported into QuickBooks remain in your account. Your bank reconciliation history, categorized transactions, and all reports based on that data stay exactly as they are. Disconnecting does not erase anything.

Once disconnected, new transactions from that bank account will not appear in QuickBooks automatically. If you want to record new transactions, you will need to enter them manually or reconnect the account later. If you reconnect the same account, QuickBooks will recognize it and resume downloading from the point where you left off—it will not re-read old transactions.

When to disconnect and when to reconnect instead

Disconnect if: You are closing the bank account entirely, switching to a different accounting software, or you prefer to enter transactions manually going forward. You should also disconnect if you are troubleshooting repeated connection errors and plan to reconnect with updated credentials.

Reconnect instead if: You are experiencing temporary connection problems, your bank changed its security settings, or you accidentally disconnected. Reconnecting is faster than disconnecting and starting over, and it preserves your existing link to that account.

If your bank requires an app password (separate from your online banking password) for third-party connections, disconnecting and reconnecting is often the fastest way to fix a stalled connection. Your bank's help center can tell you whether this applies to your institution.

Troubleshooting if disconnection does not work

If the disconnect button does not appear or the process fails, clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again in an incognito or private browsing window. QuickBooks sometimes caches account information that can interfere with disconnection.

If you still cannot disconnect, check whether you have admin access to the QuickBooks company file. Only users with admin or accounting manager permissions can modify linked accounts. If you are not the account owner, ask the person who set up the connection to disconnect it for you.

In rare cases, QuickBooks support may need to disconnect the account on the back end if the interface option is not responding. Contact QuickBooks support through the Help menu (the question mark icon) and describe the issue. They can usually resolve this within one business day.

Reconnecting the same account later

If you disconnect now but want to reconnect later, the process is the same as your original connection. Go to Settings > Accounts and Settings > Linked Accounts and select Connect (or Add Account, depending on your version). Choose your bank, enter your login credentials, and authorize the connection.

QuickBooks will recognize that you have connected this account before and will resume downloading transactions from where the previous connection ended. You will not see duplicate transactions or lose any historical data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disconnecting delete my bank transactions from QuickBooks?

No. All transactions already in QuickBooks stay there. Disconnecting only stops new transactions from downloading automatically. Your reconciliation history and all categorized transactions remain unchanged.

Will my bank know I disconnected QuickBooks?

No. Disconnecting happens only in QuickBooks. Your bank has no notification of this and your account is not affected. Your bank login credentials are not stored in QuickBooks after disconnection.

Can I disconnect one account but keep others connected?

Yes. You can disconnect individual accounts while leaving others active. Go to the Linked Accounts section, find the specific account, and disconnect only that one. Other connected accounts will continue to read transactions normally.

What if I disconnect by mistake?

Reconnect the same account using the same method you used originally. QuickBooks will recognize the account and resume downloading from where it left off. No data is lost during accidental disconnection.

Do I need to tell my bank I am disconnecting QuickBooks?

No. You do not need to contact your bank. The disconnection happens only in QuickBooks and does not affect your bank account or any authorizations. If you had to create an app password for the connection, you can delete it from your bank's security settings if you want, but it is not required.