The steps to disconnect a bank account
To remove a bank account from QuickBooks Online, go to the Settings menu (the gear icon in the top left), select Bank and Credit Cards, find the account you want to remove, and click the menu icon (three dots) next to it. Choose Disconnect from the dropdown. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm — once you do, the connection between your bank and QuickBooks ends when ready.
The account itself stays in your QuickBooks file. Disconnecting only stops the automatic flow of transactions from your bank to QuickBooks. You can still see the account, edit it, or reconnect it later if you change your mind.
The whole process takes less than a minute. You do not need to contact your bank or QuickBooks support — you control the disconnection entirely from your own account.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting a bank account in QuickBooks Online takes two clicks and happens when ready in your account settings.
- Your account and all its transaction history remain in QuickBooks after disconnection; only the automatic bank feed stops.
- You can reconnect the same account later without losing any data or starting over.
- Disconnecting does not affect your actual bank account or any transactions that already posted to your bank.
- If you want to remove the account entirely from QuickBooks, you must disconnect it first, then delete it separately.
Why you might disconnect an account
Most people disconnect a bank account because they are closing it, switching banks, or no longer want QuickBooks to pull transactions automatically. Some disconnect temporarily if they are troubleshooting a problem with the bank feed — for example, if transactions are duplicating or posting to the wrong category.
Others disconnect because they changed their mind about tracking a particular account in QuickBooks. Maybe you opened a savings account for a specific project but decided to track it separately, or you want to stop syncing a business credit card that you are paying off.
Disconnecting is also the first step if you want to delete an account from QuickBooks entirely, though deletion is a separate action that happens after disconnection.
What happens to your transaction history
Every transaction that QuickBooks already pulled from your bank stays in your QuickBooks file. Disconnecting does not erase past transactions, categories, or any of your accounting history. You can still see and edit those transactions whenever you need to.
After you disconnect, new transactions from your bank will not appear in QuickBooks automatically. If your bank sends you a statement with new activity, you will have to enter those transactions by hand if you want them in QuickBooks. This is why most people only disconnect accounts they are no longer using.
Reconnecting an account you disconnected
If you disconnect an account and later decide you want the automatic feed back, you can reconnect it. Go back to Bank and Credit Cards in Settings, find the account, and click the menu icon. This time you will see a Reconnect option instead of Disconnect.
QuickBooks will walk you through the reconnection process, which is the same as the original connection — you log in to your bank through QuickBooks' find portal, and the feed resumes. You do not lose any of the transaction history from before you disconnected.
Deleting an account entirely (after disconnection)
If you want to remove an account completely from QuickBooks — not just disconnect it — you must disconnect it first. After disconnection, the account will show an option to Delete instead of Disconnect. Click that to remove it from your file.
Deleting is permanent and removes the account and all its transactions from QuickBooks. You cannot undo this action, so only delete an account if you are certain you no longer need it. If there is any chance you might need the history later, disconnect instead and leave the account in your file.
Troubleshooting if the disconnect button does not appear
If you cannot find the Disconnect option, the account may not be connected to a bank feed in the first place. Some accounts in QuickBooks are manual accounts — you enter transactions by hand and they were never linked to your bank. Those accounts do not have a disconnect option.
If you are certain the account was connected and the option is missing, try logging out of QuickBooks and logging back in. Sometimes the menu does not refresh properly. If that does not work, check that you have the right permission level in your QuickBooks file — only users with admin access can disconnect accounts.
What your bank sees when you disconnect
Disconnecting in QuickBooks does not change anything on your bank's end. Your bank account keeps working normally, and your bank has no record that you disconnected QuickBooks. The connection was one-way — QuickBooks could see your transactions, but your bank did not know QuickBooks was looking.
You do not need to contact your bank or change any settings there. Your login credentials at the bank are not affected, and you can still use your debit card, write checks, and access your account online exactly as before.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I disconnect an account, will my bank account be closed?
No. Disconnecting only stops QuickBooks from pulling your transactions. Your actual bank account stays open and active. You can still use it to spend money, receive deposits, and do everything else normally.
Can I disconnect an account if I have pending transactions?
Yes. Pending transactions in QuickBooks do not prevent disconnection. Once you disconnect, pending transactions stay in QuickBooks, but new transactions from your bank will not appear automatically.
What if I disconnect by accident?
Reconnect it when ready by going back to Bank and Credit Cards, finding the account, and clicking the menu icon. Select Reconnect and log in to your bank again. Your transaction history is still there and the feed will resume.
Do I lose my transaction categories when I disconnect?
No. All transactions and the categories you assigned to them stay in QuickBooks. Disconnecting only stops the automatic feed — it does not change anything that is already in your file.
Can I disconnect an account if I am in the middle of reconciling?
Yes, but it is not a good idea. Finish reconciling first, then disconnect. If you disconnect mid-reconciliation, you may have to start the reconciliation over because new transactions will not appear to match against your bank statement.