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 Linked Accounts under the Tools section, find the bank account you want to remove, and click the Disconnect button next to it. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm the disconnection. Once you confirm, the account is no longer linked to your QuickBooks file, though the account itself remains open at your bank.
The disconnection happens immediately. You will no longer receive automatic transaction downloads from that bank account into QuickBooks, but any transactions already imported stay in your QuickBooks records. Your actual bank account is unaffected—disconnecting in QuickBooks does not close the account or change anything on the bank's side.
If you cannot find the Linked Accounts option, check that you are logged in as an admin user. Only admins can manage linked accounts. If you are an admin and still cannot locate it, your QuickBooks subscription level may not include bank connections—some older or lower-tier plans do not support this feature.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting a bank account in QuickBooks takes two clicks and happens immediately, with no waiting period.
- Transactions already imported into QuickBooks remain in your records after you disconnect; only future downloads stop.
- The bank account itself stays open and active—disconnecting only breaks the link between your bank and QuickBooks.
- Only admin users can disconnect linked accounts, so if you cannot find the option, check your user role or contact your account admin.
What happens to your transaction history after disconnection
All transactions that QuickBooks downloaded before you disconnected the account remain in your QuickBooks file. You can still view them, edit them, and reconcile them as usual. Disconnecting does not delete or hide past transactions.
If you later reconnect the same bank account, QuickBooks will not re-download old transactions. It will start fresh from the point of reconnection, so you will not see duplicates. However, there may be a gap in automatic downloads between the disconnection date and the reconnection date, depending on how long the account was unlinked.
Reasons to disconnect a bank account
You might disconnect a bank account if you are closing it at the bank, switching to a different financial institution, or simply no longer want QuickBooks to download transactions automatically. Some businesses disconnect accounts temporarily while troubleshooting sync problems or changing their bookkeeping workflow.
If you are removing an account because of sync errors or missing transactions, disconnecting and reconnecting sometimes resolves the issue. After you reconnect, QuickBooks may re-sync recent transactions and catch up on anything that was missed. Wait a few hours after reconnecting before checking, as the sync process can take time.
How to reconnect a bank account later
If you disconnect an account by mistake or want to reconnect it later, go back to Settings, select Linked Accounts, and click the Connect button. You will be taken through the bank connection process again, which involves logging into your bank's website to authorize QuickBooks. The reconnection process is the same as the original setup.
When you reconnect, you may see a prompt asking how far back you want QuickBooks to download transactions. Choose a date that makes sense for your records—usually the date you originally disconnected, or the start of your current accounting period. QuickBooks will then sync transactions from that point forward.
What to do if the disconnect button does not appear
If you cannot see a Disconnect button next to your bank account, first confirm you are viewing the correct section. Go to Settings (gear icon) and look for Linked Accounts under the Tools column on the left side. If that section does not exist, your QuickBooks plan may not include bank connections.
Another reason the button might not appear is if the account is already in the process of being disconnected or if there is a sync error preventing QuickBooks from displaying the option. Try refreshing your browser or logging out and back in. If the button still does not appear after a refresh, contact QuickBooks support with your account details and the name of the bank account you want to remove.
Disconnecting multiple accounts at once
QuickBooks does not offer a bulk disconnect feature. You must disconnect each account individually by going to Linked Accounts and clicking Disconnect for each one. If you have many accounts to remove, set aside time to work through them one by one—each disconnection takes less than a minute.
If you are disconnecting accounts because you are closing your QuickBooks file or switching to a different accounting software, you do not need to disconnect them first. You can simply stop using QuickBooks, and the linked accounts will remain active at your bank. However, disconnecting them first is cleaner and prevents any confusion if you ever log back into that QuickBooks file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting a bank account close the account at my bank?
No. Disconnecting in QuickBooks only breaks the link between QuickBooks and your bank. Your actual bank account remains open and active. If you want to close the account, you must contact your bank directly.
Can I disconnect a bank account if transactions are still pending?
Yes. Pending transactions do not prevent disconnection. Any pending transactions that have already been imported into QuickBooks will stay in your records. Transactions that arrive at the bank after you disconnect will not be downloaded into QuickBooks.
What if I disconnect by mistake?
You can reconnect the account at any time by going back to Linked Accounts and clicking Connect. The process is the same as the original setup. Your past transaction history in QuickBooks will not be affected.
Do I need to disconnect before switching banks?
No, but it is a good idea. Disconnecting the old account and then connecting the new one keeps your linked accounts list clean and prevents confusion. You can do this whenever you are ready—there is no deadline.
Will my reconciliation be affected if I disconnect a bank account?
No. Disconnecting does not change any transactions or reconciliation records already in QuickBooks. You can still view and edit past reconciliations. Future transactions from that account simply will not download automatically.