Unlink a bank account by going to the Connections tab and selecting Disconnect
To unlink a bank account in QuickBooks Online, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top left), then select Connections from the left menu. Find the bank or credit card account you want to unlink in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Disconnect. QuickBooks will ask you to confirm — once you do, the connection ends immediately and no new transactions will download.
The account itself stays in your QuickBooks file. Unlinking only stops the automatic data flow from your bank to QuickBooks. Any transactions that already downloaded remain in your account history. You can still manually enter transactions or re-link the account later if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- Unlinking a bank account removes the automatic connection but keeps the account and all past transactions in QuickBooks.
- The process takes less than a minute and requires only a few clicks in the Connections tab under Settings.
- You can re-link the same account later without losing any data.
- If you want to delete the account entirely rather than just unlink it, that is a separate step done from the Chart of Accounts.
- Unlinking does not affect your actual bank account or any transactions at your bank.
Why you might unlink a bank account
You may unlink a bank account for several reasons. You might be switching to a different accounting software, closing the account at your bank, or no longer wanting QuickBooks to download transactions automatically. Some businesses unlink accounts temporarily while they reconcile or investigate discrepancies between what QuickBooks shows and what the bank shows.
If you are having trouble with a connection — such as repeated login errors or transactions downloading twice — unlinking and re-linking can sometimes fix the problem. This forces QuickBooks to re-authenticate with your bank and start fresh. Connection problems often clear up after you disconnect and reconnect.
What happens to your data after unlinking
All transactions that downloaded before you unlinked remain in QuickBooks. Your account balance, transaction history, and reconciliation records do not change. The account continues to exist in your Chart of Accounts and your financial reports will still include it.
After unlinking, you can still access the account and view or edit any transactions in it. If you need to add new transactions to that account, you will have to enter them manually instead of having them download automatically. This means you lose the convenience of automatic syncing but keep all the historical data intact.
How to re-link an account you have unlinked
To reconnect a bank account you previously unlinked, return to Settings and Connections. Look for the account in the list — it will show as disconnected. Click the three dots and select Connect. QuickBooks will walk you through logging into your bank again and selecting which account to link.
When you re-link, QuickBooks may download transactions from the past 90 days or so, depending on your bank and the time elapsed since you unlinked. Check for duplicates if you manually entered transactions during the time the account was unlinked. Most banks allow you to re-link without any penalty or loss of history.
Difference between unlinking and deleting an account
Unlinking stops the automatic connection but leaves the account in QuickBooks. Deleting removes the account entirely from your file. Most of the time you want to unlink, not delete, because deleting can affect your historical financial reports and tax records.
If you do want to delete an account, go to Settings, then Chart of Accounts. Find the account, click the three dots, and select Delete. QuickBooks will warn you if the account has a balance or transactions — you usually cannot delete it until those are resolved. Deleting is permanent and should only be done if you are certain you no longer need the account in your records.
Troubleshooting a failed unlink
Unlinking rarely fails, but if you see an error message, try refreshing the page and attempting again. If the account still will not unlink, check that you have admin access to your QuickBooks file — only admins can change connections. User permissions matter here, so verify your role in the file.
If you continue to have trouble, you can contact QuickBooks support directly through the Help menu in your account. They can manually disconnect the account on their end if the standard process is not working. Support can also help if you see error codes or messages that do not make sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will unlinking a bank account affect my actual bank account?
No. Unlinking only stops QuickBooks from downloading data. Your bank account, balance, and transactions are not affected at all. The connection is one-way — QuickBooks reads data from your bank but cannot make changes to your actual account.
Can I unlink a bank account if it has a balance in QuickBooks?
Yes. You can unlink an account at any time, regardless of its balance. The balance stays in QuickBooks and the account remains in your file. Unlinking just stops new transactions from downloading automatically.
What if I unlink by mistake?
You can re-link the account immediately by going back to Connections and selecting Connect. Your data is not lost. QuickBooks will re-download recent transactions, so watch for duplicates if you manually entered anything while it was unlinked.
Do I need to unlink before I close a bank account?
You do not have to, but it is a good idea. Once your bank closes the account, QuickBooks will not be able to connect anyway and you will see an error. Unlinking first prevents that error from appearing every time you log in.
Can I unlink one account but keep others linked?
Yes. You can unlink individual accounts without affecting any other connections. Go to Connections, find the specific account you want to unlink, and disconnect only that one. Your other linked accounts will continue to download transactions normally.