Understanding the difference between a Quicken file and an account

In Quicken, a file and an account are very different things, even though both are essential to managing your financial data.

What's the difference?

Think of your Quicken file as a file cabinet. Inside that cabinet are many accounts, which act like individual file folders.

• A Quicken file contains all your financial data—accounts, transactions, categories, tags, reports, budgets, and preferences.

• An account represents a specific financial entity, such as a checking account, credit card, investment account, loan, or asset.

When you create a new account in Quicken, you are adding it to your existing file. Quicken does not create a new file each time you add an account.

Why this matters

• To back up your data, you back up the entire file—not just a single account.

• To switch between financial records for different people or purposes (for example, personal vs. business finances), you need separate Quicken files.

You can view your current file name and location by choosing File > Show this file on my computer.