QuickBooks File Repair

QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery

Written By Charanjeet Kaur
Approved By Kuljeet Singh
Updated on 3 Aug, 2026
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Summary:

This blog discusses about the QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery (ADR) feature. It explains how you can use ADR to recover lost or corrupted QuickBooks® (QB) data. The ADR tool relies on a readable backup file (QBB) to perform data recovery. If the QBB file is not available or is corrupted, use the Stellar Repair for QuickBooks® software to recover the QB data.

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Table of Contents

As a QuickBooks® user, you may be using Intuit Data Services to recover data from damaged or corrupted QuickBooks data files. However, the data recovery process can take time, preventing you from using the data files for several days. But, using the QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery (ADR) feature, you can quickly recover your data in case of data loss or corruption.

Note: Intuit recommends using the ADR feature only after troubleshooting the QB issue using the appropriate solutions.

What is QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery and How it Works?

Auto Data Recovery (ADR) is a built-in recovery feature of QuickBooks® Desktop (QBDT). It helps recover and restore lost QB data by performing any of these actions:

Use the latest Transaction Log (.TLG Log) file and a copy of the Company file (.QBW) to restore the recent transactions.
Use a copy of both .QBW file and .TLG file to restore all the data except for the transactions performed in the last few hours.

Before discussing the solutions to recover lost data using ADR, a few pointers to consider:

Install the latest updates on QuickBooks® Desktop.
ADR feature is available in QuickBooks® Pro, Premier, and Enterprise editions for Windows. It is not available in Accountant editions.
QB cannot generate an ADR file exceeding 1.5 gigabytes.

Tip! If you want to recover data from a corrupted backup file greater than 1.5 GB, try using a QuickBooks® data recovery tool that can repair and recover a backup file of any size.

Methods to Recover QuickBooks® Data using Auto Data Recovery Tool

There are two methods to recover QB data using the ADR tool:

Method 1 – Use .TLG file with .QBW.adr File to Recover Recent Transactions

This method requires using the original Transaction Log (.TLG) file and ADR version of the QBW file to recover the recent transactions. Here’s how:

On your Windows desktop, create a new folder. Let’s say QBTest.
Next, browse and open the folder where your company file is saved. The default location of the QuickBooks company file is:

C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files

Tip: If you are not aware of the company file location, you can find it by clicking the ‘Product Information’ screen and then the ‘No Company Open Window’.

Once you’ve located your company file’s folder, search for the .tlg file which has the same name as the company (QBW) file.
Once you find the .TLG file, copy and paste it into the QBTest folder (created in Step 1).
Next, open the QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery folder, which is located in the same company file folder.
From that folder, copy and paste the .QBW.adr file into the QBTest folder.

The QBTest folder now contains two required files – .TLG and .QBW.adr.
Right-click on the QBW.adr file, select Rename, and then delete the .adr extension.

Next, use the company file saved in the new (QBTest) folder to open your QuickBooks.
Use your account register to check if all the transactions are recovered.
Next, check the integrity of the recovered file data by clicking File > Utilities > Verify Data.
If the copy of the company file contains the data you want, move the corrupted company file (QBW) to a different location and transfer the copy of company file from QBTest folder to the original location.

Method 2 – Use Copies of Company File and Transaction Log Files to Recover Transactions

This method requires using the ADR versions of both the .QBW and .TLG files. It recovers the most recent transactions available in the ADR backup. Here’s how to recover the data:

Create a new folder on your system named QBTest.
Now open the company file folder and then search for the QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery folder.
In the QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery folder, locate the .TLG.adr and .QBW.adr files. These files have the same name as your company file. For example, if the name of your company file is “MyCompanyName.QBW”, then look for “MyCompanyName.QBW.adr” and “MyCompanyName.TLG.adr”.

Note: If you cannot see the .adr extension at the end of the file names, your file extensions might be hidden. In that case, you will need to turn on file extensions to see them.

Copy and paste the .TLG.adr and .QBW.adr files in the QBTest folder.
In the QBTest folder, remove .adr from the end of the Transaction Log and Company file names.
Open QuickBooks® and then open your company file that is located in the QBTest folder. Verify all the transactions by using your account register.
Use the Verify Data utility to check the accuracy of the data of the recovered file. To open the utility, click File, hover over Utilities, and then click Verify Data.
If the copy of the company file (i.e., the recovered file) has all the data you need, move the damaged QBW file to a different location and save the QBW file’s copy from QBTest to the original location.

Limitations of QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery

The ADR tool can help you recover data from the company (QBW) file, but it has some downsides, such as:

It can recover data if the required .QBW.adr and .TLG.adr files are available and intact.
It is not suitable for repairing severely corrupted or damaged company files.
The size limit for the ADR file is 1.5 gigabytes.
It is not available in QuickBooks Accountant editions.

What Else Can You Do to Recover Lost QuickBooks® Data?

If the QuickBooks Auto Data File Recovery feature fails to restore the lost data, use the Stellar Repair for QuickBooks® software to recover all the data. This software is designed to fix severely corrupted QuickBooks Company (.QBW) and backup (.QBB) files. You can fully recover all of their data with just a few simple clicks. It supports QuickBooks 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and earlier versions.

Steps to Recover QBW Data using Stellar Repair for QuickBooks® Software

Launch the software to open the main interface. Click either Browse or Find to locate and select your corrupted QuickBooks® QBW file.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks Interface to select corrupt QuickBooks company file

After selecting the file you want to repair, click ‘Next’.

Window showing Next option After selecting QuickBooks company file

Select a working backup file (optional). If you do not have a backup file or choose not to add one, simply click Skip.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks window showing Skip option if QuickBooks backup file is not working

A Review and Scan window appears; click Scan.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks- Review and Scan window

A ‘Scan Log’ dialog box opens with details of the present and deleted items in the Company file. It includes Charts of Accounts, Items and Services, Customers, Vendors, and Employees. Click ‘OK’.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks Scan Summary window showing log summary

The software displays a preview of recoverable data of your QBW file. To preview recoverable data of the Customers, Vendors, and Employees, click on the respective tabs. After verifying the recoverable data’s integrity in the preview window, click Save to save the recovered file.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks showing Preview of recoverable QuickBooks data

In ‘Save File’ window that appears, click ‘Browse’ to select a location to save the new company file with all the recovered data.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks Save File window to save recovered company file data

Save the recovered data by clicking the ‘Save’ button.
The recovered file will be saved at the selected location.

The recovered file will be saved at the selected location.

Conclusion

Auto Data Recovery is a built-in feature of QuickBooks Desktop that is designed for quick recovery of lost or corrupted data from QBW files. It uses a Transaction Log (.TLG) file and a backup copy of the Company file to recover the recent transactions. If the original .TLG file is not available, you can use a copy of the .TLG file and .QBW file to recover all data except for the recent transactions. However, ADR won’t work if you do not have a copy of your company file. A better alternative is to use Stellar Repair for QuickBooks® – a tool purpose-built to recover data from corrupted QBW and QBB files, regardless of their size. The tool is available in two subscription plans – standalone software and software plus services. In the latter, you will also get professional services to help you repair a corrupted QuickBooks company file.

FAQs

When should you use Auto Data Recovery in QuickBooks?

You can use QuickBooks ADR when: • You have accidently deleted Company file • Your QBW file is corrupted or won’t open • Recent transactions are missing

Does QuickBooks ADR recover deleted transactions?

Auto Data Recovery (ADR) can help you recover deleted transactions by restoring most recent transactions available in the ADR files, depending on when the files were last updated. It uses ADR version of both the .QBW and .TLG files to recover all the transactions.

How long are QuickBooks ADR backups kept?

QuickBooks keep two Automated Data Recovery (ADR) backups, with file copies taken every 12 hours while the desktop application is active. The system automatically creates a new backup and deletes the oldest, ensuring only two recent recovery points (up to 12 and 24 hours old) are stored.

What if you can’t identify and find .tlg file in QuickBooks company file folder?

You may fail to find .tlg file, if it is hidden. To make the file extension visible, follow these steps based on your operating system: For Windows 10, • Press the Windows Key + E to open File Explorer. • Click View at the top of the window. • Click File name extensions to check the box.

How do I back up QuickBooks files?

You can create a backup of QuickBooks company files manually using these steps: • In QuickBooks, go to File and select Back Up Company. • Choose Local Backup, then click Next. • Under the Local Backup Only section, select Browse to choose the location where you want to save the backup file. Click OK. • Click Save It Now, click Next. QuickBooks creates a single backup file of your company data, which is saved as a .qbb file

What should I do if the QBW file remains corrupted even after repairing it with the built-in tool?

If manual repairs fail to repair company file, use the QuickBooks Tool Hub. For severely corrupted QBW files, you can use Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. It can repair and restore QBW files without size limits.

Does ADR replace the need for regular backups in QuickBooks?

No. You can use Intuit QuickBooks ADR as a safety net for unexpected corruption. It is not a substitute for your regular backups. You need to keep your. QBB backup handy in multiple locations.

What if the ADR doesn't recover my data or the ADR folder is missing?

This usually happens due to one of the following reasons: • You are on an unsupported edition, such as the Accountant Edition. • The backup goes beyond the 1.5 GB limit. • The ADR copies got damaged along with the original. If you encounter any of these cases, use Stellar Repair for QuickBooks to recover the company file directly, since it doesn't depend on the ADR backups being intact.

What is a .QBW.adr file, and where do I find it?

A .QBW.adr file is the ADR-generated backup copy of your company file. QuickBooks stores it inside a "QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery" subfolder in the same location as your original company file.

About The Author

Charanjeet Kaur

Charanjeet is a Technical Content Writer at Stellar®who specializes in writing about databases, e-mail recovery, and e-mail migration solutions. She loves researching and developing content tha...