Resolve QuickBooks Error 15276: QuickBooks Payroll Error When Installing Updates

QuickBooks error 15276 occurs while downloading the latest payroll and desktop updates. Error 15276 also known as technical payroll error that generally arises when a file you want to update was already in use and the updating tactics can’t replace the existing ones. 

When you get into QuickBooks error 15276, you’ll see the following messages on your screen:

“Error 15276: The payroll update didn’t complete successfully. One of the files to be updated was in use and couldn’t be replaced”

Or

“Error 15276: The update didn’t complete successfully. One of the files to be updated was in use and couldn’t be replaced.”

There are multiple technical factors that can be shown while updating the software on Windows. From here, you’ll know what causes this error and how quickly you can get rid of this error.

Causes of Error Code 15276 in QuickBooks

• Updates are incompatible with the Windows version
• One of the files you want to update was already opened and couldn’t be replaced
• Working with an active QuickBooks payroll subscription
• Corrupted updates of QuickBooks due to malware attacks

Your Suggested read: How to Fix QuickBooks Error 15XXX

How to Fix QuickBooks Payroll Update Error 15276

To prevent the error message 15276 from repeatedly prompting on your screen, just implement the below-listed solutions by following the series of sequences.

Solutions 1: Installation of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

This error can be fixed after adding a trustworthy authority certificate to Internet Explorer. To do this follow the given steps:

• Locate the path: C:\Program files\Intuit\QuickBooks, only if you have QBW32.exe
• Reach out to My computer, only if you have QBW32.exe in Windows 7
• Now find QBW32.exe containing a type of software Application
• Right-click on QBW32.exe and then choose Properties 
• Open the Digital Signature Window and check whether you have chosen Intuit Inc. in their signature list
• Go to the Details section
• Click to open the Digital Certificate Details section, and then choose View Certificate
• Certificate window will appear in front of you, just pick Install Certificate
• Wait until you receive a message that says “Installation Finished”. To get the message click on Next
• Tap on Finish to get a prompt that says “Installation Finished”
• Reboot your PC and start downloading QuickBooks Desktop updates again

Solution 2: Verify your Active QuickBooks Payroll subscription

• Reach out to the Employees tab and then click on My Payroll services
• To move onwards, tap on the Manage Service key
• Seek for View option to check the current status of your payroll subscription and be sure you have an active QuickBooks Payroll subscription
• In case it shows the Inactive status of your payroll subscription, then manually add the payroll service key you received on your registered email
• Click on the OK button, after entering the key
• Restart QuickBooks software

Solution 3: Troubleshooting QuickBooks Desktop

• Ensure that the subscription works perfectly
• You require to start the QuickBooks Desktop updates again
• Check the accuracy of the payroll service key
• Make a selection of Employees and My Payroll Service
• Tap on the Manage Service key then choose Edit
• Verify that your payroll service key is accurate
• Choose Next then Finish. This will help you in updating your payroll
• Restart your PC and then click to open the Task Manager 
• In the Task Manager, you have to eliminate the QBwebconnector.exe file by pressing three keys together (Ctrl + Alt + Delete)
• Choose the Process button and click on it
• Seek for QBwebconnector.exe file and then choose End Process

Solution 4: Make changes in Internet Explorer Settings

For downloading the updates from the Intuit server, QuickBooks is trying to establish a direct connection with the server. Before moving to follow the below steps, check and verify that your Internet Explorer acts as a default browser on your PC.

Step 1: Check your PC Date and Time Settings

• Move your cursor to the bottom taskbar and double click on the time display
• Check your current date and time is accurate or not
• If not, manually enter the accurate date and time or use the date and time setting window
• Choose a specific time zone

Step 2: Check the Cipher Strength for Internet Explorer (IE) 11

• Reach out to Intuit Official site (www.intuit.com) 
• Press the Alt key
• This helps you to visible your menu bar 
• Click on File then tap on Properties
• Inside Connection, seek for the numbers before bit encryption

Step 3: Check Internet Explorer Issues

• Launch Internet Explorer and then click on the Gear icon
• Choose Tools and then Internet options
• Reach out to the General tab and then click on Delete
• Browse to the Connections, and open their window 
• Choose LAN Settings
• Check and marked the Automatically detect settings box, ensure that proxy server boxes left as blank

Step 4: Open the Advanced Tab

• Check and verify that you have marked both SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0
• Be sure that you have unchecked the TLS 1.2. If you found marked, then do it unchecked

Solution 5: Check and Verify Registry Errors

• Press and hold two keys together Windows + R to open Run Window
• Open the Run window text box, enter appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter
• Open the list of all programs and then click on QuickBooks
• Go to open Uninstall/Repair window, choose Repair 
• By following the on-screen prompts you can easily repair QuickBooks registry related errors

Solution 6: Running of Quick Fix my Program from the QuickBooks Tools Hub

Option 1: Downloading and Installation of QuickBooks Tools Hub

QuickBooks Tool Hub is freely available for fixing common errors. For a quick resolution to the issues, we highly advised using Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64 bit.

Step 1: Download QuickBooks Tool Hub

• Quit QuickBooks
• Intuit always says to work with the most recent version (14.0.0) of QB Tool Hub
• Find a location to save your file so that you can easily spot it (Choose Desktop)
• If you have previously installed QuickBooks Tool Hub on your PC, just check which version you’re having
• Reach out to the Home tab
• See your version at the bottom right of your PC
• Click on About to view the version

Step 2: Installing QuickBooks Tool Hub

• Reach out to the list of downloads and then click on QuickBooksToolsHub.exe
• Choose the Yes option to grant the permissions
• Click Next by agreeing with installation terms and conditions 
• Pick Yes again to accept the license agreement
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation
• After the installation finishes, click twice on the QuickBooks Tool Hub icon to open it from your Windows Desktop

Note: If the QuickBooks Tool Hub icon is not found, just search the tool in Windows and choose the program.

Step 3: Download and Run Quick Fix My Program

• Open QuickBooks Tool Hub by clicking twice on its icon
• Reach out the Program Problems window
• Click on Quick Fix my Program
• You have to wait for a few seconds until the downloading process is not completed
• Open QuickBooks Desktop and then open the data file

Step 4: Download the Latest Tax Table

• Launch QuickBooks Desktop
• Reach out to the Employees and then click on Get Payroll Updates
• Check the Download Entire Update
• Click on Download Latest Update

Note: Once the update has been completed successfully, your windows will notify you immediately. 

Option 2: Uninstallation and Reinstallation of QuickBooks in a Selective Startup Mode

• Press and hold Windows + R keys together, a Run Box prompts you
• Enter Msconfig in the Run box and then hit Enter
• Reach out the General Tab and then click on Selective Startup 
• You have to make sure that the Load Startup option is unticked
• Hit the OK key
• If it prompts, tap on Restart
• Uninstall QuickBooks Software
• Now perform a clean install of QuickBooks software in a selective startup mode

Note: In case reinstallation of QuickBooks in a selective startup mode is unable to fix the issue, this means you don’t have enough authorization for QuickBooks File Copy Service.

Switch Back To Normal Mode

• Follow the 1st and 2nd step of option 2 to switches back to normal mode
• Reach out the General Tab and then click on Normal Mode
• Choose Apply and then click on the OK option
• Restart your PC

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The Bottom Line

Undoubtedly you have to follow the lengthy and tricky solutions to fix QuickBooks error 15276. We hope you’re no longer facing error issues in your QuickBooks Desktop. In case the error issue still persists, just drop a call on our helpline number and find a QuickBooks ProAdvisor for remote resolution.