QuickBooks Error OL-231 is an online banking error that may appear in QuickBooks Desktop when the software encounters difficulty communicating with your financial institution or completing a Bank Feeds request. It can prevent bank transactions from downloading or stop QuickBooks from updating a connected account.
If you’re experiencing QuickBooks Error OL-231, checking your bank’s website, updating QuickBooks, verifying your online banking credentials, and reconnecting the affected account can help troubleshoot the problem.
What Is QuickBooks Error OL-231?
QuickBooks Error OL-231 belongs to the OL-series online banking errors in QuickBooks Desktop. It generally indicates that QuickBooks is having trouble completing an online banking communication with your financial institution.
The cause can vary depending on your bank, QuickBooks Desktop version, Bank Feeds setup, internet connection, and account configuration.
Common Causes of QuickBooks Error OL-231
Several issues can contribute to OL-231, including:
- Temporary maintenance or service interruptions at your financial institution.
- An outdated QuickBooks Desktop version.
- Incorrect or outdated online banking credentials.
- Problems with the connection between QuickBooks and your bank.
- Changes to your financial institution’s online banking system.
- Incorrectly configured Bank Feeds settings.
- Internet connectivity problems.
- Firewall or antivirus software blocking QuickBooks.
- An outdated or unsupported financial institution connection.
- Damaged online banking information in QuickBooks.
Symptoms of QuickBooks Error OL-231
You may experience the following symptoms:
- QuickBooks displays an OL-231 error message.
- Bank transactions fail to download.
- QuickBooks cannot connect to your financial institution.
- Bank Feeds updates fail or stop unexpectedly.
- QuickBooks repeatedly requests your banking credentials.
- Downloaded transactions do not appear in the correct account.
- QuickBooks becomes temporarily unresponsive during a banking operation.
How to Fix QuickBooks Error OL-231
1. Check Your Bank’s Website
Start by signing in to your financial institution’s website using a web browser.
Make sure:
- Your username and password work.
- Your account is accessible.
- The bank website is functioning normally.
- There are no security alerts requiring action.
- The bank is not experiencing maintenance or an outage.
If you cannot sign in through your bank’s website, contact the financial institution before changing your QuickBooks settings.
2. Update QuickBooks Desktop
An outdated QuickBooks release can cause compatibility problems with online banking services.
Follow these steps:
- Open QuickBooks Desktop.
- Select Help.
- Choose Update QuickBooks Desktop.
- Select Update Now.
- Click Get Updates.
- Restart QuickBooks after the update finishes.
Then try updating your bank account again.
3. Verify Your Online Banking Credentials
If your banking username, password, or security information has changed, QuickBooks may not be able to establish a connection.
First verify your credentials through your financial institution’s official website. Then enter the current information in QuickBooks when prompted.
Never share your banking password with anyone during troubleshooting.
4. Refresh the Bank Connection
If the bank connection has become outdated, refreshing or reconnecting it may help resolve OL-231.
Open the affected company file and go to Banking or Bank Feeds. Select the affected account and choose the available Update, Reconnect, or similar option.
Follow the prompts and complete any security verification required by your financial institution.
5. Deactivate and Reconnect Bank Feeds
If refreshing the connection does not resolve the problem, try deactivating and reconnecting the affected bank account.
Before making changes, create a backup of your QuickBooks company file and confirm which QuickBooks account is connected to the bank.
Then:
- Open the affected bank account.
- Edit the account settings.
- Deactivate the online banking or Bank Feeds connection.
- Save the changes.
- Reconnect the account to your financial institution.
- Download the available transactions again.
The exact menu options may differ depending on your QuickBooks Desktop version and financial institution.
6. Check Your Internet Connection
QuickBooks requires a stable internet connection to communicate with financial institutions.
Check whether other websites load normally. If the connection is unstable, restart your router or use a reliable network before attempting the bank update again.
7. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Firewall and antivirus software can sometimes prevent QuickBooks from connecting to online banking services.
Make sure QuickBooks has the required network permissions. If you’re using QuickBooks on a business network, ask your IT administrator to review firewall settings.
Avoid permanently disabling security software to resolve OL-231.
8. Review Your QuickBooks Bank Account Setup
Open the Chart of Accounts and review the affected bank account.
Make sure:
- The account is active.
- The account is connected to the correct financial institution.
- There are no unnecessary duplicate accounts.
- Bank Feeds is mapped to the correct QuickBooks account.
If you recently changed your Chart of Accounts, verify that the affected account is still correctly configured.
9. Contact Your Financial Institution
If OL-231 continues, contact your bank and ask whether there is a problem with its online banking connection.
Ask whether:
- The bank is experiencing an outage.
- Maintenance is affecting third-party banking connections.
- Your account supports QuickBooks Desktop connectivity.
- Third-party access needs to be reauthorized.
- The bank recently changed its connection method.
- A security restriction is preventing QuickBooks from connecting.
How to Prevent QuickBooks Error OL-231
You can reduce the likelihood of future online banking errors by:
- Keeping QuickBooks Desktop updated.
- Keeping your banking credentials current.
- Responding promptly to bank security notifications.
- Using a stable internet connection.
- Reviewing Bank Feeds accounts regularly.
- Avoiding unnecessary duplicate bank accounts.
- Keeping Windows and security software updated.
- Creating regular backups of your QuickBooks company file.
When to Contact QuickBooks Support
If your financial institution confirms that its online banking service is working normally and OL-231 continues after updating QuickBooks and reconnecting the affected account, contact QuickBooks Support +1-888-463-3385.
Have your QuickBooks Desktop version, financial institution name, affected account, exact error message, and information about any recent changes to your banking setup available when requesting assistance.
Conclusion
QuickBooks Error OL-231 can prevent QuickBooks Desktop from communicating correctly with a financial institution or downloading bank transactions. Common causes include temporary bank-service issues, outdated QuickBooks software, incorrect credentials, internet problems, firewall restrictions, and Bank Feeds configuration issues.
Start by checking your bank’s website and verifying your online banking credentials. Then update QuickBooks, refresh the bank connection, and reconnect the affected account if necessary.
If the error persists, contact your financial institution to determine whether the issue is on its side. If the bank confirms that its services are working normally, QuickBooks Support can provide further troubleshooting +1-888-463-3385.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is QuickBooks Error OL-231?
QuickBooks Error OL-231 is an online banking error that can occur when QuickBooks Desktop has difficulty communicating with a financial institution or completing a Bank Feeds request.
2. Why does QuickBooks OL-231 occur?
OL-231 may occur because of a temporary bank outage, outdated QuickBooks software, incorrect banking credentials, internet connectivity issues, firewall restrictions, or an incorrectly configured bank connection.
3. How do I fix QuickBooks Error OL-231?
Check your bank’s website, verify your banking credentials, update QuickBooks Desktop, and refresh or reconnect the affected bank account. Also check your internet and firewall settings.
4. Can my bank cause QuickBooks OL-231?
Yes. Bank maintenance, service interruptions, security changes, or changes to the bank’s online banking connection can cause QuickBooks to display OL-231.
5. What should I do if OL-231 continues?
If your bank confirms that its online banking service is working normally, update QuickBooks and reconnect the affected account. If the error remains, contact QuickBooks Support for additional assistance +1-888-463-3385.
