QuickBooks Error 15106 | Try these 7 Steps to Fix

Today in this article, we are going to discuss QuickBooks Error 15106, which is one of the most common 15XXX series of errors that affects QuickBooks. Error 15106 in QuickBooks mainly affects the update function and every time a user tries to perform an update of QuickBooks or payroll, they receive an error message “Error 15106: The update program is damaged, or Error 15106: the update program cannot be opened.” Unlike other 15XXX series errors, QuickBooks payroll update error arises primarily because of lack of administrative rights and firewall restrictions on QuickBooks update service. Further in this article we have discussed the reasons and solutions to resolve QuickBooks Desktop error 15106 in details, so follow the complete article until the end for information in details.

Looking for Help from Certified Experts! Call Payroll Technical Support Number (844)-888-4666 if you don’t find your answers in the article

What is Error 15106 While Updating QuickBooks Payroll?

The Windows Installer is a piece of software that helps install and uninstall programs, and its updates on the Windows operating system, and when the installer got damaged or corrupt some applications starts throwing errors during update. The same thing happens with QuickBooks when the Windows Installer got damaged or corrupt and when the user tries to install the QuickBooks or update the payroll it gives an error 15106.

So if you have encountered QuickBooks Payroll Error 15106, you will need to take all the necessary steps to repair the installer and remove the third-party applications that are causing damage to the installer file.

What Causes QuickBooks to Encounter QB Desktop Update Error 15106?

There are several reasons that cause errors while updating payroll or installing QuickBooks updates, and error 15106 arises when for some reasons QuickBooks installer file gets corrupt or the user does not have required permission to perform the update on Windows. Down below we have listed all the reasons that might cause QuickBooks Payroll Update Error 15106.

1. QuickBooks installation fails to install all the additional components those are later required to update the application and payroll.
2. You might have installed WebRoot antivirus application on your computer that detects QuickBooks installer as a potential threat and blocks its operations on Windows.
3. If your user account does not have Windows administrative rights then also you might get QuickBooks Update Error 15106.
4. Windows User Account Control settings are set to high, which eventually interferes with QuickBooks update.
5. Third-party antivirus or anti-malware programs obstructing QuickBooks update process.

Steps to Resolve QuickBooks Payroll Update Error 15106

NOTE: Make sure to follow our article How to Rectify QuickBooks Error 15241 if QuickBooks is stuck in the middle of the update. Running payroll update after each troubleshooting step is suggested by experts to avoid getting errors in the payroll data.

Troubleshooting Step 1: Login with an Administrator Account on Your Computer

1. Click the Start button and select Control Panel or press Windows + R key and type Control Panel in the Run Window and press Enter.

   

2. Select User Accounts and Family Safety and then click User Accounts.
3. Hit Manage another account and enter the admin password if prompted.
4. You can see the account type just below the name of the account, if your account is already an administrator account then follow the next troubleshooting step and if not, then you need to ask your IT administrator to assign administrative rights to your user. Follow the link and find more details on Logging as an Administrator on Windows.

Troubleshooting Step 2: Reset QuickBooks Updates

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop and select Update QuickBooks under the Help tab.
2. Select Mark all under the Options tab.
3. Hit Save and then navigate to the Update Now tab.

   

4. Check-mark Reset Update now checkbox and click Get Updates.
5. If you are, still getting Error 15106 while updating payroll then follow the next step.

Troubleshooting Step 3: Repair QuickBooks Desktop Installation

1. Press Windows + R on keyboard and type command “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter.
2. From the list of installed programs under the Uninstall or Change a Program window scroll down and double-click QuickBooks.

   

3. Select Change / Remove and click Next.
4. Make sure the Repair option is selected and click Next.

   

5. Hit Repair to start repairing QuickBooks installation for removing QuickBooks Error message 15106.
6. In case if you get an error message File in Use, then select Ignore and proceed with the Repair.
7. Once the repair is completed, restart your computer and open QuickBooks application.
8. Select Install Now when you get the QuickBooks has recently downloaded an update window.

Troubleshooting Step 4: Remove WebRoot Spyware Sweeper

1. Click the Start button on your Windows desktop and select Control Panel.
2. Choose Add / Remove Programs.
3. Double-click WebRoot from the list and click Uninstall/Remove.
4. Select Uninstall and click Next.
5. Follow on-screen instructions to completely remove the application from Windows.
6. Restart your computer and try installing QuickBooks updates once again.
7. Follow the given link for more detailed information on Removing WebRoot from Windows.
8. If the error got fixed after removing WebRoot, then you can reinstall it after the update. You can also add QuickBooks and its related services like qbupdate.exe, QBDBMgrN.exe,  and QBW32.exe to program’s exclusion list to avoid getting QuickBooks error 15106 in future.

Troubleshooting Step 5: Rename QuickBooks Update Folder after Disabling your Antivirus

1. Open Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys together.
2. Now right-click your antivirus service. (For E.g. Avast ->avast.exe, Norton -> norton.exe)
3. Select End Task option and click Yes on the confirmation prompt.
4. Now navigate to the QuickBooks installation folder using Windows File Explorer.
5. Usually QuickBooks gets installed at C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks(year)\Components folder.
6. Right-click the folder named downloadqb20 or downloadqb19, and select Rename.
7. Add OLD at the end of the folder name and try to update QuickBooks once again.

Troubleshooting Step 6: Disable (UAC) User Account Control from Windows Settings

1. If you are using Windows 10, then directly search UAC from Cortana search.
2. If you are on some other Windows operating system, then click the Windows Start Button and select Control Panel.
3. Now search User Account Control from the search bar at the top-right.
4. Click User Account Control Settings and move the Slider to Never Notify.
5. Click OK to save the changes.

Troubleshooting Step 7: Reinstall QuickBooks using QuickBooks Clean Install Tool in Windows Safe Mode

1. To switch your Windows follow this article by Microsoft.
2. Now use QuickBooks Clean Install Tool to install a fresh copy of QuickBooks Desktop.

If the above steps are not successful in removing Error code 15106 from QuickBooks, then you can call our technical support team at (844)-888-4666 for further assistance. We might need to set up a remote session with you to completely resolve QuickBooks Error 15106 from your computer.