You can use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4 to close the prompt so you can proceed to open your company file, @artamous. Allow me to share more information about this.
To start, I appreciate the effort you’ve put into following the steps shared in the thread and for including a screenshot of the issue. Currently, QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) requires you to link your Intuit account to your QBDT. Doing this not only addresses the prompt that appears when you open your company file but also allows you to bypass the countdown timer. To resolve this, you'll need to create and connect your Intuit account.
Please note that QuickBooks Desktop 2018 is no longer supported by Intuit as part of their service discontinuation policy. This means features like log-in or account linking may encounter problems due to the lack of updates or server support from Intuit.
You can visit this article learn how to keep QBDT up to date so you have the latest features and product improvements: Update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release
Utilize the Reply button below if you have further questions about opening your company file in QBDT We're always here to help. Have a great day!
