Hi there, @Deb134.

Thanks for reaching out to the QuickBooks Community! Accessing your QuickBooks Desktop from both your main computer and your laptop is definitely achievable, and I'm here to guide you through the options available to make that happen.

You can set up QuickBooks Desktop for Multi-User mode, allowing access from multiple computers on the same network. Ensure QuickBooks Desktop is installed on both the main computer and your laptop.

Here's how:

1. On the main computer, open QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Navigate to File and select Utilities.
3. Choose Host Multi-User Access.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up hosting.

After that, ensure both computers are on the same network, which might require setting up a Remote Desktop Connection or VPN with assistance from an IT professional. Also, ensure the folder containing your company file is shared and accessible on the network. Remote desktop is the ability to connect with and use a faraway desktop computer from your laptop.

Please note that your laptop needs to have Windows File permissions set to Full Control so you can open and modify the company file. You can check this article for more detailed steps: Open a company file on a remote computer.

After that, let's open QuickBooks Desktop on your laptop. Here's how:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop on your laptop.
2. Select File and choose Open or Restore Company.
3. Browse to the company file location on the main computer's shared network.

Always back up your company file before making any changes or setting up new configurations.

Another option is to transfer the company file between your main computer and laptop using a USB drive or cloud storage. Save a backup copy of your QuickBooks file to the USB or cloud storage, then restore it on your laptop when needed. However, you'll need to take note of these considerations before using this option:

• Data Changes: Always remember to transfer the most recent copy of your QuickBooks file. If changes are made on your laptop while you're away, you'll need to transfer the updated file back to your main computer and vice versa.
• Concurrent Access: This method can be effective for your needs, but if you require synchronized access or real-time updates, hosting services or Multi-User setup is most suitable.
• Version Compatibility: Ensure both your main computer and laptop are using the same version of QuickBooks Desktop to avoid compatibility issues.

You can check this article to learn more about hosting a multi-user mode in QBDT: Host your company data in a multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop.

Additionally, you can also check out this article to learn how to fix common errors during multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop: How to fix Error H202 and H505.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or need further assistance. We're here to ensure you have the support you need to manage your QuickBooks effectively.