Disconnect a bank account in three steps
To remove a bank account from QuickBooks, go to the Gear icon (top right), select Bank Feeds, find the account you want to remove, and click the menu icon next to it. Choose Disconnect. The account stays in QuickBooks but stops pulling transactions from your bank. If you want to delete the account entirely from your chart of accounts, that is a separate step done through the account settings.
The disconnect process takes less than a minute and does not affect your historical data. Transactions already imported remain in QuickBooks. You can reconnect the same account later if you change your mind, though you may need to re-enter your bank login credentials.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting a bank account stops new transactions from importing but keeps all past transactions and the account itself in QuickBooks.
- The disconnect option is found under Gear > Bank Feeds, not in the chart of accounts.
- Removing a bank account from QuickBooks does not affect your actual bank account or your bank's records.
- If you want to fully delete an account from your chart of accounts, you must do that separately after disconnecting the feed.
Where to find the disconnect option
Open QuickBooks and click the Gear icon in the top right corner. From the menu, select Bank Feeds (under the Tools section). You will see a list of all accounts currently connected to your bank feeds.
Locate the account you want to remove. On the right side of that account row, you will see a three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a kebab menu). Click it to open the options for that account.
What happens when you disconnect
When you click Disconnect, QuickBooks stops the automatic flow of transactions from your bank to your software. No new transactions will import. However, all transactions that were already imported before you disconnected remain in your QuickBooks register and your reports.
Your bank account itself is not affected. Your bank has no record of the QuickBooks connection and will not change anything on its end. You can still access your account at your bank's website or app normally.
The account also remains visible in your QuickBooks chart of accounts. If you want to hide it or remove it completely, you will need to take additional steps through the account settings.
Reconnecting the same account later
If you disconnect an account and later decide you want to reconnect it, you can do so through the same Bank Feeds menu. Click Add Account and search for your bank. You will need to enter your bank login credentials again, even if you have connected before.
QuickBooks will recognize that you have previously connected this account and may ask whether you want to match it to the existing account in your chart of accounts. Matching ensures that new transactions go into the same register you used before, rather than creating a duplicate account.
Removing the account entirely from your chart of accounts
Disconnecting the bank feed and deleting the account are two different actions. After you disconnect, the account still appears in your chart of accounts. To remove it completely, you must deactivate or delete it separately.
Go to Accounting (or Chart of Accounts, depending on your QuickBooks version), find the account, and click the menu icon next to it. Choose Deactivate to hide it from your lists, or Delete to remove it entirely. You can only delete an account if it has a zero balance and no transactions tied to it. If the account has a balance or history, you must deactivate it instead.
Reasons to disconnect without deleting
Many business owners disconnect a bank account but keep it in QuickBooks for record-keeping. This is useful if you closed a business bank account but want to preserve the transaction history for tax or audit purposes. Deactivating the account hides it from day-to-day lists while keeping the data intact.
You might also disconnect temporarily if you are switching banks or if your bank changed its security settings and the connection stopped working. Disconnecting gives you time to troubleshoot without losing your account data.
Troubleshooting a stuck or unresponsive disconnect
If the disconnect button does not appear or the process hangs, try logging out of QuickBooks completely and logging back in. Sometimes the interface needs a refresh to show the correct options.
If you still cannot disconnect, check whether your bank has changed its security settings or revoked QuickBooks' access on the bank's end. Some banks require you to re-authorize third-party apps periodically. Log into your bank's website, look for app permissions or connected apps, and check whether QuickBooks is still listed. If it has been revoked, you may need to re-authorize it before you can disconnect cleanly in QuickBooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting a bank account delete my transaction history?
No. All transactions that were imported before you disconnected remain in QuickBooks. Disconnecting only stops new transactions from importing going forward. Your historical data is safe.
Do I need to tell my bank that I am disconnecting from QuickBooks?
No. Your bank has no direct connection to QuickBooks and does not track the link. You do not need to notify your bank. The disconnect happens only in QuickBooks.
Can I reconnect the same bank account if I change my mind?
Yes. You can reconnect through Bank Feeds > Add Account at any time. You will need to enter your bank login credentials again. QuickBooks will ask you to match it to your existing account so transactions go into the right register.
What if I want to keep the account in QuickBooks but stop the automatic imports?
Disconnecting is exactly what you need. The account stays in your chart of accounts and keeps all its history, but new transactions stop importing. You can still manually enter transactions into that account if needed.
Is there a difference between deactivating and deleting an account?
Yes. Deactivating hides the account from your active lists but keeps all its data and history. Deleting removes it entirely, but you can only delete an account with a zero balance and no transactions. For most accounts with history, deactivation is the safer choice.