2025 QuickBooks ADR Guide: Restore .TLG Files in 12 Hours with QuickBooks Repair Pro

QuickBooks Desktop’s Auto Data Recovery (ADR) and the transaction log (.TLG) can bring a damaged company file back to life fast—often within 12 hours. This 2025 guide explains how to restore using ADR manually and how to accelerate recovery with QuickBooks Repair Pro when the .TLG is corrupted or the ADR set is incomplete.

What Are .TLG and ADR?

The .TLG (Transaction Log) records every change made after your last full backup. ADR (Auto Data Recovery) creates safety copies: .QBW.adr and .TLG.adr. When the main .QBW is damaged, ADR plus a healthy .TLG can rebuild a working file that’s current to the last several hours of activity.

You’ll find ADR copies inside the QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery folder where your company file lives, typically: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files.

Before You Start: Read This

·         Work on a copy. Never experiment on the only copy of your company file.

·         Pause multi-user hosting and close QuickBooks on all workstations.

·         If using real-time sync tools (OneDrive, Google Drive), pause syncing during recovery.

·         Ensure Windows shows file extensions so renames are accurate.

·         If on QuickBooks for Mac, this ADR flow doesn’t apply.

Method 1: 12‑Hour Restore With ADR (Manual)

This is the fastest native path if your current .TLG file is healthy.

1.       Close QuickBooks on all machines.

2.      Navigate to your company file folder and open QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery.

3.      Copy these two files to a new desktop folder: yourcompany.TLG (from parent folder) and yourcompany.QBW.adr (from ADR folder).

4.      In the desktop folder, rename yourcompany.QBW.adr to yourcompany.QBW.

5.       Double-click the renamed yourcompany.QBW to open it in QuickBooks.

6.      Let QuickBooks read the .TLG and roll transactions forward. Save and create a new backup when prompted.

What You’ll Get

This typically restores data up to the last 12 hours (or the most recent ADR snapshot), minimizing lost entries while avoiding a full rebuild.

Method 2: 24‑Hour Rollback With ADR

Use this if the current .TLG is damaged or you need a slightly older checkpoint.

1.       Close QuickBooks completely.

2.      In QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery, copy both yourcompany.QBW.adr and yourcompany.TLG.adr to a new desktop folder.

3.      Rename yourcompany.QBW.adr to yourcompany.QBW and yourcompany.TLG.adr to yourcompany.TLG.

4.      Open yourcompany.QBW in QuickBooks.

5.       Run a Verify Data to ensure integrity, then Rebuild Data if errors appear.

When To Choose This

This method trades a little recency for stability, ideal when the latest .TLG is corrupted or missing.

Method 3: Fast Track With QuickBooks Repair Pro

When ADR fails—due to truncated .TLG files, -6000 series errors, or a looping Verify/Rebuild—QuickBooks Repair Pro can automate the heavy lifting.

·         What it does: Scans damaged .QBW/.TLG, repairs headers, stitches ADR pairs, and extracts recoverable transactions.

·         When to use: Severe corruption, unreadable .TLG, missing ADR pairs, or repeated file-error loops.

·         Typical flow:

a.       Create a backup copy of all related files (.QBW, .TLG, .ND, .TLG.adr, .QBW.adr).

b.      Run QuickBooks Repair Pro and select the affected company file folder.

c.       Let the utility auto-map the best ADR set, repair the .TLG, and produce a clean, openable .QBW.

d.      Open the repaired file in QuickBooks and immediately make a full local backup.

Why It’s Faster

Automated .TLG repair and ADR pairing reduce trial-and-error and can restore a working file within hours, even when manual ADR cannot.

Verify, Rebuild, And Secure Your File

After any recovery, lock in integrity and prevent re-corruption:

·         In QuickBooks, run File > Utilities > Verify Data. If prompted, run Rebuild Data.

·         Create two fresh backups: one local (external drive) and one offsite (cloud).

·         Turn multi-user hosting back on only after validating normal performance.

·         Reconnect payroll, payments, or third-party apps once the file is stable.

Prevention Checklist For Next Time

·         Enable scheduled local backups with verification.

·         Keep .ND and .TLG in the same folder as .QBW; avoid moving single files in isolation.

·         Exclude QuickBooks folders from antivirus real-time scanning or add safe exceptions.

·         Store company files on a local SSD or a reliable server share; avoid unstable network drives.

·         Update QuickBooks Desktop and Windows regularly to the latest maintenance releases.

Common Errors And Quick Fixes

·         -6000, -301 or -6000, -83: Move the file to a local path like C:\QBTest\ and retry. Ensure Windows permissions are correct.

·         6123: Temporarily disable security software and test locally. Recreate the .ND file by renaming it and reopening the company file.

·         “This is not a QuickBooks data file”: The .QBW may be severely damaged; use ADR Method 2 or QuickBooks Repair Pro.

·         Verify/Rebuild keeps looping: Copy the file to desktop, run as Admin, or proceed with a repaired ADR set via QuickBooks Repair Pro.

FAQ: .TLG And ADR Essentials

·         Does deleting .TLG help? No. The .TLG is required to replay transactions; only let QuickBooks reset it after a successful backup.

·         How long does ADR retain copies? ADR keeps rolling snapshots; availability varies by version, size, and activity.

·         Can this work on hosted environments? Yes, but copy files locally to recover, then upload the stable file back to your host.

When To Call A Pro

If revenue-impacting transactions are missing, the file won’t open after both ADR methods, or you suspect disk errors, escalate. A data-repair specialist or QuickBooks Repair Pro can salvage more data and save hours of manual re-entry.