I Just received an email regarding the phasing out of the desktop libraryI’m pretty disgusted that this is happening and having to have all files online and was told this would be happening mid June 2026 - not even the end of a financial year for an accounting program this is pretty pathetic.Was told each file would be $ 35 per file What happens to files that may have an audit and accounts that are needed for a 7 year period not to mention end of year journals for this current financial year. I have been working with this program for 32years & not everyone wants their files online & in the cloud - let alone those who don't need payroll, use bank feeds or all the extra's that are in the program - not to mention those who live rurally with **bleep** internet Very annoyed

Mike_MYOB Not sure the second option you mention is REALLY an option since MYOB states that even this option will be phased out! So, what do we do then????I purchased a perpetual license of AR which means I am meant to be able to own & use it for as long as I want. How the hell can MYOB turn around & tell us they will stop us from using our legally bought software from working on our computers? I hope the manufacturer of the car you legally bought doesn't show up one day & tell you that you now have to pay a monthly 'hire' fee to use it & if you don't, they will immobilize the engine so you can't use it!!Like Cappuccino & swervyn have said, not all small businesses need all the bells & whistles, we just need to create some invoices & submit our BAS. I don't want my software loaded in the cloud or on your servers.I don't need continuous updates, I just need to be able to use the product I bought & own.

Thanks Mike for pointing out another option that I did not ask for, nor require. I purchased the software and use it offline. It doesn't need to be phased out, I do not want updates, I do not want bug fixes, I do not want to use it online. I want to continue to use the product that I paid for in the exact way that I purchased it for. I do not want to or should I need to pay a yearly fee for a "subscription", for something I have never needed one for previously.

I purchased my program as a stand alone, offline accounting program. After being forced to upgrade from a previous version, as MYOB in their wisdom ensured that it was no longer compatible with Windows 10. Now running 2020.3.1I have been using MYOB since the introduction of GST 26 years ago. I am a sole trader, no employees, no payroll. I use it to enter purchases, reconcile accounts and send invoicesI have never used it onlineHere is the blurb from MYOB telling me how wonderful it will all be. NONE of this applies to me!"I upgraded from V19/Classic to the latest offline version, what does this change mean for me? We have three options available for you to consider: Move your file online. Take advantage of online capabilities that MYOB AccountRight has to offer. These include:Automatic cloud backups protecting your data without manual effortLive bank feeds that are more up to dateMulti-user access — multiple people can work in your file at the same timeFaster access to the latest software updates as soon as they are releasedImproved performance and upcoming AI-powered features"I neither want, nor need online services, nor do I want to be forced to pay for a subscription for something I do not want. Is this even legal? "Forced subscription" for features not required

Hi yvonne6 If you need more than one version of offline MYOB, then this old post from Gavin12345 shows how to turn off auto updates for PC versions - just substitute the version shown with with the current version you are on. Once you have created a Desktop shortcut for the offline files, you can still use the current Desktop shortcut to access and upgrade any online files: Unfortunately MYOB are not going to change their policy just because users want them to. Now just as there are ways to stop Windows 10 automatic updates, there are also ways to stop MYOB automatic updates, or at least work around them.I keep using AR2020.1 even though MYOB has updated itself to AR2021.4Take a look where MYOB installs itself - in a folder called AccountRight in a path like this:C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Programs\MYOB\AccountRightInside that folder is another folder called app-2021.300.244119 or similar - this contains the files that run MYOB - AR2021.3. Copy this folder app-2021.300.244119 and paste under C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Programs\MYOB\ and rename it to AccountRight 2021.3Delete your desktop shortcut and create a new shortcut to HuxleyApplication.exe inside the new folder.From this point your shortcut will run AR2021.3 even though MYOB Updates to AR2021.4 or .5 etcWhen you are ready to upgrade, repeat the above and create a folder for AccountRight 2021.4 etc and change the shortcut to the next version. If you only need one offline version, then Random_nuggets' suggestion as follows will work: A simpler, more surgical method is as follows: a) Open the folder in which MYOB is installed. Typically this will be in:C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Programs\MYOB\AccountRight b) Inside that folder you will find a program file named Update.exe. Simply rename this program file to, say, "Update-disabled.exe". Voila! No more updates!. When AccountRight is next started, it will fail to find its auto-update program, and then carry on running the software as is. I have successfully tested this approach since the AR 2026.3 release (PC edition). CheersLiz

This is a major step backwards. I have been seriously considering transferring our online connection to MYOB to local hosted. That idea is now shot down in flames.One reason being is speed. MYOB's servers are on the long end of Australia's dismal internet connection which for us, is a tenth of a standard office 1gpbs Wired LAN. Another reason is common to any online server no matter who they are. Servers can be down, internet can be down, many a time we are sitting waiting 5-10 minutes for the verification code to log in or timing out while trying to create an customer's invoice. Very simple to set up a common NAS on a network, backing up to any one of our PC's and either cloud back up, portable super drive or both for data security. UPS's last us nearly 2 hours when the dreadful Perth power grid lets us down.So an office LAN/NAS can work reliably and much quicker than internet/servers. So taking our way to bypass Australia's dismal internet is a major step back wards. Wouldn't it be in MYOB's interest to reduce client load/space and therefore costs and wanting customers to host their working files locally instead of hosting cloud storage?

MYOB offline being phased out

32 Replies

swervyn
Contributing User
1 month ago
I purchased my program as a stand alone, offline accounting program. After being forced to upgrade from a previous version, as MYOB in their wisdom ensured that it was no longer compatible with Windows 10. Now running 2020.3.1
I have been using MYOB since the introduction of GST 26 years ago.

I am a sole trader, no employees, no payroll.
I use it to enter purchases, reconcile accounts and send invoices
I have never used it online
Here is the blurb from MYOB telling me how wonderful it will all be. NONE of this applies to me!
"I upgraded from V19/Classic to the latest offline version, what does this change mean for me?
We have three options available for you to consider:
Move your file online. Take advantage of online capabilities that MYOB AccountRight has to offer. These include:
Automatic cloud backups protecting your data without manual effort
Live bank feeds that are more up to date
Multi-user access — multiple people can work in your file at the same time
Faster access to the latest software updates as soon as they are released
Improved performance and upcoming AI-powered features"
I neither want, nor need online services, nor do I want to be forced to pay for a subscription for something I do not want. Is this even legal? "Forced subscription" for features not required
Mike_MYOB
Community Manager
1 month ago
Hi Cappuccino

I have an announcement posted here that I updated yesterday with some FAQs which you will find helpful.

To answer your immediate concern about 7 year access for audits, you can still view an offline backup by downloading a previous version of AccountRight from our downloads page.

If you have any further questions, Please can you ask under my linked post above so that we can have everything in one place which will help the community find the answers they need.

Regards, Mike

Forum Discussion

MYOB offline being phased out

32 Replies

I purchased my program as a stand alone, offline accounting program. After being forced to upgrade from a previous version, as MYOB in their wisdom ensured that it was no longer compatible with Windows 10. Now running 2020.3.1

"I upgraded from V19/Classic to the latest offline version, what does this change mean for me?

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