QuickBooks error 15106 appears when you try to update payroll, but something blocks the updater from executing properly. This stops the latest tax tables or payroll code from being installed—affecting compliance, employee payments, and error-free calculations. The most common causes include insufficient permissions, antivirus software interference, and installer corruption.
What Causes Payroll Update Error 15106 in QuickBooks?
Payroll updates are critical to ensure QuickBooks remains compatible with tax regulations and employee pay rules. When you see Error 15106: The update program cannot be opened or is damaged, it’s usually caused by security restrictions, system configuration issues, or broken update components. These factors stop QuickBooks from modifying files or connecting securely to the update server.
1. QuickBooks Is Not Running as Administrator
QuickBooks needs elevated permissions to write or modify system files during payroll updates. If you launch it without administrative access, the update program may be blocked by Windows or system policies. Even though QuickBooks may seem to launch normally, background update tools like DownloadManager.exe can silently fail. This causes error 15106 because Windows is denying access to critical folders or preventing update files from executing.
Why Does It Happen?
- QuickBooks shortcut not set to “Run as Administrator”
- User lacks full admin rights on the system
- Update installer can’t access the program directory
- Windows UAC blocks file modification
- Temporary files can’t be created in system folders
2. Antivirus Software Is Blocking the Update
Security programs often misidentify QuickBooks update files as suspicious or unsafe. Software like Webroot, Norton, or Avast can block or delete DownloadManager.exe, the file responsible for managing payroll updates. When this happens, the update either stops halfway or doesn’t even begin, resulting in error 15106. These blocks usually occur silently, and unless QuickBooks is whitelisted, the updater will continue to fail every time.
Why Does It Happen?
- QuickBooks update files flagged as malicious
- DownloadManager.exe blocked or deleted
- Update folder locked by real-time protection
- Ransomware protection preventing file modifications
- Antivirus not configured to whitelist QuickBooks folders
3. Broken or Damaged QuickBooks Update Installer
If the QuickBooks update utility itself is damaged, it won’t function correctly when trying to apply updates. This may happen due to interrupted installations, failed patching attempts, or an unstable operating system. The result is a corrupted or incomplete version of the update utility, which crashes with error 15106. The updater fails to launch or cannot locate necessary support files, halting the process entirely.
Why Does It Happen?
- Interrupted or failed previous update
- Corrupted DownloadManager.exe file
- Incomplete installation of QuickBooks Desktop
- Files missing after system restore or rollback
- Disk issues or file permission errors during update
4. User Account Control (UAC) Restrictions
Windows UAC (User Account Control) can block processes from changing system files if they don’t explicitly ask for permission. QuickBooks updates often run in the background and may not trigger a UAC prompt. When UAC settings are too strict, or background processes are blocked without alerts, the updater fails and throws error 15106. UAC is especially problematic when combined with non-admin users or antivirus software.
Why Does It Happen?
- UAC set to highest security level
- No admin prompt shown during update
- Background processes restricted without user input
- System blocks modification of Program Files folder
- UAC conflicts with third-party antivirus tools
5. QuickBooks Installation Folder Is Locked or Inaccessible
If the folder where QuickBooks is installed doesn’t have proper permissions or is locked by another process, the updater won’t be able to run. This happens frequently after failed updates, file ownership changes, or if disk encryption is enabled. Antivirus software can also lock this folder temporarily. In such cases, the updater cannot extract or apply the update files—resulting in error 15106.
Why Does It Happen?
- System user lacks write permission to installation folder
- Locked files from a previous failed update
- Folder ownership changed after OS upgrade
- Disk encryption software blocking file access
- Antivirus locking update folder during extraction
Bottom Line
Error 15106 is more than an annoyance—it prevents QuickBooks from installing essential payroll updates that keep your business tax-compliant and legally protected. Without resolving it, you risk calculation errors, delayed payroll processing, and even failed direct deposits. Most of the time, the issue is due to lack of administrator rights or interference from security software. Fixing permissions, disabling antivirus temporarily, and verifying file access usually restores update functionality.
FAQs
Q1: What does QuickBooks Error 15106 mean?
It means the payroll updater is being blocked or cannot run due to permissions, antivirus restrictions, or file corruption.
Q2: How do I resolve Error 15106 quickly?
Run QuickBooks as an administrator, disable antivirus temporarily, and ensure no other users are accessing the program during the update.
Q3: Does antivirus really block QuickBooks updates?
Yes. Security tools often flag update components like DownloadManager.exe as threats, especially if they aren’t whitelisted.
Q4: Is admin access required to update QuickBooks payroll?
Absolutely. Without admin rights, the update installer cannot modify required files or folders, causing error 15106 to appear.
Q5: Can a damaged installer be repaired?
Yes. You can repair QuickBooks from the Control Panel or reinstall the software to restore the broken update mechanism.