Refresh the queue.dta File in Sage 50

Updated On: July 17, 2026 7:47 am

Once you launch the Sage Accounts, there are times that it might hang on or shut on the splash window. It is then that you will receive the following message:

‘Queue.dta is in use Please wait until this file is available’

In case the Sage 50 Accounts closes unexpectedly, the file that holds the list of active users has not refreshed. This can lead to problems once you log back in. In this case, simply deleting the file called queue.dta and later reopening your software refreshes the list, and normally resolves the login issue. If the problem still persists, then you might need to repeat the steps in this article on each system if you run the software over a network and Refresh the queue.dta File in Sage 50.

Causes of Active Users not Refreshed

The main causes for this to happen is, if the Sage Data Service does not have complete access to your data files, or if your data is stored within a path in any of the following locations:

• C:\
• C:\Windows
• C:\Program Files
• C:\Program Files (x86)
• C:\Dev

Also Read: Fix Sage Error Username is in Use the Program Cannot Connect you at this Time

Resolution to Fix Refresh the queue.dta File in Sage 50

Before you begin:

Make sure that all the users have logged out of Sage 50 Accounts, including all Remote Data Access users.

Find the Path to the Company Data Folder

• Start by accessing the system that contains your data.
• Next launch the Sage 50 Accounts
• Now within the Company Selection window, click on the required company.
• Click on the three dots located to the left of the company name 
• Now click Folder location.
• Sage 50 Accounts v26 and below – in the Select Company window and click Open the Folder Location.
• Note: Can not open the Company Selection window or folder location? 
• Make a note of this folder location as you might require it later.

Stop the Sage Accounts Data Service

• Access the system that holds the required data.
• Note: In case you use Remote Data Access and you are following these steps to resolve an error message, please access the system referenced within the error instead.
• Click on the Windows Key + R on the keyboard and enter Services.msc
• Next press Enter.
• Now Right-click ‘Sage 50 Accounts vXX  click Stop. For example, if you use Sage 50 Accounts v29, stop the Sage 50 Accounts Service v29.
• Note: If Stop or Start buttons have been grayed out this is down to your Windows permission on the system. You need to Right click the Services App on Step 2 and click Run as administrator. In case the issue still persists, contact your local IT to solve this for you.

Delete the queue.dta File

• Navigate to the company data folder you have located in step 1: Find the path to the company data folder.
• Next Double-click the ACCDATA folder, fins and right-click on QUEUE.DTA.
• Now click Delete.

Start the Sage Accounts Data Service

• Within the system that contains your data, you need to click on the Windows Key + R within your keyboard and enter Services.msc then press Enter

Note:  If you are using Remote Data Access and you are following these steps to resolve the error message, you need to access the computer referenced within the error instead.

• Right-click the following service and click Start.
  • For example, if you use Sage 50 Accounts v29, you need to start the Sage 50 Accounts Service v29.
• Log back into your system.
• If the issue continues, repeat the process on the system where the issue has taken place.
• Sage 50 Accounts Service vXX

Check if your data is located in a blocked folder

If you use Sage Accounts across a network, complete these steps on the computer that hosts the company data.

• Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, then navigate to: C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\xxxx
  • Replace xxxx with your Sage Accounts version number, such as 2024 or 2025.
• Open the COMPANY file and select Notepad when prompted.
• Review the company data paths listed in the file and check whether any of them start with one of the following locations:
  • C:\
  • C:\Windows
  • C:\Program Files
  • C:\Program Files (x86)
  • C:\Dev
• If you find any company data path that begins with one of these directories, move the data to a folder located under: C:\ProgramData

Check Windows permissions on the COMPANY.xxx folder

Incorrect folder permissions can prevent Sage Data Service from accessing your company data and may trigger the “Queue.dta is in use” error. Follow these steps to ensure the required Windows accounts have full access to the COMPANY.xxx folder.

• Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E, then go to: C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\xxxx. Replace xxxx with your Sage Accounts version, such as 2025.
• Open the COMPANY file in Notepad.
• Make a note of each company data directory listed in the file, then select File > Exit to close Notepad.
• Navigate to the first directory path you recorded and right-click the corresponding COMPANY.xxx folder. For example, if the path is: C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2025\COMPANY.001
  • Browse to COMPANY.001 and right-click it.
• Select Properties, then open the Security tab.
• Click Advanced and choose Disable inheritance.
• When prompted, select Remove all inherited permissions for this object.
• In the Advanced Security Settings for Company.xxx window, click Add.
• In the Permission Entry for Company.xxx window, select Choose a principal, then click Object Types.
• Enable the Computers checkbox and the Service Accounts or Services checkbox, then click OK.
  • If these checkboxes are unavailable, continue directly to Step 11.
• Click inside the Enter the object name to select field.
• Type System, then click Check Names.

Windows should resolve the entry and display it as SYSTEM.

• Select SYSTEM, then click OK.
• Under Basic permissions, select Full control, then click OK.
• Click Apply, then OK to save the changes in the Advanced Security Settings for Company.xxx window.
• In the same window, click Add again.
• Select Choose a principal, then click Object Types.
• Enable the Computers checkbox and the Service Accounts or Services checkbox, then click OK.
  • If these options do not appear, move directly to Step 19.
• Click inside the Enter the object name to select field.
• Type Authenticated users, then click Check Names.
  • Windows should validate and underline authenticated users.
• Select Authenticated users, then click OK.
• In the Basic permissions section, enable Full control, then click OK.
• Click Apply, then OK to save the updated permissions in the Advanced Security Settings for Company.xxx window.
• Click OK to close the Company.xxx Properties window.
• If the COMPANY file contains multiple company data locations, repeat Steps 4 through 24 for each directory path.

Conclusion!

If the problem persists, and you need to use the Remote Data Access, you can also remove Remote Data Access, repeat the steps in this article. Next you need to set up remote data access again. For more details be sure to visit us at accountinadvice.co and you are sure to find some latest information. Was this article helpful? Do let us know in the space below.

Frequently Asked Questions: