Sandbox FAQ

Here are more details about sandbox companies and how to use them to test code as you develop.

Which QuickBooks Online SKUs can I create sandbox companies for?

You can create sandboxes for QuickBooks Online Plus and QuickBooks Online Advanced.

Tip: Each QuickBooks Online SKU comes with specific features. We recommend you test with the one your users use the most. Develop your app for features the majority of your users have access to.
How many sandbox companies can I have at a time?

You can have a maximum of 10 sandbox companies.

You automatically start with a US-based sandbox when you create your developer account.

How long are sandbox companies valid?

Sandbox companies are valid for two years.

When they expire, you’ll get a subscription cancellation message. You’ll need to create a new sandbox company.

If you see a cancellation message before two years:

  1. Close the message.
  2. In the open sandbox company, select the Gear icon and then Account and settings.
  3. Go to the Billing & subscription tab.
  4. Follow the steps to resubscribe.
Important: If your sandbox company expires, you may be asked to enter payment info. Don’t enter anything. You can’t renew expired sandbox companies. You’ll need to create a new one.
Which Client ID and Client Keys should I use for my sandbox company?

Always use the credentials in the Development section of your developer account for sandbox companies.

The credentials in the Production section are only for live, in production apps and QuickBooks Online companies.

What’s the throttle limit for requests to sandbox companies?

Apps can make 500 requests per minute.

How many emails can I send from Sandbox companies for test purposes?

You can send total 40 emails per day from a Sandbox company for test purposes.

Can I reset or delete sandbox data?

No. You can’t reset the sample data in sandbox companies.

However, you can delete all of the data and completely start over. Follow these steps to delete the original data and anything else you’ve added.

Why do I get an error after deleting sandbox data?

In rare cases, you may get a “duplicate objects” message when you try to add new data. This is likely a caching issue.

In the open sandbox company, select your Profile icon and then Sign out. Then sign back in. This should clear the cache.

Can I create region-specific sandbox companies?

Yes. Each sandbox company is tied to one region. You can have multiple sandboxes for different regions. Sandboxes come with region-specific sample data. This lets you comfortably test your app in an environment tailored to your user-base.

Certain QuickBooks Online SKUs are only available in certain regions:

QuickBooks Online Advanced sandboxes (Note: This is only available in the US).

QuickBooks Online Plus sandboxes

You can create QuickBooks Online Plus sandboxes for:

Regional sandbox sample dataset details

US AU CA
  • Company type: Construction Trade
  • 141 transactions
  • 31 customers
  • 26 vendors
  • 4 employees
  • 20 items
  • 90 accounts
  • Company type: Party Planning Services
  • 163 transactions
  • 30 customers
  • 38 vendors
  • 0 employees
  • 19 items
  • 102 accounts
  • Company type: Party Planning Services
  • 173 transactions
  • 29 customers
  • 37 vendors
  • 0 employees
  • 21 items
  • 95 accounts
IN UK FR
  • Company type: Party Planning Services
  • 146 transactions
  • 29 customers
  • 37 vendors
  • 0 employees
  • 18 items
  • 51 accounts
  • Company type: Party Planning Services
  • 164 transactions
  • 32 customers
  • 35 vendors
  • 0 employees
  • 20 items
  • 80 accounts
  • Company type: Manufacturing Business
  • 31 transactions
  • 12 customers
  • 3 vendors
  • 2 employees
  • 15 items
  • 118 accounts
Can I change the SKU or region of an existing sandbox company?

No. Once you create a sandbox, you can’t change the region or SKU. You’ll need to create a new one.

Why do I keep opening the same sandbox, no matter which one I select?

You can’t open multiple sandboxes or QuickBooks Online companies in the same browser at once. However, you can:

By default, browsers will open the last open sandbox, or the last one on the list in your developer account. To switch to a different sandbox company:

  1. In the open sandbox company, select the Gear icon.
  2. Select Switch company.
  3. Select another sandbox company.
Why do I see a blank page when I try to enable Payroll for my sandbox company?

Payroll isn’t a supported feature for sandbox companies.

Why do I get an error when I try to link an online bank account?

While sandboxes provide sample online banking data, you can’t connect live bank accounts. This functionality isn’t supported.

Can I import or export data from sandbox companies?

No. You can’t import or export data to or from sandbox companies.