The Dext Connect App links Dext to desktop accounting software - Sage 50 UK, Sage 50 Canada, and QuickBooks Desktop. Because desktop software can't connect to Dext through a browser the way cloud-based software does, Dext Connect acts as the bridge between the two, running on the same Windows computer or server as your accounting software.
Important: Only Admin users and accountants/bookkeepers can set up and manage a Dext Connect integration.
System requirements
Dext Connect runs on Windows only and requires the following as a minimum:
Windows 8 or above
4GB RAM
Administrator access on the computer or server
If you use a Mac: Dext Connect can't be installed directly on macOS. The workaround is to install it on a Windows virtual machine or remote desktop environment that has access to your accounting software files.
Install Dext Connect
To install Dext Connect, download and run the installer on the same computer or server where your accounting software is installed.
Download Dext Connect: https://releases.dext.com/desktop/DextConnectAppSetup.exe
Double-click the downloaded file to start the installer.
Windows may display a security warning. This is normal for newly released software. Select More info, then select Run anyway.
Agree to the licence agreement and choose an installation folder. This must be on the same computer or server as your accounting software.
Once installed, open Dext Connect from the desktop shortcut and log in with your Dext credentials.
What you'll see in Dext Connect
The main screen in Dext Connect shows all the Dext accounts you have access to, grouped into three sections:
Integrated - accounts connected to Sage 50 or QuickBooks Desktop through this copy of Dext Connect
Not Integrated - accounts you have access to that haven't been connected yet
Integrated with other software - accounts connected through a different copy of Dext Connect, by a different user, or via a cloud-based integration such as Xero or QuickBooks Online
If your Dext login is associated with more than one Dext account, use the dropdown in the top left to switch between them.
The following buttons are available on the main screen:
Integrate - starts the integration process for an account in the Not Integrated section
View - opens a simplified view of the account's Costs, Sales, and Expense Claims inboxes, along with integration settings
Sync - refreshes the chart of accounts and lists for an integrated account. This can also be triggered from the Dext web app - see How to refresh your accounting software data in Dext
Refresh Clients - updates the list to reflect any integration state changes made in the web app, such as a disconnection
The user who sets up the integration
The person who sets up a Dext Connect integration controls how publishing works for that account. Publishing from the Dext web app requires Dext Connect to be running on that user's computer - other users in the account can publish from the web app as long as that computer is online.
Only the user who set up the integration can publish directly from the Dext Connect App, but using the web app to publish is recommended.
Important: The user who sets up the integration should be either the accountant or bookkeeper managing the account, or an Admin user in the business account.
Two situations require the integration to be set up again:
Moving to a new computer - Dext Connect needs to be set up on the new machine
Login credentials change - if the user who set up the integration changes their Dext email or password, the account will move to Integrated with other software in Dext Connect, and the connection will need to be re-established
See Moving or changing your Dext Connect integration below for how to do this.
Publishing and syncing
For publishing to work, Dext Connect must be running on the computer used to set up the integration. As long as it's online, any Admin user or accountant/bookkeeper in the account can publish from the Dext web app.
Two features aren't supported for desktop integrations:
Auto-publish - publishing requires Dext Connect to be online, so auto-publish can't run reliably
Bank Match - Dext Connect doesn't pull bank feed data from desktop software. You'll see Match Found as an indication, but full Bank Match functionality isn't available
To refresh your chart of accounts or lists, use Refresh integration data or Reload lists in the Dext web app. Dext Connect must be running for these to work.
Moving or changing your Dext Connect integration
There's no Reconnect option for desktop integrations. To move Dext Connect to a new computer, or to change which user manages the integration, you need to disconnect and set up the integration again.
Step 1: Disconnect from the web app
In the Dext web app, go to Business settings.
Select Connections in the left navigation, then select Accounting software.
Select Manage next to your integration, then select Disconnect.
A confirmation window will appear explaining what disconnecting will do to your Lists data. Select Disconnect to confirm.
Select Finish on the confirmation screen.
Step 2: Reflect the disconnection in Dext Connect
Open the Dext Connect App and select Refresh Clients.
The account will move from Integrated to Not Integrated.
Step 3: Set up the integration again
Follow the relevant guide to reconnect from the new computer or under the new user's login:
Once reconnected, go to Business settings, select Connections, then select Manage next to your integration and select Merge Lists. This maps your existing categories, suppliers, and customers to the new connection and preserves any rules you've set up. See How to merge lists when changing your accounting software for the full steps.
Keep Dext Connect up to date
Dext Connect is updated frequently to support newer versions of Sage 50 and QuickBooks Desktop and to address bugs. When an update is available, you'll be prompted to install it or postpone.
To check for updates manually, select your email address in the top right of Dext Connect, select About, then select Check for updates.