creative cloud software says my free trial has expired, but I have a paid subscription

you suggest to open a CS6 application, but I just want a working cc application

I am sorry but none of the solutions are working. I am losing a lot of time with this. Isn't there an easy and quick way?

I had a trial of Photoshop. When it ended, I deleted Photoshop from my desktop. I then bought the monthly subscription of Photoshop from Adobe.com. When I went to download it from Adobe.com online, the Creative Cloud bar popped up telling me my trial was over and prompted me to buy it again.

To fix this issue:

In the Creative Cloud bar under Apps, there is a small gear icon beside the application you are trying to get. Click on this gear icon (do not confuse it with the gear icon at the top of the Creative Cloud bar). Click the uninstall option that prompts the window telling you that you will no longer receive updates. This message is misleading, but ultimately without uninstalling your trial fully, you cannot go on to download the paid for version of the application you are trying to get. This should all be automatic, but it is not. Your program will then download from the Creative Cloud bar. The trial ended error remains in the Creative Cloud following the download, but if you check your Applications in your Finder, Photoshop (or whatever you downloaded) is there. Click on License and you will be asked to log in to your Adobe ID and the program is ready to use. Generally after this, the error in the Creative Cloud bar should be gone.

For all who are facing this situation on Mac computer deleting Adobe entries in host files fixed it. Please try it.

Mac OS

Log in as an administrator to edit the hosts file in Mac OS.

1. In a Finder window, choose Go > Go To Folder.
2. Type /etc.
3. Select the hosts file and open it.
4. Back up the hosts file: Choose File > Save As, save the file as hosts.backup, and then click OK.
5. Search the hosts file for entries that reference activate.adobe.com (for example,127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com) and delete these entries.
6. Save and close the file.

HOPE IT HELPS !!

I see different solutions here so I thought I might add one that's weird but simple:

I was getting an 'expired trial' message on Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop application for Windows 8.1 (in this case, InDesign).

It seems that for some reason, the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop application failed to update when I turned to paid subscription (even when I ran the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool).

This is what I did:

1- I tried to uninstal-reinstall InDesign through CC Desktop app.

2- Still getting the message.

3- I went to my applications folder, opened InDesign, and it worked.

4- I closed and re-opened CC Desktop app and message was gone.

Sounds weird, but did the trick.

Conclusion: Don't believe everything that CC Desktop app says, just go ahead, open your software, and if it works, go and make some good work

I am having the same issue with lightroom.  When I go into my account online it says that it is up to date with a green check.  Photoshop seems to be working fine but trial for lightroom is now expired and will not go any further than the license number. 

I have tried to follow the instructions above but cannot seem to find the Adobe Application Manager.  It is not where it is supposed to be. 

I just bought the monthly plan for the Lightroom and PS.

I had used a trial version before.  When I closed all adobe applications and tried logging into the adobe application manager and then opened my app (Lightroom), it still says I am in trial mode.

I am on Mac OS

If people are still have troubles I resolved my issue chatting with a Adobe Rep. Read through fully if you are not a computer tech person like me - this is all clear as I asked all the dumb questions your grandma would probably ask. Follow these steps and you are good to go and I'm Lance the tech is Seetharam. See chat below - hope this helps!

Jim Roberts: Hello! Welcome to Adobe Customer Service.

Jim Roberts: Hi Lance

Jim Roberts: I understand that your applications are still showing in a trial mode, despite purchasing the software.

Lance Freitag: Hello Jim

Lance Freitag: Yes - Im confused and thought after the trial version ended it would flip over since I have been paying for 2 months

Jim Roberts: I see that this is a technical issue. I'll need to transfer this chat to the technical support team so that this issue is resolved in this first contact itself.

Please wait while I transfer the chat to the appropriate group.

You are now chatting with 'Seetharam'

Lance Freitag: How long does that take - I'm really in a bad place lots of jobs to finish and no way to work

Seetharam: Hello. Welcome to Adobe Technical Support.

Seetharam: Please allow me a moment while I look into your account & verify the details.

Lance Freitag : Ok thanks Seetharam

Seetharam: I understand that you are unable activate the software. Is that correct?

Lance Freitag: Yes

Seetharam: Thank you for confirming the issue.

Seetharam: I'll be glad to help you with this.

Seetharam: May I know when you launch the software it ask for the serial number?

Lance Freitag: I was running on the trial version for some reason when I sign up for the monthly subsripstion but now its now letting me access my apps

Lance Freitag: yes but I don't have a redemption code

Lance Freitag: or serial number

Lance Freitag: I was never given one

Seetharam: May I know in the same window do you have option "License this software" ?

Lance Freitag: yes when I click on the app

Lance Freitag: it ask me to license

Lance Freitag: when I click that it ask me to sign in

Seetharam: Okay.

Seetharam: Please follow the below steps .

Lance Freitag: I sign in and that is when I get the screen to add a serial number

Seetharam: Open a  Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder.

Seetharam: Type  "/etc" hit return, find Hosts file in etc folder and copy it to Desktop

Seetharam: Right click the Hosts in etc folder and click on Move to Trash.

Seetharam: Open the Hosts file which is copied on the Desktop

Seetharam: Please  look for the entry 127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com and delete this text

Lance Freitag: "/etc" just like that?

Seetharam: Just /etc

Lance Freitag: I don't have a - "host in" folder

Seetharam: Please recheck it will be named as hosts

Seetharam: Please scroll down and check.

Lance Freitag: hosts I have but its not a folder its a file

Lance Freitag: I have 3 files

Lance Freitag: hosts

Lance Freitag: host.equiv

Seetharam: Yes please open the hosts file.

Lance Freitag: click and open the hosts file? I also have a hosts~orig

Seetharam: Please open only hosts file .

Lance Freitag: ok - do I delete this - 127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com

Seetharam: Please copy paste the text in the host file on this chat.

Lance Freitag: ## # Host Database # # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface # when the system is booting. Do not change this entry. ## 127.0.0.1 localhost 255.255.255.255 broadcasthost ::1 localhost fe80::1%lo0 localhost 127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 hl2rcv.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 lm.licenses.adobe.com 127.0.0.1 na2m-pr.licenses.adobe.com

Seetharam: Please delete the below entries in the host file.

Seetharam: activate.adobe.com127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com127.0.0.1 hl2rcv.adobe.com127.0.0.1 lm.licenses.adobe.com127.0.0.1 na2m-pr.licenses.adobe.com

Seetharam: Then save the host file.

Lance Freitag: I don't have access to change anything why is that

Seetharam: Please move the host file to desktop and

Seetharam: Right click the Hosts in etc folder and click on Move to Trash

Lance Freitag: do i move it to the trash and then put it on my desktop and resave back into the folder?

Seetharam: Please move it desktop

Lance Freitag: ok one second

Seetharam: Now please open the host file which is in the desktop.

Seetharam: And delete the Entries in the host file.

Seetharam: Then save the host file and replace it back to etc folder.

Lance Freitag: now it looks like this

Lance Freitag: ## # Host Database # # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface # when the system is booting. Do not change this entry. ## 127.0.0.1 localhost 255.255.255.255 broadcasthost ::1 localhost fe80::1%lo0 localhost

Seetharam: Yes

Lance Freitag: whats do you mean by delete the ENTRIES

Seetharam: Please save the host file and replace it back etc folder.

Lance Freitag: what about the entries thing?

Lance Freitag: ## # Host Database # # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface # when the system is booting. Do not change this entry. ## 127.0.0.1 localhost 255.255.255.255 broadcasthost ::1 localhost fe80::1%lo0 localhost

Lance Freitag: Is this all correct to save?

Seetharam: Yes

Lance Freitag: ok I will put back in folder

Seetharam: Yes

Lance Freitag: Ok it was replaced and the old was deleted - now what should I do?

Seetharam: Now please launch the software, and click on License this software and sign in to activate the software.

Lance Freitag: Ok one second

Seetharam: Sure

Lance Freitag: Ok it works now - your a badass!!! Should i have to do anything else?

Lance Freitag: THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Seetharam: You're welcome.

Seetharam: I'm happy to help. Do you have anymore questions for me?

Lance Freitag: Have a lovely night / day - do I need to do anything else?

Seetharam: No need.

Seetharam: You can use the product without any issue.

Seetharam: You may receive an email that will contain a link to complete an optional survey to provide your feedback on the support experience. Your feedback is very much appreciated.

Lance Freitag: THANK YOU AGAIN - YOU SAVED MY JOB

I'm having this issue. I contacted them by live chat 9 days ago  (as I have social anxiety) and after 3 - 5 hours they left me with a "we'll get back to you". I suppose they are looking into it because they recorded the session. But if nothing is done before the trial expiration date, of 18 days, I'm just going to cancel the subscription. This is really not worth the time or effort by the looks of it. I wouldn't mind how long it took for them to fix if it were something else but the end result is me not being able to use the software I'm paying for. So my patience is now starting to wear thin.

I am cancelling my subscription. It is a whole year and a half later and this problem still persists??? I have tried all of the solutions I have found on these forums and to no avail. This is really unacceptable. people are paying good money to jump through hoops. I am fed up.