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C
CMZAustin
Participant
September 2, 2025
Answered

I need to reset my activation count

  • September 2, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 223 views

I have Adobe XI Pro.  The crazy high price has kept me from upgrading to the subscription (2.5 times higher than the full Microsoft Office Suite).  I purchased a perpetual license.  My home flooded and my desktop computer was destroyed.  I have replaced it, but when I try to install Acrobat XI Pro on the new computer, Adobe blocks it, indicating that I have reached my maximum number of activations, and I need to deactivate one before I can activate this one.  However, I cannot deactivate it on the other computer because the other computer is destroyed.  I connected to the help chat, but the third level technician there (yes, I was transferred three times to get to this guy, with one email exchange in the middle ) said he is only allowed to support software that is less than 5 years old.  He gave me a link to post the problem here, indicating that some of you might be able to help me to reset my activation count, as it is not something that Adobe tech support is able to do on their end.  Am I just screwed? 

Correct answer Jeffrey_A_Wright

CMZAustin, I am very sorry that you had to deal with your home being flooded and many of your possessions being destroyed. I am sure this is a difficult time for you.

 

There is no way to reset or increase the number of allowable activations for Acrobat XI. You can find steps at https://adobe.ly/45LCwqH on how to manage any remaining activations in 2025, but if the previous computer was destroyed in the flood, then you will be unable to complete the deactivation process. ^JW

2 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 3, 2025

Acrobat XI is End of Life. It ended in 2017.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/end-of-support-acrobat-xi-reader-xi.html

For security & compatibility reasons, you need a supported version. The last thing you need to invite are problems with your new computer.

 

FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, print & sign PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Good luck with your recovery.

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
C
CMZAustinAuthor
Participant
September 3, 2025
True, but I cannot see paying $200 plus/year for a subscription to this
program. It only does one thing, manipulate PDFs. I am a home user. In
contrast, I get the full Microsoft Office Suite, which includes 5 major
programs that I use regularly, plus 1 TB of online storage, plus the same
for multiple family members, all for uner $100/year. If there were a home
version that was less than $100/year, I would buy it. Before the
subscription, I would upgrade every other version for ~$180, which worked
out to about $90/year. When Adobe switched to a subscription model, the
greed kicked in and made the price completely unreasonable for what the
software does.
Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 3, 2025
quote
True, but I cannot see paying $200 plus/year for a subscription...
By @CMZAustin

=========

Then don't. Most home consumers find that FREE Acrobat Reader and Online PDF Editor are more than adequate for their needs.

 

Acrobat Pro is aimed at working professionals. When compared to 3D design apps like Autodesk/Maya which cost several thousand dollars per year, $200 doesn't seem like much. It's all relative. 

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    September 2, 2025

    CMZAustin, I am very sorry that you had to deal with your home being flooded and many of your possessions being destroyed. I am sure this is a difficult time for you.

     

    There is no way to reset or increase the number of allowable activations for Acrobat XI. You can find steps at https://adobe.ly/45LCwqH on how to manage any remaining activations in 2025, but if the previous computer was destroyed in the flood, then you will be unable to complete the deactivation process. ^JW

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