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Trying to Activate Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 on My New Computer, but it Won't Let Me. What Can I Do?

Forum|Forum|23 days ago
August 13, 2026
25 replies
174 views

I have already logged out of my old device. I have installed Elements 2020 on my new computer, but it keeps saying “The serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers. You need to deactivate another computer within 30 days to use this product.” I already did! How can I make my new computer believe me? I have reached out to support and they were of no use. I looked at my plans and products under manage my account and none are listed. Please help me!

Correct answer kglad

@determined_character095c

bottom line for you: because its impossible to sign out of a computer that has an activation AND that meets adobes security requirements, it’s impossible to recover an activation. ie, although you went through deactivation steps using an older computer., that computer apparently failed to convey that deactivation to adobe’s servers.

there’s nothing anyone can do to work around that failure no matter what caused it. ie, if you did everything correctly to deactivate, that deactivation registered locally but was not conveyed to adobe’s deactivation servers.

John T Smith

Community Expert

The ‘usual’ cause for what you are seeing is that the old computer did not properly connect to the Adobe activation server, so the DE-activation did not happen… depending on the age of the old computer the problem MAY be that TLS 1.2/1.3 is now required to connect
-test your browser https://clienttest.ssllabs.com:8443/ssltest/viewMyClient.html

http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-network-issues.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/unable-to-reach-adobe-servers.html

D

determined_character095cAuthor

Known Participant

without having done anything else to my old PC, as in this is exactly how it was when I logged out of Photoshop Elements, this is the state of my report:

Would this have not allowed for the PC to reach the server?

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Do you still have access to the old computer?

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determined_character095cAuthor

Known Participant

I do, but I’m already signed out from Elements. it just asks me if I would like to do a 30-day trial if I were to open it now.

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Signing out of the app on your computer is only part of the deactivation process.
The computer also needs to connect to Adobe’s servers to tell Adobe that you signed out.
This is likely where the problem is.

I’ve requested a moderator to move this to the Download and Install forum, where you may get better help with this issue.

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determined_character095cAuthor

Known Participant

This is exactly what I suspect the issue is. When I spoke to support I was told Adobe “no longer has access to their activation servers.” Thank you so much for the request! I hope this can get us some clarity because I would really like to continue to use my product.

Glenn 8675309

Legend

Short answer: You are probably out of luck.

“The serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers” is a show stopper. You would need to log into the editor, then sign out of it- that desauthorizes it on that computer.

If you no longer have access to that computer then you are really out of luck

Plans: thing you subscribe to like photoshop.

Below is what your Adobe account products listing should look like: (This is just a partial screenshot of my account info- your dates would be much different.)

Activated devices: Computers in which things you subscribe to, such as photoshop or Adobe Illustrator are listed.

Products: items with serial numbers that have “perpetual licenses”-- of course there are limitations to that.

Beginning with pse2025: No more serial numbers to worry about.

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determined_character095cAuthor

Known Participant

The thing is: I did sign out of the old device. I have access to the device and it’s clearly signed out. I even uninstalled Elements from that old laptop. When I go under my activated devices under my account it just says “You have no activated devices.” Your right that my product page indeed looks like that.

My big issue is that there is some kind of error that Adobe is not recognizing that the product was deactivated. There’s nothing that can be done at that point?

Glenn 8675309

Legend

Activated devices only list computers that have something you subscribe to, such as photoshop or illustrator. Photoshop Elements is never ever listed there.

Adobe said “The serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers”
That alone means you done with that version.

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