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Steven23267510c397
Participant
September 8, 2025
Answered

Device Based Activation for Acrobat

  • September 8, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 179 views

Is there any options nowadays for device based? Where it's just activated?

We have a machine that multiple people use the same account, because its a scientific machine at our university that multiple people have to check the progress over 2-4 days. If you sign into your own user, it won't work, because the software would be open under someone else's account, so that's why we used a shared login. The software requires Acrobat, and I'm not sure what to do, I'm in IT but our main OIT handles the licensing, and they said there is no options, but it doesn't solve my problem, and I can't do anything about it. I know 7 years ago, there were options, but wasn't sure, someone said no, but it would seem odd not to have something. 


Correct answer Anshul_Nautiyal

Hi @Steven23267510c397,

Thanks for reaching out. Device-based licensing for Acrobat was retired several years ago and is no longer supported with current licensing models. Today, Acrobat and other Creative Cloud applications require user-based licensing, where each user must sign in with their Adobe ID to access the software.

For environments such as labs, classrooms, or shared scientific machines, Adobe offers Shared Device Licensing (SDL). Shared Device Licensing is designed for deploying and managing Adobe applications in shared device setups, where multiple users access the same device. In this model, the license is tied to the device or computer rather than an individual user, making it suitable for labs and classrooms. You can find more details here: https://adobe.ly/45TXV0R

Please note: when users launch an app on a shared device, they are required to sign in with their credentials, and the app will only launch after a successful sign-in.

As checked, you also have an enterprise license associated with the Adobe ID you used to post this query. I recommend checking with your IT administrator to have an SDL license assigned to the machine. If this does not fit your use case, please ask your admin to contact your Adobe account manager for further assistance. Our team will help identify the best product option based on your needs.


Hope this helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.


Regards,

^AN

1 reply

A
Community Manager
Anshul_NautiyalCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
September 8, 2025

Hi @Steven23267510c397,

Thanks for reaching out. Device-based licensing for Acrobat was retired several years ago and is no longer supported with current licensing models. Today, Acrobat and other Creative Cloud applications require user-based licensing, where each user must sign in with their Adobe ID to access the software.

For environments such as labs, classrooms, or shared scientific machines, Adobe offers Shared Device Licensing (SDL). Shared Device Licensing is designed for deploying and managing Adobe applications in shared device setups, where multiple users access the same device. In this model, the license is tied to the device or computer rather than an individual user, making it suitable for labs and classrooms. You can find more details here: https://adobe.ly/45TXV0R

Please note: when users launch an app on a shared device, they are required to sign in with their credentials, and the app will only launch after a successful sign-in.

As checked, you also have an enterprise license associated with the Adobe ID you used to post this query. I recommend checking with your IT administrator to have an SDL license assigned to the machine. If this does not fit your use case, please ask your admin to contact your Adobe account manager for further assistance. Our team will help identify the best product option based on your needs.


Hope this helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.


Regards,

^AN

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