Skip to main content
Participant
May 19, 2025
Question

Unable to Activate Adobe FrameMaker 10 on Windows 11 – Serial Number Not Valid

  • May 19, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 442 views

Hello Adobe Community,

We are facing an issue activating our valid and purchased copy of Adobe FrameMaker 10 on a Windows 11 machine.

When we enter the serial number, we receive the error:
"This serial number is not valid for this product."

We have confirmed that the same serial number works without issues on a Windows 10 machine, which leads us to believe the problem may be related to retired activation servers or compatibility with Windows 11.

Adobe Support confirmed that:

"Activation servers are retired for certain older licenses, so this cannot be activated anymore."

We are trying to:

  • Continue using our licensed software legally

  • Explore any offline activation methods, workarounds, or alternate installers

  • Understand if it’s possible to transfer activation from the working Windows 10 machine

  • Get guidance from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation

Any advice or suggestions from the community would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

    5 replies

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 21, 2025

    Have you contacted the actual FM folks (just just Adobe Support)? See https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/enterprise-support.other.html#framemaker for your Adobe Support options. I'd recommend using the tcssup@adobe.com e-mail address as it reaches a team dedicated to Technical Communication Suite products including FrameMaker.

    Klaus Göbel
    Legend
    May 21, 2025
    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 20, 2025

    Try the suggestions in this article about the activation servers. See https://helpx.adobe.com/tech-comm-suite/kb/deprecated-internet-explorer-10-with-ims.html

    Community Expert
    May 19, 2025

    I know this is NOT what you asked, but I would absolutely consider upgrading to the latest version of FrameMaker.  

    While it certainly is nice to have found a workflow that works, my experience has been that the downside to this, is that one stops being creative and keeping up with new demands for publishing.  Keep up with the times, is my advice 🙂

     

    Bjørn Smalbro - FrameMaker.dk
    Community Expert
    May 19, 2025

    Hi,

    Here is a thread with a similar issue.

    Maybe this could help.

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/framemaker-discussions/adobe-officially-does-not-support-permanent-licenses/td-p/15284836

    Best regards, Winfried