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piotrt44076464
Participant
April 30, 2015
Answered

P: Activation or Deactivation versions of Lightroom 6

  • April 30, 2015
  • 514 replies
  • 105430 views

Hello,

I have installed LR 6 on new machine. I can't activate it unless deactivated on other machine. So on other machine I did "Sign out". There is a message - "it will deactivate LR on this machine" - I clicked OK. Still can't activate. On my Adobe account there is nothing under Plans and payment->Activated devices.

So haw can I use a product on new machine? I know LR 6 is quite old, but still it is something I purchuased and I want to use.

    Correct answer MassC

    Adobe no longer supports Lightroom 6.14 (perpetual).

    What does this mean?

    • Installers, one-on-one technical support, security fixes, and bug fixes are not available for perpetual license versions. User to user led support is available through our Adobe Support Community.


    For the latest updates and fixes please subscribe to a Photography, Lightroom, or Creative Cloud plan. Please be aware that there are two versions of Lightroom today. 

    514 replies

    Show previous replies
    mikecanonbury
    Known Participant
    September 29, 2021

    Hi. I use my perpetual licence version of LR6 on three Macs, always ensuring one of them is deactivated.  However, I couldn't access one of the Macs to deactivate LR6 when I had to activate it on another of my devices. This meant LR was activated on three Macs simultaneously, which Adobe seems to tolerate for a short while. Then LR on the 'third' device stopped working and told me I needed to sign in. I tried - forgetting two other devices were still activated - but kept getting the same message: "Serial Number Validation: please connect to the internet to validate your serial number". I WAS connected to the internet. It eventually dawned on me that I needed to deactivate the other device that I could access, so I did this, but the same problem recurred - after rebooting both computers I am still told to connect to the internet to validate my serial number. I gave up trying and signed back into the device I had recently deactivaed. BUT, while Adobe instantly reactivated LR6 on this device, it came with a message warning me that I now had LR activated on two OTHER devices and so would only be allowed 30 days access on this device. So, I have one device with LR active that I am unable to access, another that won't let me validate my serial number even though I am connected to the internet, and now a threat to terminate my usage of LR6 in 30 days on my last remaining access point. What on earth is going on here? And how do I resolve this nightmare?

    negentro
    Participant
    September 27, 2021

    I have purchased, long ago, Lightroom 6. I have version 6.14.0.10 installed now.

    I have valid serial number that came with my purchase.

    Serial number shows in my adobe products (accounts.adobe.com/products)

    Adobe "Activated devices" is empty

    I fire up Lightroom, it says "Activation Failed"

    I go through "Offline Activation", use "request code" to get "response code"

    Offline activation page responds:

     

    "Activation limit reached for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6. This Serial Number XXXX-SOMENUMBER has already been activated on 2 machines. Please deactivate one of the other computers and try again."

     

    It has only been activated on the one machine I'm facing the above problem on.

    This started to happen about 2 weeks ago.

    Prior to that, I had no problems for years.

     

    What do I do to get it to run again?

     

    Thanks.

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 29, 2021

    There is no way for you to reset Activations. (online activation servers closed)

    Only an Adobe Staff member can reset for you.

    You must use the Chat support and ask only for "Activation reset", OR

    Follow the advice in the correct anwer to this thread- Send a Private Message to @CMass 

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
    Ben500
    Participant
    September 16, 2021

    I have been around the houses with Adobe, who dont seem to care at all. I have made sure I followed all "deactivation" process when moving LR6 from old to new.
    Everything, like App manager is up to date, Adobe have confirmed my Key is working and legit, its showing in my account. My account has 0 active devices.

    So all that is left, is that Adobe are now blocking all activations for LR6 in a bif to force you into a £10 a month subscription. Which as an amature user who might use it 4 times a year makes it £30 per use. That is not value for money, espcially as I own a legit copy that I paid for and Adobe are blocking me from using.

    My next step has been to contact Trading Standards, I have submited everything to them, inc. the chat logs and screen shots. Adobe might no longer support LR6, fine, but activly preventing the App Manager from allowing activation and blocking you access is not fine.

    I will update here once I get more details from Trad. Std.

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    September 16, 2021

    Two points

    1. Your OS is not the same as the Original Poster, problem/solution may be very different.

    2. You actually stated you may try pirating the software. That is exactly the main cause of Adobe going subscription. When you attempt a court remedy, Adobe will bring that up. You do know that Adobe interacts in these community pages do you not?

     

    So, what to do, how to fix?

     

    • Please post your own brand new discussion
    • List exactly what your Operating system is
    • List exactly what version of Lightroom you are attempting to install.L
    • List the source of your copy (CD, web page, etc)
    • List what steps you took
    • List what errors are presented.

     

    Bonus point. the above original posting has been marked as answered, hence many members who look to assist in unanswered problems, will not see it, so post your own. This community site, for Discussions, does not treat "Me To" very well.

    Ben500
    Participant
    September 16, 2021

    I stated the OS delta to showcase that the same issue is not dependent on the OS.
    Installing the software is not the issue
    We are all talking about LR6 as far as i can see.
    Amazon Software store

    Im not here for a solution, I was sharing findings to support the original post.

    Being marked as answered is not the same as being answered, as you can see the Answer is utterly useless.

    The issue sits with the Adobe Application Manager. Not the LR6 softaware itself. The AAM no longer parses LR6 keys and authorises them, it seems to be a super common problem in the last few months, I expect adobe made a change to in the AAM services and dropped all classic software, either by intent or mistake, it happens, I work in tech like this, you kinda over look old support methods. I expect now, they are manually authorising each key that pops up somehow or, my experiance, is they are just ignoring you and point you to a forum to be abused.

    Their subscription model was not because the avg joe user cut a copy off the net, they made billions from businesses and pro licencing who always paid to maintain support. The people that would have a cut copy are not now signing up, they are using something else. All its done is exclude amature users who dont live in LR 5 times a week.

    This is a discussion, the reason it does not treat people well, is people who think they know it all commenting on every post about how super they are and acting all condisending to others like we have not lived with Forums, web culture, technology all our lives.. 

     

    Ben500
    Participant
    September 16, 2021

    Same issue on Windows, so not an OS issue.

    I did as you did, signed out, then checked by trying to use it again on the old laptop. Which it refused unless i signed back in and resubbmitted the key.

    Installed on new PC, LR6 intall refuses to accept the key. Tried Adobe customer support, they just dont care.
    Adobe`s business model is Pros on subscription only, amature users who dont wish to pay £40 per use (I use it like 2 or 3 times a year) are basically sidelined and Adobe dont want to know.

    I am now looking at Key Cracking to break my legit copy so i can use it.. sad times.

     

    Smeagle81
    Participating Frequently
    September 9, 2021

    Hallo, 

    ich habe heute meinen neuen Laptop bekommen.

    Das ich meine installierte Lightroom 6.14 Software deaktivieren muss war mir nicht klar. Ich kann mein Lightroom nicht auf meinen beiden Pc´s aktivieren mit denen ich arbeite. Gibt es eine Möglichkeit alle Pc´s komplett abzumelden, damit ich von vorne anfangen kann? Wie bei Itunes , da kann man alle aktiven Pc´s zurücksetzen.

    Ich habe schon alles versucht.

    Ich hatte Lightroom vom PC gelöscht ohne mich abzumelden. Jetzt habe ich auf  dem gleichen Pc wieder Lightroom installiert und jetzt bekomme ich aber auch die Meldung, dass mein Lizensschlüssel schon benutzt wird. In meinem Adobe Konto ist kein aktiviertes Gerät aufgeführt, wie kann das sein? 

    Kann der Support meine Aktivierungen zurück setzen?

    Gruß Torben

    F. McLion
    Community Expert
    F. McLionCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 10, 2021

    Ja, der Adobe Support kann das. Am besten kontaktierst Du direkt den Support. Wenn das nicht zum gewünschten Erfolg führt, melde wieder hier.

    --- Got your issue resolved? Please label the response as 'Correct Answer' to help your fellow community members find a solution to similar problems. ---
    piotrt44076464Author
    Participant
    September 9, 2021

    Thank you for a replay.


    Mac OS - High Sierra. I can upgrade to Mojave but nothing more (there is no support for 32-bit apps).
    I don't think it is related to OS. Just after LR installation it couldn't connect to verify my activation code. this was resolved by running Adobe App Manager - I guess it updated addresses of Adobe servers. After that serial/activation code was verified.

    From links you posted:
    - I did "Sign Out (deactivate)"
    - on my account activation page there are no activations, so I can't deactivate from my account. For sure this is correct account - app is listed on my "Orders and invoices" page
    - I am a little afraid to do uninsatll - if that fails I will lose this app. If there is no other solution, I will rather try to make an image of an OS and restore it on new computer. And document says "Uninstalling an app from a computer does not deactivate its license."

    MassC
    MassCCorrect answer
    Legend
    September 9, 2021

    Adobe no longer supports Lightroom 6.14 (perpetual).

    What does this mean?

    • Installers, one-on-one technical support, security fixes, and bug fixes are not available for perpetual license versions. User to user led support is available through our Adobe Support Community.


    For the latest updates and fixes please subscribe to a Photography, Lightroom, or Creative Cloud plan. Please be aware that there are two versions of Lightroom today. 

      wayner14701977
      Participating Frequently
      July 26, 2021

      Hi All

       

      Can someone please help me as i am frustrated with the little customer service from Adobe that is running me around in circle. 

      So i have been using LR6 since 2016 and using it on a mac air and a mac book pro and recently a new mac book pro touch with out any problems all without having to sign out or de activate any of the computers of which i was unaware that this was required. A recent update on apple and now Big Sur has caused LR6 to stop working on my 2 mac book pro's but still works fine on the mac air running big sur, dont ask me why. I have since sold 1 mac book pro and i did not know i had to deactivate LR from it. I cannot install LR6 onto the mac book pro and get a message saying contact developer, yeah right like Adobe is going to help as LR is now discontinued. Anyway i thought i know, i would buy an old imac running sierra or high sierra and i installed LR6 on that which was fine but i got a message saying i had reached maximum amount of activations and LR would not open. So i called Adobe to deactivate devices they first said come here of which all i read was go back to Adobe of which i did, they hung up on me as soon as i said LR6 i did some googleing and tried to deactivate my devices from my account but in plans shows no devices found. After my 4th phone call to Adobe they send me a link saying open app and deactivate from there by going to help drop down menu but the only option i have is to sign out, there is no deactivate option. I have sent messages to Adobe using their contact me email but no one calls back, i asked to speak to manager but was told they are working from home and someone will call me, still waiting. I am now very dissapointed in Adobe's customer service, actually there is none. I have a stondalone product i have love but cannot install surely someone can deactivate devices regardless of app or programme discontinued or otherwise. If Adobe you are reading this you need to work on your customer service and support and teach them that hanging up on your customers when on the phone is not cool. Im sure you can deactivate my devices so i can move forward and not have to move onto another product from someone else. 

       

      Very unhappy

      Wayne

        GoldingD
        GoldingD
        Legend
        September 8, 2021

        What is your MACOS?

         

        piotrt44076464Author
        Participant
        September 8, 2021

        Hello Adobe. Any reply?

        agneta.pettersson
        Participant
        August 15, 2021

        Hi,

        I've just got a new laptop, and am having issues activating Lightroom 6 on it. It persistently says my license is used on the maximum number of computers already (2, according to the license conditions). I am 100% certain that the license is deactivated on the old computer (via Help > Sign out), while it had an internet connection, and it also cannot be reactivated on that one. The license is also activated on my desktop computer, but even if I sign out there I cannot activate it on the laptop. Strangely enough, I can actually activate it again on the desktop, though (which I could not on the old laptop).

         

        I've read several threads on the forum here which say to contact Adobe support, but I cannot find any way to do so? The "what are my contact options" page says Phone/Chat, but neither are clickable to actually find a phone number or start a chat session. Is this some regional thing (I'm in Sweden), that chat is only available in the US or such?

        mathiask94645155
        Participant
        August 15, 2021

        Same here, just deactivated another machine to get it running on a new one. Maybe it's only possible to contact them within workdays. But when i scroll down on "what are my contact options" page to other desktop products (including ... Lightroom, ...) there is no phone or chat option. I think Lightroom 6 like our installation is to old and no support available any more. I'm very frustraded with Adobe for a while. Loved that product and want to use it like i payed for it. I'm not making money with it, so can't and don't want to get the abo version.
        Many people having the same problem here in forums:

        After a complete reinstallation of my desktop PC with new hardware, reinstallation of LR6, I want now to install my LR6 perpetual license on my laptop but the max number of users is reached.  

        dj_paige
        dj_paige
        Legend
        August 15, 2021

        LR 6 is not supported (in the sense that Adobe will not answer questions about it). However, many times recently people have asked Adobe to deactivate a LR 6 license on one machine and Adobe has done this, and it is supported for this task. There are plenty of similar threads in this forum. So, contact Adobe support. We cannot help you here in this forum.

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