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starb37
Inspiring
May 17, 2025
Answered

Activate/Deactivate Elements 13

  • May 17, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 1729 views

I use Photoshop Elements 13 as my primary photo editing software for personal use.  I purchased a hard copy several years ago, and have been using it successfully as it is capable of all I need.  An "upgrade" to a newer version is not an option at this time.  I have had Elements 13 installed on two computers, and I need it functioning on both.

Unfortunately, one of  these computers had a hardware failure.  After replacing the damaged hardware, the computer is now recognized as a new machine by Adobe, and Adobe is blocking me from using Elements 13 on that computer, indicating that "The serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers. You must deactivate another computer or provide another valid serial number to use this product again on this computer."

As I cannot get past this popup and start the program, I cannot deactivate from within the program on this computer.  When I attempt to deactivate from my Adobe account online, it shows "You have no activated devices," so I cannot deactivate there (even though my Products page shows Elements 13 as registered and displays the serial number).  Because I cannot deactivate the installation, there is no way for me to reactivate it on this computer.  Given these issues, I have not attempted signing out/deactivating on the second computer as I do not want to risk being unable to use the program on the one remaining functional installation.

I have read in other posts that Adobe has shut down the activation servers for Elements 13, and so is unable to deactivate installations.  Is this accurate?  If so, what options do I have?  All I want to do is continue use the program I have legally purchased, but Adobe has locked me out and is not providing me any course of action that I can find.

 

I have included images of the popup that occurs when I start the program, my Activated Devices page, and my Products page, with all sensitive information blacked out.

    Correct answer starb37

    As a follow up for anyone reading this or referring to it at a later date, I was able to return the OS drive to the old computer with the dead video card and replaced the video card with another semi-functional one that I had on hand and get the system to run long enough to get into Photoshop Elements 13 and sign out.  After putting the OS drive back into my new computer, I was able to activate the installation again and it is now functioning.

     

    I did not attempt the suggested offline activation so I do not know whether that option would work, but as it would still involve an activation without prior signing out of the existing activation, I expect it would fail.  Since testing this would require uninstalling and reinstalling the program from the same drive that I would need to rebuild the old computer, I did not want to risk removing the installation that I would need to use in order to sign out in case changing the installation would have made it impossible to do so.

     

    Thanks to everyone who provided information helpful in resolving this issue!

    3 replies

    S
    starb37AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    May 19, 2025

    As a follow up for anyone reading this or referring to it at a later date, I was able to return the OS drive to the old computer with the dead video card and replaced the video card with another semi-functional one that I had on hand and get the system to run long enough to get into Photoshop Elements 13 and sign out.  After putting the OS drive back into my new computer, I was able to activate the installation again and it is now functioning.

     

    I did not attempt the suggested offline activation so I do not know whether that option would work, but as it would still involve an activation without prior signing out of the existing activation, I expect it would fail.  Since testing this would require uninstalling and reinstalling the program from the same drive that I would need to rebuild the old computer, I did not want to risk removing the installation that I would need to use in order to sign out in case changing the installation would have made it impossible to do so.

     

    Thanks to everyone who provided information helpful in resolving this issue!

      Greg_S.
      Community Expert
      Greg_S.Community Expert
      Community Expert
      May 17, 2025

      Changing the video card should work.  I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that it is only a change in OS that causes the activation to be considered as a different computer.

       

      However, instead of using that method, try totally disconnecting your new computer from the internet and activate the program offline, using the instructions found here.  Please let us know if this works.

      S
      starb37Author
      Inspiring
      May 17, 2025

      It is definitely not only a change in the OS that will use up an activation.  I have not changed the OS at all; the drive with the OS is the only part of the computer that is constant from the old one.  I pulled the drive with OS installation (Win 7) intact and put it into another machine (different motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, etc.), and just installed drivers for the new hardware, but otherwise kept the drive unchanged.  So a hardware change of some level does indeed register as a new activation.

      I'll try the offline activation as soon as I get the chance; thanks.  Although I'm not optimistic as it appears to still require using the serial number with the activation servers, which will probably still show that the installation needs to be deactivated before another can be activated.

      Glenn 8675309
      Glenn 8675309
      Legend
      May 17, 2025

      Adobe  changed their policy on resetting activations June of 2024.   If the Offline activation processs does not work for you you can forget about using your copies of PSE 13.

      "So Adobe is illegally denying me access to the product I paid for, effectively stealing it?  There has to be some recourse for that."--

      There is nothing illeagal about it.  It's buried in your EULA about adobe changing their  terms without notifcation.    Technically, you did not buy the product, you purchased a license to use the software.

      " There has to be some recourse for that."-- No, there is not.  There simply isn't.   

      The average lifespan of software is between 6 and 8 years.   PSe 2013 was released about 12 years ago.   Perhaps you need to try using newer software- I have all versions from pse 2010 thru pse 2025 installed- aand pse 2025 is much  much better than pse 2013.   I uninstall and reinstall all of without any issue, however, I do signout / deactivate before I uninstall.



      Here is a link to the 7 day  trial of pse  2025:  It's worth a look:

      https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements/free-trial.html?sdid=GZKZXNRG&mv=search&sdid=WB99JHFM&mv=search&mv2=paidsearchbuy-elements.html&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20726877513&gclid=CjwKCAjw56DBBhAkEiwAaFsG-nOKrfu2GXv7hL4F7M10-Xs4W_mzvDhP5lgHO7-D3HMAKd6lCRmX-BoCWJkQAvD_BwE



       

      Peru Bob
      Community Expert
      Peru BobCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 17, 2025
      quote

      When I attempt to deactivate from my Adobe account online, it shows "You have no activated devices," so I cannot deactivate there (even though my Products page shows Elements 13 as registered and displays the serial number).


      By @starb37

       

      That message refers to subscription products, not Photoshop Elements.

      Unfortunately, if you can't deactivate from a computer that was activated, you will not be able to deactivate.

      S
      starb37Author
      Inspiring
      May 17, 2025

      So Adobe is illegally denying me access to the product I paid for, effectively stealing it?  There has to be some recourse for that.

       

      The problem with the previously activated computer is that the video card died.  It was an old system, and getting a replacement video card was going to be difficult, so I moved the main drive to a new system, which is what caused the problem.

      It's possible that I can borrow a video card to get the old system running again to deactivate the program, but if I do, would that change be significant enough on its own to register as a different computer?

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