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Nov 21, 2025 8:49 PM UTC
Question

Branched and renamed - deactivate PSE

I'm getting an "Activation limit reached" message because I have PSE installed on a laptop that my former employer has locked down so that I can't access it to deactivate the copy of PSE that is on the machine. When I follow the suggestion here and go to "Activated devices" so I can deactivate one of them, Adobe says that I "have no activated devices". I haven't been able to find a chat option on any of the (many) support pages I've visited on the Adobe website. 😞 I'd greatly appreciate suggestions!

6 replies

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 22, 2025 7:05 AM UTC

Some users in your circumstance have been able to activate legacy versions of Elements by taking their computers totally offline and using the instructions found here.

 

Please report back if you are able to activate your license.

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kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 22, 2025 12:51 AM UTC

what pse version?

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Nov 22, 2025 6:44 PM UTC

PSE 11

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kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 22, 2025 7:43 PM UTC

pse11 can't be activated when an excess activation count is generated.  you have to use an computer with a current activation to deactivate and restore an activation.  i understand that's not possible, therefore it's not possible to activate a new install.  there's no workaround.

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John T Smith
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 21, 2025 9:35 PM UTC

Online deactivation is only for subscription programs, not ones with a serial number

 

You may ONLY deactivate a serial number program on the computer where the program is installed

 

If you can't do that, there is NO way to deactivate and use your activation again

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Legend
Nov 21, 2025 9:02 PM UTC

This is an eight year old thread about CS3 which can no longer be activated. Please start a new thread about your specific issue.

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