How do I deactivate my Creative Cloud activation from a computer I no longer have?

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
October 1, 2012
2 replies
8002 views

I bought a Creative Cloud membership a couple of weeks ago. A few days later, I ended up frying the motherboard on my old computer. Subsequently, I had to purchase a new one computer. I could not deactivate the software on the old system as it was dead. Now I cannot activate it on my new one as it says I have reached my activation limit (I have the software installed on 2 systems, a desktop and a laptop). Is there a way to dectivate one activation, so that I may use it the software on my new system?

Creative Cloud

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ProDesignTools

Community Expert

Jeff summed it up well, and just to expand further... Generally, you are allowed to install and activate CC on up to two computers. If/when you put it on a third, you'll get the screen below (which looks like something failed) – but just hit "Continue" at the bottom of the dialog box, and it will do what Jeff said.

If you run into any issues, then see this help page:

http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-maxium-acitvation-exceeded.html

G

Gary Wornell

Participating Frequently

Is it possible to deactivate a specific computer - in this case I have CC on my Macbook Pro and Windows workstation in my studio. I want to install and activate in Nepal on a Mac. When I want to activate - will I get the chance to select which computer to deactivate?

Thanks

Gary

ProDesignTools

Community Expert

ProDesignTools you can sign out or remove all installed Adobe Creative software titles to also deactivate the software.

With the activation method though available for subscriptions it is easier to reactivate on the computers you wish to continue working on once you have chosen the deactivate all option.

More details regarding the activation process, and how to deactivate and reactivate depending on the version of Adobe software, at Activation & deactivation help - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-deactivation-products.html.

OK good. So there isn't such a difference between the two versions really, is what you're saying... Signing out a Creative Cloud application (from the Help menu or via the CC Desktop App) will also deactivate it.

So it sounds like what Gary could also do (as an alternative), is first sign out on the specific computer he wants to deactivate before he tries to reactivate the software on a different (third) system... Then he wouldn't ever get the "activations exceeded" screen that would forcibly deactivate both original machines when "Continue" is selected.

Finally, another important note from the helpx link you posted: When uninstalling programs, you always want to sign out of them first because uninstalling the application from a computer does not deactivate it.

This is all good to confirm so we can update our guide on how to move Adobe software between computers.

One final question for you Jeff: Presumably Adobe keeps track of how many complete "activation resets" happen for a CC membership... will customers ever run into difficulties if they do this only occasionally?

Jeffrey_A_Wright

Community Manager

When you try to activate your third computer you will be prompted to deactivate all computers. Once you have done that you can reactivate on that current computer and the other computer you are using Creative Cloud with.

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