Lightroom Classic activation

[TMa23]

Hi, I cannot activate my old Lightroom when swapping all my stuff to new notebook. When I enter S/N then installer complains about invalid key. AFAIR I did it several times when changing HW, I believe I deactivated old instance and activated new one without issues. Now referring help page says something about inability to activate old software. I do not think licence was time limited in classic to ban activation. 

Please tell me how to proceed to run LR on new hardware.  I do not want to experiment with activated instances not to loose them. Thanks

Kind regards

-Tomas 

[kglad · Accepted solution]

invalid key is because you're using the wrong key (6 groups of 4 numbers = 24 numbers), or the wrong installation file. ie the file and number must match.

[TMa23]

Correct, I entered S/N from original product, not from upgrade. Thanks! But I proceed to page where I need Accept legal conditions but when I press Accept then LR silently disappears. It is fresh Windows 11 installation. 

[kglad]

with an upgrade, if the qualifying product is not installed and activated, you will be prompted for the upgrade's serial number, then you'll be prompted for the qualifying product's serial number.  enter the correct number at the correct time and installation will proceed.

[TMa23]

Sure, I did it and installation passed. Next step is starting LR where  need sign (success) and next I see legal terms to Accept. When I click to Accept then LR silently disappears (crash?).

[kglad]

restart your computer and start lrc as admin

[TMa23]

No progress, still the same problem. ,

[kglad]

did you migrate lrc to the problematic computer?

[TMa23]

No I cannot activate ... when I confirm Agreerment the installer silently (likely) crashes (as admin and after reboot).

[kglad]

how did you get lrc onto your computer?  did you install it using your installation file or did you migrate/move it?

[TMa23]

sure, oficially via installer as usually. I did it several times in the past when I was upgrading old hardware. 

[kglad]

does a web browser window open?

[TMa23]

Yes, I can login to my account. When I'm logged in I can proceed back to Agreerment and that't last step I can do

[kglad]

what browser and is it updated?

[TMa23]

It is fresh installation of W11 so there is latest browser. Browser is not problem, I can login to account and proceed back to installer

[kglad]

your default browser can vary

[TMa23]

Hi, see attached log files and tell me what is wrong in activation process.  I need proceed to switch to new PC from old one. Key incident happens @ 03/31/25 16:10:51:862 when EULA is confirmed.

[kglad]

checking log files is a resort used when standard fixes fail.

[TMa23]

I do not understand. Are you checking log files or complains that you don't want to do ? 

Mainly standard instrallation procedure keep failing on my Win11.

[kglad]

you'll need an employee to check your log files. if you get a response, it will take weeks.

[TMa23]

Sure, but how to pass to an internal responsive employee, can you do it ?

[kglad]

i can't do it.  you can flag one if you can find one that will accept it.  to do that search this forum and look for a thread where one was accepted within the past year.

[TMa23]

Fixed with help of Adobe help desk! It is issue with latest W11 build and workaroud is offline activation. 

[kglad]

@TMa23 

thank you for that info.

for other win 11 users:

disconnect from the internet

Launch the product.
At the Serial Number Validation screen, click Having Trouble Connecting To The Internet.
Click Offline Activation and click Generate a Response Code.
Write down the Request Code.
Switch to an online computer and navigate to www.adobe.com/go/getactivated.
Click Offline Activation.
Sign in with your Adobe ID.
Enter your Request code and click Generate.
Write down the Response code.
Switch back to the offline computer.
Enter the Response Code and click Activate.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html