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Happy Camper
Happy Camper
Participant
May 11, 2012
Answered

Where is the serial number for Creative Cloud membership?

  • May 11, 2012
  • 15 replies
  • 127985 views

I looked at my order, my receipt and the email I received and nowhere is there a serial number for my Creative Cloud membership.  I was a pre-order, don't know if that screwed it up... how do I get the serial number?  Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Happy Camper

    The first thing I opened was Acrobat and it asked for a serial number.  Then I opened AfterEffects and it connected properly.  After that I could open everything without it asking for the serial number.  So it doesn't need the serial number in fact.  If you get the warning just try opening a different application until it connects and then go back to the other application and try again.

    15 replies

    M
    melsv8
    Participant
    January 6, 2015

    I had the same problem... This works for me:

    You have to clean HOSTS from adobe in your system (if you using MAC folllow this)

    To do it you will use TERMINAL.

    Step 1 – Open the Terminal.app

    Either by start typing Terminal on the Spotlight, or by going into Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.

    Step 2 – Open the hosts file

    Open the hosts by typing on the Terminal that you have just opened:

    1

    $ sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

    Type your user password when prompted.

    Step 3 – Edit the hosts file, delete all the ADOBE entries

    The hosts file contains some comments (lines starting with the # symbol), as well as some default hostname mappings (e.g. 127.0.0.1 – localhost).
    Simply append your new mappings underneath the default ones. Or edit one of the default values if you know what you are doing!
    You can navigate the file using the arrow keys.
    You can also delete everything and them paste the original set up
    ##
    ##
    # Host Database
    #
    # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
    # when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.
    ##
    127.0.0.1 localhost
    255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
    ::1 localhost
    fe80::1%lo0 localhost

    Step 4 – Save the hosts file

    When done editing the hosts file, press control-o to save the file.
    Press enter on the filename prompt, and control-x to exit the editor.

    I hope it works =)

      M
      MarkG_MMR
      Participating Frequently
      October 23, 2014

      SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

      I have CC & Software installed on my work PC. Logged in as myself fine. When I try to download on my home Mac it shows that my "trial has expired". I'm a paying customer of Adobe? I should be able to install on my home computer to work from home right?

      I used to be able to do this but a recent update means that I don't have access to the full licensed version. On the Mac, I'm asked to enter the serial number. Serial number? It recognizes my ID, why do I need a serial number? (which is the reason behind the ID, so you don't need to go through the traditional license set up).

      When accessing the app download page online, I see the following...

      Mac...

      Windows...

      Download Trial (Mac) or just Download (PC)? Logged in exactly the same, with the same ID, why can't I download to my Mac?

      Mark

      Jeffrey_A_Wright
      Community Manager
      Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      October 23, 2014

      Mark did you have a question regarding any of the steps listed in this discussion?

      DaveMylesPhotography
      DaveMylesPhotography
      Participant
      August 30, 2014

      In my case it was the HOSTS file that had lines for activation pointing locally 127.0.0.1. I removed them and it worked.

      Witelady
      Witelady
      Participant
      May 17, 2014

      Had exactly the same issue, tried all the "advice" I could find online with no results, eventually contacted an online agent at Adobe who took me through the steps to resolve this, it involves trashing light room, downloading and using the creative cloud desktop app, if you don't have it installed, then using the app to log out then log back in then download lightroom again, my lightroom 5.4 opens now without the dreaded license number request. Go to the horses mouth.

      L
      LauraH
      Participant
      March 11, 2014

      I had the same problem.  I used the trial, then made a payment when my trial was over.  Then when I tried to use the Creative Cloud app, it asked for a serial #.  I spent an incredible amount of time trying to figure out where my serial number was or what I should do.  I even chatted with the support person for a while and she could not help me. She told me my order had not been processed yet - that it could take 24 hours.  I needed the software NOW.   I ended up pressing the "back" button when it asked me for the serial number and hitting the "start trial" button instead (even though my trial was already over.)  This has worked for now.  I hope this issue will be resolved when my order is finally "processed".  Overall, I have to say I'm not very happy for a service that costs $600/year.  I have ordered many things online and have always been able to use them right away after purchase. 

      Jeffrey_A_Wright
      Community Manager
      Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      March 11, 2014

      LauraH please review the original message of this discussion for directions on software issues which may affect your ability to activate.

      If you are facing difficulties with your membership, which can be checked under the My Products and Services section of your account at http://www.adobe.com/ then please contact our support team for assistance.

      B
      Brdunlap
      Participant
      April 8, 2014

      This thread started in 2012.  It is now 2014 and adobe has not solved this?

      My trial of lightroom expired.

      I pushed the button to buy.

      I bought the subscription.

      I was not issued a serial number.

      I have no way of getting past the splashscreen asking me for a serial number. 

      In the process It asked me to update creative cloud and I did.

      I have tried entering "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc" into note pad with no success.

      Seriously, Notepad?  is this 1997?

      No, I can't put this off on my IT department.

      I look at transaction history and it say that it might take 24 hours to show anything.

      Is this all some sort of joke?

      This is the best adobe can do?

      I am about to cancell my subscription

        A
        Alexing
        Participant
        August 18, 2013

        I didn't succeed with any of these solutions ( might have missed one though) but for me it worked to completely remove the Creative Cloud from my macbook and then change the system language. Because before it dowloaded the dutch versions ( Tried to change the language in the preferences to english international, didn't work for me). After setting the default system language to English, then reinstalling the applications I needed, it worked.

        Seems pretty trivial afterwards, but when I downloaded the applications I just assumed I would get the ones that I had a license for.

        I
        ilepez
        Participant
        July 5, 2013

        Also, be sure to double-check that you are logged in using the right email...

        I personally made that mistake... and that was the reason why I was asking for a serial number.

        C
        Civit
        Participant
        May 24, 2013

        I had the same problem in windows 8 on my MacBook Pro for a while.

        I tried everything has been told on website but nothing worked.

        Today i finally had a different message saying Cloud can not activate your account,

        So what i did is step by step;

        - Disconnected the ethernet cable from the broadband

        - Connected my iphone and joined it's hotspot connection

        - Closed the trial - login screen for Photoshop

        - Re-opened and clicked not my id

        - Re-entered user name and password

        - It worked!

        The only thing i can think of this "solution" is could be the router's firewall or dns settings are blocking the connection for the application manager, well maybe,

        I'm an artist and no idea about these IT stuff, so lucky me.

        I could only suggest you guys to try the login with a different connection.

        Jeffrey_A_Wright
        Community Manager
        Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        May 24, 2013

        Great point Civit!  If the steps offered in Sign in or activation errors | CS6, CS5.5 Subscriptions, CS6 Perpetual - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-network-issues.html do not resolve the issue then you are looking for something upstream from there.  This could be working with your I.T. department or the hardware settings of your router and or modem.

        A
        Anonymous
        October 16, 2012

        I tried calling the helpdesk and they just said I had to reinstall the application manager.

        I found this tool on their website to remove previous Adobe Creative Suites but it also enables you to remove the creative cloud application manager.

        http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

        When you start it up you need to choose all on the top. It will show application manager and remove that application.

        Afterwards go back to the Creative Cloud login page

        https://creative.adobe.com/


        and login. When you try downloading something from the apps section it will redownload the application manager and

        than you can reinstall everthing and that worked for me.

        A
        artnok
        Participating Frequently
        January 27, 2013

        I could not log in whereas apparently my email was correct. I was asked for a serial number.

        I had to choose "sign in with a different account". So I could enter email AND password. Pressed OK, refreshed, and creative cloud was OK again.

        Just for information, I firstly tried to change hosts entries on a Mac. But, even in a admin mode, with writing enable, I could not save the file without adobe lines...

        Hope that will help! Furthermore, it's a little bit simpler and efficient!

        M
        matthewbmedia
        Participating Frequently
        January 29, 2013

        This is the solution to the problem.

        Please hear us - your installers/application managers consistenly have use case bugs like this. It's painful to lose hours in a day just trying to get an application to launch.

          Kapil.Malik
          Kapil.Malik
          Participating Frequently
          August 31, 2012

          Hi Happy Camper,

          Creative cloud do not need a serial number. it will be using your aadobe ID on which you have purchased the creative cloud membership.

          So you need to login with your Adobe ID and password to activate the cloud membership.

          In case it is not signing in successfully please try the following:

            

          I dont know which operating system you are working on so i am giving you some steps windows and MAC OS:

             Windows:

             In windows 7 navigate to following location:

               /windows/system32/drivers/etc

             1. look out for "Hosts" file

             2. Open it with notepad

             3. Check if you have any entry for Adobe

             4. Remove the entries and try again launching any product from CS6

             On Windows XP navigate to following location:

             \windows\system32\drivers\etc

             1. look out for "Hosts" file

             2. Open it with notepad

             3. Check if you have any entry for Adobe

             4. Remove the entries and try again launching any product from CS6

             Mac:

             1. Please click on "Go" and navigate to /private/etc

             2. Open "hosts" file and check out for any entries for Adobe.com

             3. Remove the entries and save the file

             4.  try again launching any product from CS6

          Thanks

          Kapil Malik

          Regards,Kapil Malik
            A
            Anonymous
            January 30, 2013

            I have been through this and none of the solutions on this page work for me.  I have also been hung up on twice by adobe during phone calls.  The customer service section has been no help whatsoever!

            Jeffrey_A_Wright
            Community Manager
            Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
            Community Manager
            January 30, 2013

            Profucee which operating system are you using?  Do you have a case number from your interaction with our support team which I can reference?

            Show more replies
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