Why Only 2 Device Activations?

[gobbly2100]

Feeling frustrated as I was totally ready to subscribe until I read that I can only install CC on 2 machines.... most software such as Microsoft Office 365 allow up to 5.

I simply need 1 more device as I am a freelancer with 1 desktop at an office, 1 desktop at home and then a laptop.

I would only ever run 1 copy at a time so cannot justify purchasing another licence.

CC is a great product but sadly one which will not work for me at this moment in time unless a 3rd device can be added.

I am sure many others feel the same and I hope in the future things will be changed.

[Ned Murphy · Accepted solution]

There is no limit to the number of machines you can install CC on.  The limit of two applies to the number that you can have signed in for use at any time.  If you manage the sign-in/out you can have all three machines available to you when needed, though it might be a bit of a balancing act...

Sign out, Sign in | Creative Cloud desktop app

http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/sign-in-out-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html

[gobbly2100]

This could work for me, what happens if for any reason I an unable to sign out of a device such as a time when the computer hardware fails, is there somewhere online that I can force a sign out of devices?

Thanks!

[Ned Murphy]

I am not sure if it still works the way it was purported to do originally.  Originally, and this is only hear-say on my part, if you signed in on a third machine it would automatically sign out of any other machines that were signed in.  I have this idea that I heard this might have changed, but I have nothing to back it up either way.

[gobbly2100]

That would work perfectly if this was the case.

I am going to contact support and see if this is how it works.

Thanks Ned!

[Govardhan.V]

Yep as soon as you Sign out , you can Sign in on another device.

Also , if you are unable to Sign out of 2 devices, let us just say if there is Comp failure, still when you try to Sign in on new comp, you will get option to Sign out from all computers, its like resetting Activation count to 0. so that again you can activate on any of 2 computers of your choice.

[gobbly2100]

I spoke with Adobe on live chat and they said that logging in to a 3rd device will not sign out the other 2 devices and that I must manually sign out.

I get the feeling that live chat may not be educated enough as I assume you know it will force a sign out because you are a subscriber yourself Brucgovn?

Thanks for helping me work out how I can make it work!

[Govardhan.V]

If you had activated already on 2 devices , and then again you want to activate on 3'rd computer , but for example you do not have access to comp to Sign out , it will prompt you an message like Activation Limit reached , in the same window  , you will get an option to Sign out from all computers, which means nothing but resetting Activation Count to  0 from 2.

Reference :

"Activation limit reached" or "Sign-in failed error" with Adobe apps

[Ned Murphy]

You're welcome

[Govardhan.V]

Yep that is correct ,. for example if you are in office with a office computer and your personal Laptop , you can Sign in on both and activate CC apps on Office comp as well as laptop,

However , if you wish to activate and use CC apps on your Home Desktop comp and Laptop when you are in home , you will need to Sign out from Office computer before leaving office  . You will have to manage like this everyday if you wish to use CC apps on 3 computer with Individual license,  its like Sign in Swap .

However , you may also go for Creative Cloud Team subscription if you wish to activate CC apps on more than 2 devices and do not wish to play Sign out and Sign in games every day , but in your case I don't think it is necessary and its not feasible . Managing Sign in and Sign out will be better option when compared to Team subscription or another new individual license purchase.

For reference , check below link once :

https://creative.adobe.com/plans

[gobbly2100]

That does not sound so bad, I could just make sure I always sign out when I finish working on each device.

The reality is that most of the time I will only be signed in to 2 devices as I only use the laptop if I am away usually.

So as soon as I sign out I can sign in with another device?

Many thanks for your reply!