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davidl57581432
Participating Frequently
June 18, 2017
Question

Bought disc version of Elements 15, never asked for serial number

  • June 18, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 2503 views

When I installed Elements 15 it asked me to sign on with my adobe ID (I already have Creative Cloud with PS CC and Lightroom) and I signed in.  It never asked for a serial number even though I chose the option that I already bought the software during installation. Now it is acting as if this is a trial version (keeps asking me if I want to buy it, and I can find nowhere to register the serial number that I have.

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    3 replies

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2017

    Where did you purchase the software from?

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    elizabeths27678946
    Participant
    June 20, 2017

    Bought Photoshop Elements 15 as a download from Amazon. Starting the install a screen popped up asking for a serial number which appeared to be six digits.I didn't have one. Looked at help on-line which said it would be in my Adobe account but my list of products was blank. Contacted help who told me to ask my retailer for a serial number. Just tried again and discovered that the Serial number is the Product Key and is six groups of four numbers. Now installing. I may be dim but what you call something is important.

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    June 18, 2017

    In the Editor, Menu Help >> Sign in.

    Does it work for your? 'Sign in' is the same as the old 'Activate'.

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    davidl57581432Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 18, 2017

    Thanks for response. I have signed in with my adobe account, but it still periodically shows me ads to purchase full version and has never asked for the serial number.

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    davidl57581432Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 20, 2017

    Thank you.  While No screen allowing me to activate/register the software has ever appeared while actually using Elements 15, in the meantime since I originally posted, I did go to my Adobe account online and register the Elements software (using the serial number that came with the disc) there.  Not sure if the software has "phoned home" and picked up that registration info from the Adobe server.  Haven't seen an ad today yet.


    Update.

    Interesting find.

    I looked in the "System Info" for both Elements 15 and Photoshop CC (for which I have a subscription) and the Elements 15 Sys Info reported that my serial number was the same as that of my Photoshop CC and NOT the serial number that was included with the Elements 15 disc.  This seems to mean that I needn't have purchased Elements 15 separately and that it would have registered using my CC subscription had I just downloaded the trial version instead of buying?  Either that or it is using the wrong serial number when I signed in and that is why it is thinking I haven't bought it?

    On the other hand, if I were to cancel my Photoshop CC subscription, perhaps I would have to enter the serial number that came with the disc to continue using Elements 15?

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