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

[davidl57581432]

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.

[MichelBParis]

In the Editor, Menu Help >> Sign in.

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

[davidl57581432]

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.

[arshla jindal]

Hi David,

Request you to please respond to the following:

1. Open Photoshop Elements Editor.
2. Go to Help Menu.
3. Request you to please attach the screenshot of your Help menu.

Through this I need to check if you are signed in or not.

Waiting for your response to assist you further.

Thanks,

Arshla

[davidl57581432]

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.

[davidl57581432]

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?

[99jon]

Photoshop CC does not require a serial number – validation is by subscription.

PSE15 is stand-alone perpetual software (not subscription) and is validated with a 24 digit serial key starting 1057.

When you launch the PSE15 Editor you should see a button – Licence This Software. Click that button and you should be able to enter your serial number. This is normally only required once provided you remain signed-in.

[davidl57581432]

99jon, that button never appeared during Elements installation.  And there is no button anywhere in editor to "Licence the software".  If you tell me where that button should be I can screen cap to show you it doesn't exist. I know what the "Enter serial number" screen should look like, however when I signed on using my adobe account during installation which already has a Photoshop CC and lightroom CC subscription it then never showed me the activation screen for Elements where I am supposed to enter my serial number for Elements.

Peru Bob, bought disc version from adobe off amazon.  Serial is included, and the serial for Elements did register correctly on the Adobe site, just never was given an opportunity to add it during Elements installation.  Have done 2 installations, by the way.

[davidl57581432]

As you can see below, it says my license is by "subscription" and the serial number registered is not a normal one beginning with 1057.

BTW, the serial number listed in Elements matches my CC subscription license.

If I hadn't gone online separately and manually entered the Elements serial into my account there, I believe I would still be seeing the adds to purchase.

[99jon]

The product key is not displayed in System Information.

Don't confuse product serial number with the number required for activation commencing 1057 (all numbers and no letters)

But something looks wrong as the lisence should show as Perpetual.

You may need to contact support directly.

[99jon]

During Installation you should see the options to “Try” or “Buy”

If you click Buy that will take you to the next screen where you enter the serial number after sign-in.

If you click Try and quit the application, you get different options next time you launch: either Continue Trial or Licence This Software.

Don't be put off by the word buy. Adobe will recognoze a valid seril number has be purchased from Amazon.

[davidl57581432]

99jon,  during installation this is the screen I saw:

I clicked "Install" since I already bought it. The next screen simply said I had to sign in with an Adobe account and pre-populated with the account I already have.  When I clicked "next" it never gave me a spot to enter a serial number and simply installed.

I do have Creative Cloud running in the background so I am not sure if somehow it hijacks the installation and just adds it to a subscription?

[davidl57581432]

BTW, thank you for taking the time to help, 99jon.  Was just showing my wife your great Elements blog page last night.

[99jon]

If problems persist click the link below.

1. Choose Account Issues
2. Choose Adobe ID and signing in
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and choose - Show me my contact options
4. Click Chat

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/support.html

Also see my image below:

[davidl57581432]

Thank you.  Will do

[elizabeths27678946]

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.

[Peru Bob]

Where did you purchase the software from?