Yes. You must activate your Adobe software within the 30-day grace period beginning upon installation, as determined by Adobe. If you do not activate the software, you will be prevented from using it after the 30 days. However, Adobe's activation system offers users a choice of when and how to activate. Adobe offers a 30-day grace period so that users can activate when it is most convenient, yet be able to use the software immediately. There are optional reminders during the grace period so that you can use the software immediately and activate it when it is most convenient to do so.
Please check the list to see which Adobe products require product activation.
How will activation work with the Adobe® Design Bundle, the Adobe Web Bundle, and the Adobe Video Bundle?
You will be asked to activate twice: Once for the products that belong to the Adobe family, and once for the products that formerly belonged to the Macromedia® Studio family.
May I use the software on more than one computer at a time?
The activation process supports installation on two machines. The Adobe product license agreement allows the primary user to install the product on a primary computer and also on a home or laptop computer for his or her use, provided that the two copies are not used simultaneously. While the activation process supports installing and activating Adobe software on two machines, the usage of the product on the second computer is restricted to the user who licensed the software. Allowing others to use a second copy of the software violates the product license agreement.
Do I have to reactivate if I reformat my hard drive?
As long as you don't perform a "low-level" reformat of your hard drive, you will not be required to reactivate your Adobe software. Please note that utilities (provided by the operating system vendor) typically used for reformatting the hard drive do not perform a "low-level" reformat.
Will I be required to reactivate Adobe software if I perform regular backups or restore my system? What about system upgrades?
Backups and restoring your system using standard tools will not require reactivation. While reactivation after backing up or restoring the system was required in Adobe Photoshop® CS software, Adobe has continued to improve the activation process with new technology that eliminates the need to reactivate after system restoration. In complex situations where the system is being upgraded, we recommend transferring activation before commencing the system upgrade. Once the system upgrade is completed, the subsequent install/restore will require reactivation, which is typically accomplished without difficulty.
For Adobe Creative Suite 2, will I be required to activate each individual component of the suite?
No. Activating any one component of Adobe Creative Suite 2 software will activate all the remaining components as well. Further, if you activate Adobe Creative Suite during the installation process, you will not need to activate any individual components of Creative Suite 2.
How does activation affect Adobe Open Options volume licensing customers?
Do Adobe Open Options customers have to activate each copy they install?
Product activation applies mostly to the individual retail versions of Adobe software products and is generally not part of the Adobe Open Options programs. In some regions, activation might apply to certain volume licensing programs. Volume licensing customers who order Adobe software products need to make certain they order licensing program-specific CD sets. Customers should contact their Adobe Authorized Reseller or customer service representative if they have questions. Read more about Adobe Open Options.
Is activation related to registration? Does activation replace registration?
Activation is completely separate from product registration, which is optional. Registration is for customers who want to receive information about product updates and other special offers from Adobe. In fact, the data for activation and registration reside on separate servers, and there is no linking of these separate sets of data.
How will the activation information be used?
The unique serial number assigned to each copy of Adobe software is combined with a "machine identifier" for the user's computer. When the product is activated on a computer, this machine identifier and the product serial number are provided to Adobe to help ensure that each genuine copy of its software is not activated more than the permitted number of times. Adobe's activation system does not collect, transmit, or use any personal information.
Most users will see no change in their ability to use the software the way they always have. Adobe recognizes that software license activation systems can create a few more steps for the user and has worked hard to minimize customer inconvenience. The Adobe activation process supports installation on a primary and secondary computer as well as most system upgrades (for example, operating system, motherboard, memory, or processor). In most cases, customers can change computing environments without contacting Adobe Customer Care or reactivating any installed Adobe software.
What happens if the product is discontinued?
Adobe is fully committed to honoring the terms of its product license agreements. In the event that a product is discontinued, Adobe will enable automatic approval of all activation requests for that product or provide a means to remove activation outright. In either case, the customer will not experience any change in software capabilities.
Will I be able to use the software in perpetuity? What happens if Adobe shuts down?
Adobe's product license agreements typically grant the user of an Adobe product the right to use it in perpetuity. Adobe plans to honor these agreements. In the unlikely event of the company's shutting down, we will enable automatic approval of all activation requests or provide other technical means allowing users to continue using our products.
What happens if Adobe releases a newer version of a software program that requires activation? Will I be able to activate the older version?
Yes. Even after the older version of the product stops shipping, you can activate your copy of the older product.
What happens if I get a new computer and want to install Adobe software on the new computer?
The activation process will allow you to transfer activation of your Adobe software from your original computer to your new computer. After you install the software on your new computer, you will be asked to reactivate the software. At this time, you must uninstall the software from your older computer to comply with the license agreement. The uninstaller prompts you to decide whether you want to transfer the activation, so that activation is available for another installation on another computer using the same serial number. Transferring activation is as easy, anonymous, and quick as the initial activation. In most circumstances, this activation will be successful. In the rare case that reactivation is unsuccessful, call Adobe Customer Care for help. Some older versions of Adobe software do not enable activation transfer. If you are using software that does not enable transfer, please contact Adobe Customer Care.
I don't have access to the computer on which I originally activated Adobe software. Can I still transfer my activation to a new computer?
We strongly advise transferring activation from the original computer before decommissioning it or uninstalling the product from it. If access to the original computer is not available, you may not be able to activate on the new computer. Please call Adobe Customer Care for assistance.
Will transferring my activation affect the licensing status of my software?
No. Transferring activation does not affect your license to use the software or your product registration of the software. This feature is primarily meant to provide you with flexibility in installing and activating your software. If you wish to transfer your license to use the software to a different individual or organization, in addition to transferring the activation, you will need to comply with the transfer provisions included in the product license agreement, including completion of the Adobe Transfer of License form. Learn more.
I've already transferred my activation of Adobe software to a new computer. Can I go back to using the software on the computer from which I transferred it?
Yes. In order to do this, you will need to transfer the activation from the new computer back to the original computer. When you activate the software on the original computer, it will run without any problems.
Should I uninstall Adobe software after transferring the activation?
It is not necessary to uninstall Adobe software after transferring activation. Transferring activation renders the copy of Adobe software installed on the computer unusable, unless it is activated again. If you anticipate using Adobe software on this computer in the future, you can do so by activating it again.
What is Adobe doing to stop professional piracy? Shouldn't efforts be expended there instead of burdening loyal customers?
Adobe does not believe a customer-focused activation process represents a burden to the user. Adobe is working to stop professional piracy, both on its own and through industry coalitions such as the Business Software Alliance. Professional piracy is a serious problem for the software industry and costs Adobe an estimated US$700 million per year. Learn more about Adobe's antipiracy initiatives.
How is Adobe educating customers about activation?
How is Customer Care prepared to support users during the activation process?
The Adobe Customer Care team is fully prepared to address all customer concerns during the activation process. We believe that in most cases, customers will have a smooth experience either by activating via the Internet or by using the 24-hour automated Activation Voice Response system and will not need to contact Adobe Customer Care. Adobe also provides for unforeseen circumstances (such as communication outages) so that Customer Care can respond to customer calls or extend the activation period until full communications are restored.
How is Adobe informing customers about product activation?
Adobe is proactively communicating information about product activation to existing and potential customers in several ways:
On the outside of the product box so that potential buyers are aware before they purchase the product
Did Adobe develop its product activation system internally, or is it relying on a third-party provider?
In its commitment to balance user experience and licensing requirements, Adobe has worked with a third-party developer on its product activation process.
