Activation is the process by which Adobe validates that your software and serial number are genuine and being used as allowed by your purchased license. It is intended to protect both your rights as a consumer and Adobe’s rights as a software developer. When you license a software product from Adobe, you are issued a serial number from Adobe that represents your license to use that software. Activation protects you by ensuring that you have licensed a genuine Adobe product rather than a counterfeit. Activation protects Adobe by ensuring that our software is used in accordance with a purchased license. You may not be able to use your Adobe software if it is not activated.
During the Activation process, information about the following is sent to Adobe via an internet connection: your computer, your computer’s operating system, the Adobe software in use on your computer and the Adobe serial number associated with that software. In addition, the Internet Protocol address of your Internet connection is received by Adobe. All the foregoing information is collectively referred to as the “Received Information” and is stored by Adobe. Adobe may use the Received Information, alone or in conjunction with other information you or third parties have provided to Adobe, to detect and prevent fraud and abuse of Adobe products and services, such as the use of Adobe software that is not validly licensed or that is not used in accordance with a valid license.
If your software fails to activate, either because it cannot connect to Adobe over the Internet or because its use is found not to be permitted, it may offer only limited functionality or not operate at all.
ADOBE® CREATIVE SUITE® 4, 5, AND OTHER RECENT RELEASES OF ADOBE SOFTWARE
You don’t have to take any action to activate your software. Activation happens in the background as soon as the software detects an Internet connection.
CREATIVE SUITE 3 AND EARLIER VERSIONS AS WELL AS OLDER VERSIONS OF ADOBE SOFTWARE
You may be prompted to activate during installation or use of the software. If you are prompted, instructions for how to activate will be provided.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR ACTIVATION
If you encounter an activation problem or get an activation error code, see Activation and deactivation of Adobe product.
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MORE INFORMATION
Activation and deactivation
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OLDER VERSIONS
Activate by phone or chat
Product activation tour