How to Resolve Acrobat License Activation and Deactivation Problems
Question details
The user needs to free up a license activation slot to reinstall Acrobat XI Pro after the system reports that maximum activations are already in use.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reinstalling an older version of Acrobat (XI Pro) after the software was replaced or updated to Acrobat DC without deactivating the license first.
- Observed behavior
- The installation throws an error stating that the two available DC activations are already in use, preventing successful activation.
Ensure you have access to your Adobe account login credentials and the valid license key for your Acrobat XI Pro software before attempting to resolve the activation limit.
Deactivate the Existing Installation via Adobe Account or Application
Use this solution to manually free up a license slot by signing out of the Acrobat application or deactivating the device from your Adobe account.
Simply uninstalling the Acrobat application from your computer does not communicate with the activation server to release your license. To successfully install and activate Acrobat XI Pro, you must first deactivate the current Acrobat DC installation.
If Acrobat DC is still installed on your computer, open the application, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Sign Out'. This releases the license from your machine.
If the app is already uninstalled, open a web browser, sign in to your Adobe account, navigate to your activated devices or plans, and deactivate the specific computer.
Once the activation slot is freed, proceed to reinstall Acrobat XI Pro and enter your valid license key to activate the software.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does uninstalling Acrobat automatically free up my license?
No, simply uninstalling the application from your computer does not release your license. You must manually sign out from the Help menu inside the app or deactivate the device through your online Adobe account.
How do I sign out if I have already uninstalled the Acrobat application?
If you have already removed the software, you can log in to your Adobe account via a web browser, navigate to your active sessions or devices list, and deactivate the license for that specific computer remotely.
Why does the system say my activations are in use when I only use one computer?
Updating the software from an older version to a newer version (such as moving from Acrobat XI to Acrobat DC) without properly signing out first can consume an additional activation slot, causing the server to register multiple active installations.
