My serial number doesn't work

For more details, see Find your Serial number.

• Always enter the serial number of the upgrade first and only if the installer asks, enter the serial number of the qualifying or previous version.

• Verify that you qualify for the upgrade you purchased:

  • Upgrade information for CS6 and CS6 products

  • Upgrade guide for Technical Communications Suite

  • If, you bought the wrong upgrade return your product for a refund or exchange. Return or change Adobe orders: North America | Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Pacific

• For Creative Suite 5.5 suites and individual products:

  • If you purchased the correct upgrade, install the upgrade as a trial version(If you need help with the installation process, see Install Adobe Creative Suite 5.5.) and then contact Adobe for assistance before the trial expires.

  • Enter a suite- or product-specific serial number. For example, a Photoshop serial number doesn't work when you install Illustrator.

You cannot solve this problem on your own. Have both your upgrade and previous version serial numbers(if applicable) handy, be at your computer and ready to start the install process and contact Adobe. Click the Chat now button below to initiate a chat with Adobe Support.

Refer to

• Error "Licensing has stopped working" | Windows

• Error "Licensing has stopped working" | Mac OS

• Error "Licensing for this product has expired" | CS4, CS5 (a different issue with a similar error message).

Restart the installer and select the correct English language version:

• IE for products bought outside USA, Canada and Mexico.

• UE for products bought in USA, Canada and Mexico.

You can also see Serial number Rejected after trial use.

In CS5, Acrobat and Creative Suite products have different serial numbers, even though they are bundled together. Use the Acrobat serial number when installing Acrobat. See Error "Invalid serial number" | Acrobat 9 | CS4

• Make sure that you enter the correct serial number. 

• Typical Adobe serial numbers are numeric with up to 24 digits. 

• Typical Macromedia serial numbers contain 21 digits, beginning with three letters and followed by a series of numbers separated by dashes. 

• Typical Robo serial numbers usually contain five sets of five alphanumeric characters, separated by dashes.

• If the software is an older version, the serial number is on the bottom of the product box and on the registration card. 

• If the software is bundled with another product, make sure that you enter the serial number for the correct product.

• If you are installing the upgrade to Studio MX +, use the same serial number as for Studio MX.

• If you are installing the ColdFusion Developer Edition included with Studio, you do not need to enter a serial number. Leave the box blank and continue to the next screen.