Manage device licenses

Device licenses allow institutions enrolled in the Value Incentive Plan (VIP) to license software to a specific computer. Also, users never have to sign in or enter a serial number to access apps. Institutions can purchase Creative Cloud for education device licenses by joining VIP via an Adobe Authorized Education Reseller or through Adobe Business Direct.

Sign in to the Admin Console

Manage device licenses

To view device licenses, navigate to Products in the Admin Console.

Package and deploy device licenses

Creative Cloud Packager allows the Admin to create installation packages for deployment. After creating an installation package, the Admin installs the package of products to computers in classrooms or labs using an enterprise deployment tool such as Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Apple Remote Desktop, or JAMF Pro. For more information, see Deploying Adobe packages with ARD and Deploying Adobe packages with SCCM. To learn more about packaging and deploying device licenses, see Create packages with device licenses.

Download Creative Cloud Packager

Activate a license on a device

Admins cannot assign a license to a device directly from the Admin Console. Device licenses are activated based on a first launch, first license principle. When the first app (for example, Photoshop or Dreamweaver) is launched on the device, a license file is created and activated on the device. This process continues until all purchased licenses are used.

Devices must connect to Adobe servers for initial activation, and then at least once every 30 days until the end of the subscription term.

Once a license is activated on a device, the device name appears in the Admin Console. To view the list of activated devices, do the following:

Deactivate a device license

After deactivating a license from a device, it can be activated on another device. When the next unlicensed device launches an app from that deployment pool, the available license is used.

When the Admin deactivates a license from a device, an entry appears in the Deactivated Devices list displaying the product, device name, and license deactivation date. If there are no deactivated devices, this list is blank.

To view the list, navigate to Products from the Admin Console, and click Deactivated Devices.

Reactivate a license

To reactivate a previously deactivated device, the Admin has two options.

Option 1:

Redeploy the license by following Package and deploy device licenses above (make sure that the latest version of Creative Cloud Packager is installed). Use this process if:

  A. Creative Cloud for education was removed or uninstalled from the device.

  B. The Admin wants to install a different set of apps than what is on the device.

  C. The product hasn’t been updated in some time.

Option 2:

Create a license file. This option is ideal for replacing a currently installed product with a new license file of the same product. For example, if Creative Cloud All Apps was installed and used on the device before license deactivation, create a new Creative Cloud All Apps license file for the device. This process eliminates the need to fully redeploy to the device.

If you are unable to activate device licenses on your device, see Reactivation of Archived machines in Device licensing.

Once the license is redeployed, launch the app on the device to activate the license. Once a license is activated, the device and its status are visible in the product deployment pool of the Admin Console.

Temporary licenses

If the number of devices with active licenses exceeds the purchased license quantity, a warning message appears under All Devices with a Payment Needed status and the number of days to the expiration date. Admins have 60 days from license activation to convert temporary licenses to purchased licenses by placing an order with your Adobe representative.

The Admin can also deactivate any temporary licenses by following Deactivate a device license above. If the Admin does not purchase more licenses, and does not even deactivate the temporary licenses by the expiration date, users cannot access any associated apps.

Purchase additional licenses

Currently, the Admin is unable to add (purchase) additional device licenses through the Admin Console. To purchase additional device licenses, call Adobe Business Direct at 800-443-8158 or an Adobe Authorized Education Reseller.

Search for a device

Manage Administrators

A system admin is the super user for the organization, who is allowed to perform all administrative tasks in the Admin Console. Also, the system admin has permissions to add or remove administrators from the System Administrator role, while still retaining overall control. To learn how, see Administrative roles.