How to Register or Activate QuickBooks Desktop?

As we all know that Intuit QuickBooks is a leading accounting and bookkeeping software. It features important tools of state of the art financial accounting technology. This software is incredibly user-friendly as you can experience being a business owner that average knowledge is enough to handle and manage this software to achieve organisational goals. But you have to make sure that QuickBooks installation, updates, and upgrades have been made appropriately on a regular interval of time.

In case you have one or more than one copies of QuickBooks Desktop application then it is necessary that being a QB user, you activate or register each copy manually. We believe that this article would be helpful to you. We have endowed few simple and easy steps to register or activate the QuickBooks desktop application once you install it.

Important: Make sure that Internet Explorer 11 with TLS 1.2 has been enabled in the Windows and Mac Operating Systems. You can notice that after May 31, 2018, to access the Intuit services all the connections in QuickBooks must have these minimum system requirements.

For any help with QuickBooks activation, feel free to reach our Intuit certified ProAdvisors at +1 (855) 666-0469.

Why is Activating QuickBooks Desktop Important?

Now before we get into the steps, it is worth understanding why activation matters. Well, without activating QuickBooks Desktop, you will only be able to use it in a limited trial mode. Most features will be locked. You will not be able to open your company file properly or access payroll and other services. So activation is not just a formality — it is a necessary step to unlock the full capabilities of the software.

Not just that, if you have purchased multiple copies of QuickBooks for different systems in your organisation, each copy needs to be activated separately. Skipping this can cause errors down the line.

Important Points to Remember

Things you need to take care of before starting:

• Always confirm that QuickBooks is ACTIVATED or NOT by pressing key F2 or CTRL+1
• In case you see that QuickBooks is ACTIVATED then you are all set. If not then jump to the activation steps below
• If you get the error "The validation code is wrong" then confirm that:
• Make sure that the License and the QuickBooks Product number are correct
• If the product number does not match the license number then change the product number first before moving forward with the activation
• Make sure the validation code is right
• Also ensure that your system date and time are correct — wrong date and time settings can block the activation process
• Make sure your internet connection is stable and active before starting
• Run QuickBooks as Administrator to avoid permission-related issues

How to Register or Activate QuickBooks Desktop?

QuickBooks Desktop for 2016 and Later Versions

QuickBooks Desktop For Windows Computers:

Once you successfully installed the QuickBooks software, you need to activate it before getting started. A screen will appear to activate the software. You can also activate it manually with the below given steps:

1. First of all, Open the QuickBooks and press the “F2” key on the keyboard.
2. After the ‘Product Information’ window will open where the user have to check for the registration status at the right-hand side of the ‘License number’.
3. You are good to go if QuickBooks reads ACTIVATED.

• In case, the QuickBooks is NOT ACTIVATED then follow the given steps below:Select the “Ok” tab and it will close the ‘Product Information’ window.
• Now, go to the “Help” menu and click on the “Activate QuickBooks” option (select Register QuickBooks for 2016).
• Continue to follow the on-screen prompts and verify your details, and finish the activation process.

QuickBooks Desktop For Mac Computers:

• Open the QuickBooks and go to the “menu” tab.
• Select the “Register QuickBooks” option.
• Type-in the “License Number” and “Product Number” in the information dialogue box, and then select the “Next” tab.
• Choose the “Register Online” option.
• Follow the on-screen prompts and complete the registration (in case the register option doesn’t appear, it means the software is already registered).

For QuickBooks Desktop 2016 and Earlier Versions

• Intuit has discontinued the older versions before to the 2016 version. However, discontinued products can’t be registered for the first time.
• The re-registering of discontinued items is possible if they were registered previously and their re-installation is going through. If you need a validation code, you can also contact us to receive it (Note: Charges applicable).

Note: The discontinued products are no longer provided any support.

How to Fix QuickBooks Activation Problems

At times, users run into issues while trying to activate QuickBooks. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Validation Code is Wrong or Not Accepted

This is one of the most commonly seen activation errors. The error message usually reads "The validation code is incorrect. Please verify the number and enter it again."

• First of all, double-check the License number and Product number
• Make sure they match what is on the confirmation email from Intuit
• Also check the bright-colored sticker on the original CD envelope if QuickBooks was bought on a CD
• Verify that the license number and product code match the details on the QuickBooks product page
• If the product number does not match the license number, change the product number first
• After this, go to Help menu and click Activate QuickBooks
• Enter the validation code again and click Next

Read Also: How to Fix QuickBooks Banking Error 324?

Problem 2: Blank Screen or Activation Screen Freezing

• Close QuickBooks completely
• Right-click on the QuickBooks Desktop icon and go for Run as Administrator
• After that, go to the Help menu and click on Activate QuickBooks Desktop
• Follow the on-screen steps to complete the activation
• If the screen still freezes, try disabling your antivirus temporarily
• The last step is to reopen QuickBooks and try the activation again

Problem 3: EntitlementDataStore.ecml File is Damaged

At times, the entitlement file that tells QuickBooks your product is registered gets damaged. Deleting it forces QuickBooks to create a fresh one.

• First, close QuickBooks Desktop completely
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Make sure no QuickBooks processes are running
• After that, click on Windows Start and type Run in the search box
• Enter this path: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\Entitlement Client\v8
• Find the file named EntitlementDataStore.ecml
• Right-click on it and go for Delete
• The next step is to restart QuickBooks
• Go to Help and click Activate QuickBooks Desktop
• Enter your license number and product number again
• The last step is to complete the activation process

Problem 4: "This Service is Temporarily Unavailable" Error

• Close QuickBooks and restart your system
• Check your internet connection and make sure it is stable
• After that, open QuickBooks again and go to Help
• Click on Activate QuickBooks Desktop
• Try entering the validation code again
• If the issue still persists, try using the Ctrl + R + P method mentioned above to get a validation code over phone
• The last step is to enter the code manually and click Next

Problem 5: Antivirus or Firewall Blocking Activation

At times, your antivirus or firewall software can block QuickBooks from connecting to the Intuit activation servers. This triggers an activation error.

• Temporarily disable your antivirus software
• Also check your firewall settings and make sure QuickBooks is listed as an exception
• After that, try activating QuickBooks again
• Once the activation is complete, re-enable your antivirus
• The last step is to add QuickBooks as a trusted program in your security software settings

See Also: How to Fix QuickBooks Error 6000 301?

How to Find Your QuickBooks License Number and Product Code

At times, users lose track of their license and product details. Here is how to find them:

• Sign in to camps.intuit.com
• Select Products and Services
• Click on Details
• Your product details including the license number will appear on the screen
• Note: If you are a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, select PAP Enterprise Software Bundle
• Click Details and then Show More to see the license number

Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful to activate your QuickBooks Desktop. However, if you face any difficulties while installing and registering this software then you can consult with our Intuit certified ProAdvisors team at +1 (855) 666-0469. They can help you in your troubles.

Still have any queries? Don't worry our support team is available 24*7. The professionals are highly experienced and capable to resolve all accounting issues in no time.

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