Creative Cloud "Activation limit reached" or "Sign-in failed" error

Find solutions to sign-in limit reached errors.

Issue

When you launch a Creative Cloud or Document Cloud subscription app, you get an error stating that sign-in failed, limit was reached, or the maximum number of activations was exceeded.

Having a problem with Acrobat? If you have a subscription to Acrobat, follow the solutions here to sign out of other computers. If you purchased Acrobat as a stand-alone (non-subscription) application, follow the solutions in "Activation limit reached" or "Sign in failed" error.

Can't access your old computer? If you can't access your previous computer or app (for example, you reformatted the hard drive or uninstalled the app without deactivating), don't worry. Follow the steps under Sign out of all computers or Sign out from accounts page.

Have a different issue? If you are having a different sign-in or activation problem, see Troubleshoot Creative Cloud activation errors.

Activation Limit Reached

These errors occur if you try to activate the app on more than two computers. An Adobe Creative Cloud membership lets you activate your apps on two computers. To activate your apps on a third computer, sign out of the app on one of the first two computers. Signing out deactivates all installed Creative Cloud apps and services associated with your Adobe ID on that computer.

To resolve the error and continue using the app on the current computer, try the following solutions.

Sign out of all computers

This option lets you sign out of the app on all other computers. You can use this option remotely, without necessarily having access to the other computers. It's a good option to use if you lost the other computer or you accidentally uninstalled the app without signing out first.

  1. Connect to the Internet.

  2. Choose Sign me out of the other computers so I can sign in here in the dialog box that appeared when you tried to sign in.

  3. Select Continue. If prompted, sign in again.

Sign out of a single computer

This option lets you sign out of the app manually from one of your other computers. You need access to the other computer, the Internet, and the app on the other computer to use this option.

  1. Connect to the Internet and launch the app on the other computer. 

  2. Choose Help > Sign Out.

    For detailed instructions, see Activate and deactivate Adobe Creative Cloud apps.

  3. On the current computer, choose I signed out of one computer so I can sign in here in the dialog box that appeared when you tried to sign in.

  4. Select Continue.

Sign out from account page

This option lets you sign out by deactivating a device from your account page on adobe.com.

Note:

This option is not available for Lightroom 6 or Acrobat if you purchased the app as a stand-alone (non-subscription) product. It is, however, available for single-app memberships.

  1. Under Activated devices section, select Deactivate to deactivate the device.

    Select deactivate

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