About Product Activation
Product activation is the process of verifying that a product license is valid so that you can access the software. The verification method depends on your license type and where and how you download the software. In some cases, you don't need to activate at all; you just sign in.
-
You can access many subscription products by signing in with your Autodesk ID and password.
-
For some subscription and all perpetual licenses, you access the product by providing a serial number and product key.
- If you have perpetual stand-alone license and need to activate
offline, you
obtain an activation code.
Warning: Activation codes are not needed for subscription licenses.
—Subscription
Licenses
—Education Licenses
—Perpetual Licenses
Where to find license type information
You can find information about your license on the Management tab in your Autodesk Account.
- Identifies: Subscription, Perpetual, Maintenance Plan, or
Education.
Distinguishes between single-user or multi-user. - Identifies: Stand-alone, Network, or Autodesk ID.
- Identifies: Serial Number / Product ID, or
“No serial number needed – just sign in” (for Autodesk ID license type).
Access methods by license type
Confused about whether you need to activate, enter a serial number, or just sign in? Use this chart to identify the proper procedure.
Subscription Licenses
|
Type |
Source |
Serial Number Location |
Product Access Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stand-Alone |
Autodesk online store Authorized distributor/reseller Autodesk sales representative |
Serial number entry depends on the download method:
|
|
|
Autodesk ID |
Autodesk online store |
No serial number needed |
Sign in online with your Autodesk ID:
|
|
Multi-user |
Authorized distributor/reseller Autodesk sales representative |
Users: Launching a program installed from a network deployment checks out a license from your network license server. No further action is required. If you get a message that your product cannot obtain a license, ask your network administrator to verify that your license server is set up correctly. Network administrators:
|
Education Licenses
|
Type |
Source |
Serial Number Location |
Product Access Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Education (Student or Educator) |
Education Community |
Autodesk Account
|
Serial number entry depends on the download method:
|
|
Education |
Education Community |
Autodesk Account |
Users: When you launch a program, no further action is required. Network administrators:
|
|
Education Network |
Education Community |
Autodesk Account |
Users: Launching a program installed from a network deployment checks out a license from your network license server. No further action is required. If you get a message that your product cannot obtain a license, ask your network administrator to verify that your license server is set up correctly. Network administrators:
|
Perpetual Licenses (Permanent)
|
Type |
Source |
Serial Number Location |
Product Access Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Perpetual |
Licenses sold before January 2017 Includes licenses on maintenance plan |
|
|
|
Perpetual |
Licenses sold before January 2017 Includes licenses on maintenance plan |
Users: Launching a program installed from a network deployment checks out a license from your network license server. No further action is required. If you get a message that your product cannot obtain a license, ask your network administrator to verify that your license server is set up correctly. Network administrators:
|
