Some details are necessary.
What all are you doing??? Was the 2017 return prepared in Online TurboTax? If so, was it finished and filed last year, or are you wanting to download the *.tax2017 data file to finish it now in recently-purchased 2017 software, but access to the 2017 file is locked?
Or was the 2017 return prepared in desktop software last year? If so, any tax data file or PDF won't be in an Online account. Any tax files prepared in desktop software are stored locally on one's computer or external storage.
"Already paid for 2017 desktop software"
Was this a recent purchase so that you can work on a 2017 data file you want to download from Online TurboTax and finish? Or did you buy it last year?
"online account is not registering it"
Online TurboTax and the desktop software do not "sync" in that regard for the purpose of automatically unlocking a return. Or are you referring to downloading the 2017 software you purchased from TurboTax?
If access to a 2017 online return is locked, the way to automatically unlock an online 2017 data file is to pay for a 2018 product in PLUS or higher. Have you already filed a 2018 return with TurboTax, or do you have one in preparation? If so, is it online TurboTax or 2018 desktop TurboTax?
We can give you some options when you explain your situation and address all the questions above.
