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Level 2
December 18, 2021
Solved

Cannot install Turbotax 2021 on Windows 11, how to resolve? After downloading, it gets stuck on "Activation."

  • December 18, 2021
  • 12 replies
  • 343 views
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Best answer by doph

I am having the same issue on Jan 4, 2022. Brand new HP computer. Downloaded from Amazon. Applied updates. How does this not work on a brand new computer? 

 

The troubleshooting directions aren't good for Windows 11. Again, brand new computer. Doesn't work. 

 

None of the troubleshooting steps worked.

 

"I'll just quick download TurboTax and install it to set up to do taxes tomorrow" - ME

** 3 hours later after enabling/disabling every known configuration... still have a blank activation screen **

12 replies

Level 2
January 1, 2022

I have the same problem. The Activation screen is blank. Can someone from Intuit answer this question PLEASE.

Level 15
January 4, 2022

Please see the below TurboTax Help Article for troubleshooting blank screens and missing buttons:

Troubleshoot blank screens, missing buttons, or missing images

 

If the steps listed in the article do not resolve your issue, please reach out to Customer Support:

What is the TurboTax phone number?

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
January 3, 2022

I am having this same problem.  Has Intuit sent an answer?

dophAnswer
Level 2
January 5, 2022

I am having the same issue on Jan 4, 2022. Brand new HP computer. Downloaded from Amazon. Applied updates. How does this not work on a brand new computer? 

 

The troubleshooting directions aren't good for Windows 11. Again, brand new computer. Doesn't work. 

 

None of the troubleshooting steps worked.

 

"I'll just quick download TurboTax and install it to set up to do taxes tomorrow" - ME

** 3 hours later after enabling/disabling every known configuration... still have a blank activation screen **

Level 2
January 5, 2022

I too tried the solutions recommended by Intuit, which are ridiculous because they reference "Internet Explorer" and the "Control Panel" which literally don't exist in Windows 11 anymore (or have been deprecated in favor of new Edge browser).

 

I seriously doubt the engineering staff at Intuit have installed TurboTax 2021 on a new Windows 11 laptop, if they had, they would have fixed this issue long ago. 

 

Intuit, if you are listening, please pay for some QA engineers and spend a few bucks to give them the latest hardware and OS. 

 

 I work in high tech, and this would be unacceptable corporate behavior for my company to save money at their customer's expense. Heads would roll at the top for these kinds of disasters. 

 

 

 

 

Level 2
January 29, 2022

I to am having issues in installing the Turbotax Home & Business version.  Even running in Administrator mode and the install vanishes even after running file scans and installing the needed certificate the install attempts (all 4) result's in the installer vanishes.

 

I have verified that all updates to the Dell Laptop and Windows 11 all are up to date.  I have installed many Turbotax years without a hitch and this version has me wondering if it has NOT been  well tested in Windows 11!

 

I agree with previous posters...

1)  The 7 "P"s were missed! (Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance)

2) No Window 11 Support!

3) No Phone or Online Support!

 

This is a critical time when the latest 2021 Turbotax application skupport is failing

Level 4
January 5, 2022

See resolution in 

The activation screen for 2021 is blank. Where do I enter the activation codes?

Level 2
January 8, 2022

I tried all the "Intuit"solutions with no resolve.  When is intuit going to send down a patch to make Windows 11 compatible with their software so we can do our 2021 taxes on Turbo tax?  Please advise with detailed instruction a person with minimal computer ITT experience can handle.  It would be much appreciated to get an answer from intuit we can use.

Critter-3
Level 15
January 8, 2022

Please contact support via phone for assistance with this; contact details can be found here

Level 2
January 29, 2022

Wrong. Tried calling your tech support yesterday. Worst tech support experience ever - terrible language skills, must have asked me 10 times if I was trying to download "turbotax", could not understand the blank screen activation problem.  Waste of ten minutes of my life.  Never again with Turbotax!!!

Level 2
January 8, 2022

THANK YOU TURBOTAX:  I had the same problem and they sent me an update which allowed me to enter the code and all is well.

Level 2
February 1, 2022

@sls10  Is it possible for you to share your update link so we can save time and not contact Intuit? Or alternatively, share the steps you used to contact them and get your update, plus perhaps an estimate of time it took to accomplish this? (Just trying to see a helpful, detailed post with answers).  Thank you!!

SForrestLO
Level 11
February 1, 2022

If you continue to have issues with your software after trying the solutions above, please reach out to Customer Support.

 

What is the TurboTax phone number?

 

@AimeeHubacek

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Level 2
January 31, 2022

I had this same problem a year ago and don't recall where I found the solution, nor what the actual solution was, just recall that it was something simple.  Now having same problem with 2021 TT.  Called helpline, which was zero help, zip, nada -- the girl I talked to even said she was asking for help from someone else, then said to expect a call-back in a few minutes, and that was over an hour ago.  Since I recall it was a simple solution a year ago, started trying simple things -- first went into computer settings and changed resolution to 600 x 800 or 640 x 840 or something, no luck.  From here it's confusing because I tried several things and got activated and running TT.  I think what I did finally was right-click on my TT icon for Properties, then went to Compatibility, then clicked boxes to override my computer settings and use the TT application settings, saved, clicked okay, then opened TT.  After finally getting into TT, then exited out and re-set back to original settings, and re-opened TT and it works.  Still no call-back for TT help folks.  Hope this helps someone.  To actually list all the details of what I did, I would actually need to do them and right down each step as I went, but it was simple, just aggravating.  I'm not very computer savvy.

Level 2
February 4, 2022

I can’t install TT 2021 on dell xps 9570 windows 11.  I get to where it asks me if f I want to let it change the computer, where I answer “yes” and then nothing after that.  Did all updates etc.  talked to 2 TT tech people who had no idea what to do.  Said talk to Microsoft.  What a bunch of s#%>>>.  Any ideas?  Tried with CD and online and both did the same thing.

Level 2
February 4, 2022

My original issue was after installing TT '21, I'd make it all the way to the activation window only to find it blank. After an hour of aggravation and research, I piecemealed this solution together which ultimately worked: (1) disabled all antivirus/firewall apps temporarily; (2) changed the display resolution to 800x600; (3) changed the application settings to launch as administrator (right-click app/properties/compatibility); (4) got the blank window, changed the display settings back to my original 1920x1080, which magically now showed a field to enter the activation code in; (5) however, trying to enter the code in the field was futile as no cursor shows up; click into the field as if you were going to enter the code, carefully/blindly enter the activation code INCLUDING dashes; (6) click on activate TT and voila! you get the next registration window. OMG, this was such a waste of time and disappointing having been a decades-old user of TT - never experienced anything like this before. Hope this helps all y'all! 

Level 2
February 6, 2022

Had the same issue:  a blank Activation screen.

 

Using a new Surface Pro 8 with Windows 11.

 

What worked for me was changing the scaling to 125% and the resolution to 1920 x 1080. 

 

Other combinations would show some of the dialog box contents but not all, or would not allow input even when the activation code text entry was visible - someone suggested moving the mouse down just in case the graphic and actual input area were misaligned - this did not work.

 

Other combinations of scaling and resolution would show part or all of the dialog box, but only the combo above worked for me.  I am sure that Your Mileage May Vary.

 

What Intuit / TurboTax should do is throw together a quick command line tool to allow running an activation from the command prompt.  Since the GUI is messed up anyway and requires this jiggery-pokery to get it working, using such a tool wold be a quick and easy work-around for users and a quick solution for both them and the tech support people.

 

Hope this helps.