topic Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:06:06 GMT

I just bought your turbotax 2022 from Amazon and the activation code box is not allowing me to enter anything at all. It seems locked out. I have the correct activation code from Amazon, but the software won't let me enter any characters at all. Is this an Intuit issue or Amazon?

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

SteamTrain — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 14:37:59 GMT

I don't have an answer...but please describe your OS.

Windows 10, or 11?

MAC version?

_________________

Could be a strongly set anti-virus setting?

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Another thing that temporarily blocked some of my Windows 10 software?

.....A waiting Windows OS update...if partially installed and waiting, the Windows update needed to be completed and system reboooted....then the TTX stuff worked fine. There were some Windows updates issued this week (or was it last?) that need installation.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

Anonymous_ — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 14:42:01 GMT

There have been issues with screen resolution in the past so perhaps changing that will resolve the issue.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:00:49 GMT

Currently running Windows 11 with all updates currently installed.

Restarted computer. Removed Turbotax 2022, restarted computer, Reinstalled TurboTax 2022.

Also changed resolution, scaling size, and turned off any Virus software which just happens to be Microsoft.

Still an issue.

I have been in I.T. for over 45 years and this is not new to me. My experience has been -it's always the programmer that created an issue. Just not sure if it's Intuit or Amazon's I.T department.

Intuit states this being an issue in the past of CDrom or Downloads and not having the correct activation key or software distribution.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

Anonymous_ — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:08:47 GMT

I have reported your issue to the moderators.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

SteamTrain — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:16:45 GMT

Windows 11 is pretty new, and I'm sure not all OS-interaction bugs have been discovered yet.

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1) You could try installing in Compatibility mode for Windows 10 to see if that helps

2) Make sure that when you install the .exe file, you Run As Administrator?

or, unless someone else has a possible idea.

3) wait until tomorrow, when Customer Service is open during daytime working hours...and get it reported....they may already have a workaround. Phone numbers are only available when CS is open:

What is the TurboTax phone number? (intuit.com)

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

dmertz — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 16:04:05 GMT

My experience is with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. I've been unable to paste a copied activation code by using Shift-Insert but pasting using Ctrl-V has worked. Typing in the code character-by-character has also worked for me.

Make sure that your display driver is up-to-date.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

SuziM — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:02:18 GMT

@daniel-g-farrell I'd like to follow up to see if you are still experiencing this activation box issue?

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:07:32 GMT

After toying with it a few times, uninstall, reinstall and having no success, I restarted my tablet and made sure I didn't use my screen keyboard and only used my real keyboard. It still failed, but I did a CNTR V and it seemed to paste in the activation key. Later while using the program, I couldn't enter in any of my W2 information ( for budgeting). The only way I could get it to work was to go to the form itself, not using the guided step-by-step.

I'm limping by now.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

VolvoGirl — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:13:43 GMT

Tablet? What kind of computer? You mean a laptop? You can't install Turbo Tax on a tablet or mobile device.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:36:03 GMT

I beg to differ.

I am using a Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Windows 11 Tablet with integrated keyboard. Touchscreen to use as a tablet. I used the same type prior for the last 5 years using Windows 10.

If you are blatantly telling me that this can’t be done, I want specific minimum specifications sent to me by an Authorized Employee of Intuit. If this is the case, I will ask for my money back. As I read the system requirements when I purchased the product.

You should be careful about jumping the gun and make accusations on something you really don’t know anything about.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

VolvoGirl — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:45:12 GMT

Sorry. Usually the word tablet refers to something like an iPad. You seem to meet the minimum requirements. 2022 Desktop System Requirements

TurboTax CD/Download 2022-2023 System Requirements

Again, sorry I jumped in.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

dmertz — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:10:36 GMT

TurboTax developers seem to have used two different user-interface packages in TurboTax. The one used for W-2 entries and in several other areas is horrible. It's possible that they are using this same horrible UI package for the activation dialog.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:16:45 GMT

Thanks. I thought it was me. I found a way to limp through it for now.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

SuziM — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:56:58 GMT

Thanks for getting back to me with the additional info regarding the activation code, @daniel-g-farrell. In regards to the W2 issues you're facing, are you unable to enter any numbers into the guided interview portion? Or are you trying to import a W2?

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:26:08 GMT

Since it’s early in the season, I just followed the step by step guided part and could not enter in any numbers. Obviously the W2’s aren’t ready yet, but I have done this in the past to get a heads up of what I need to do and end of year tax closing. So, the only way I could get the numbers in was to go to the actual form.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

dylandawg — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:41:41 GMT

yes i am having same problem. customer service said i should uninstall, then deactivate my virus protection and reinstall. did this twice and code did not enter, blinking but frozen. got my cd from intuit directly.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daniel-g-farrell — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:56:55 GMT

Its an issue using a windows copy and paste feature.

Think about the DOS world and try to use your keyboard, not touch screen, by using CNTRL C to copy and then use CNTRl V to paste into the activation spot. The keyboard won’t work with the characters

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

daubenpb — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 18:54:37 GMT

I wish I had found this thread a few hours ago. I had the exact same problem with the Activation dialog on both my SurfacePros. Intuit Support provided me with a download of TT Home & Business 2022 for Windows, and after uninstall and reinstall, no change.

Then I started trying stuff. Turns out that all I had to do was hit the Tab key a few times on the Activation dialog. Once the Key field turned pink and it said 'Enter A Valid License Code', I was able to type in the box just fine, and all is well now.

Re: Is anyone having issues with the activation box not accepting characters?

elwoodii — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:48:07 GMT

I can't enter the activation code into the box from my computer keyboard. Hovering over the box does'nt bring up the blue dot either. What's going on?