topic Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network) in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17704079517 — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:05:12 GMT

I just spent 1.5 hours on the phone with TurboTax tech support specialist who advised to uninstall TurboTax and install again. This did not work - same activation request screen... And the tech person just disconnected, never called back. Internet is suggesting asking TurboTax to reset the activation code before all 5 are used up. Does anybody try that?

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17633334293 — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:40:53 GMT

I found the following on a different thread...

Hi,

I didn't need to call customer service. I uninstalled Bitdefender Internet Security (my PC then defaulted to Windows Defender) the Turbo Tax update processed without asking for an activation code.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17704079517 — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:40:06 GMT

I am not that versatile in the computers and do not feel comfortable messing with it. The question was if anybody was successful in restoring number of actual activations? - not the fake ones TurboTax forced you to do.

Also, from the thread I understand that this is persistent Turbo Tax issue that goes back at least 6 years.

This is question to Turbo Tax support: why the issue has not been fixed and the tech support is mediocre (to say the least) in their knowledge of the issue and how to resolve it?

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

DianeW777 — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 21:26:07 GMT

Sometimes antivirus can cause this. If you try to run TurboTax Desktop as Administrator it may help.

Close your tax return
Right click on the TurboTax Desktop icon
Select Run as administrator

@user17704079517

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17704079517 — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:27:31 GMT

I already tried running as administrator and it did not help. The TurboTax software is definitely at fault and all suggested work arounds (uninstalling or disabling anti-virus defenses, postponing Windows updates, running as administrator, uninstalling and re-installing Turbo Tax) did not work. I need TurboTax support, as they are unable to fix the problem, to at least reset my activation counter back to 1 which is the true number.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

JohnB5677 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:25:08 GMT

If you've tried all of those trouble-shooting steps, I suggest you contact Customer Service.

What's the TurboTax phone number?

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17704079517 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:36:21 GMT

Obviously, you did not read the whole thread - I already stated that I spent 1.5 hours with Customer service and they were not able to provide any help to fix the issue.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

CatinaT1 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:33:28 GMT

We are not able to help you in the community with this, that is why we are suggesting another call to Customer Service.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

Click — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:50:40 GMT

I don't think he's interested in spending another hour and a half talking to people that could fix his issue in five seconds but refuse to.

@user17633334293 .. abandon all hope. I recently went through the same thing. I needed to remove an M.2 card from my PC that had absolutely nothing to do with TurboTax (not for program or data; in fact, it was a different operating system entirely). TurboTax forced me to waste an activation to run. Then I put the same card back and it forced me to waste yet another activation.

I spent a lot of time with customer service, and they refused to correct the activation count. They kept telling me I'd activated on a different PC because the .. wait for it .. "hardware identification number" had changed. There is no such thing. If they had said MAC address of the network adapter that might have made some sense, but that's not what they are looking at. Some propeller-header developer at Intuit probably is making assumptions about hardware uniqueness that don't apply in the real world.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

user17704079517 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:57:00 GMT

What’s most aggravating is that users kept talking among themselves while TurboTax support offered no resolution. While it might be a good way to vent our frustrations, everyone just wants the issue fixed.

This particular thread is now 4 pages long!

I saw in the thread that one user was able to persuade TurboTax to change his/her activation code. Does anybody know how to jump start Customer Service call conversation to get to the proper level of support quicker? Like Level 3 support instead of Level 1, or manager, etc.?

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

greg_caruthers — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:25:10 GMT

Here's what I did to get past this annoying problem. I had a previously saved return for the current version I was using, and opened it. I had to close the one that was asking me AGAIN for the activation code. Opening the old one I had been working on and saved, unfinished allowed me to re-open where I had left off. Maybe this will work for you.

Re: TurboTax keeps asking for activation after updates (same device, same network)

turboNancy2 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:46:30 GMT

Thank you sooo much! I did the same (removed BitDefender and defaulted to Windows Defender) and that stopped Turbotax from asking for the activation again. It was so infuriating that I feel like dumping Bitdefender now.