Activation Screen Hangs on Load

Try this -

Close the TurboTax program

Right click on the TurboTax desktop icon

Click on Properties

Click on the Compatibility tab

Check the box Run this program as administrator

Click on Apply and the OK

Start the TurboTax program

Thanks for the effort. That is something I should have tried but unfortunately that did not resolve the issue.

Okay then.  Your best bet now is to contact TurboTax support for assistance.

Use this website to contact TurboTax support during business hours - https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/
Support can also be reached by messaging them on these pages https://www.facebook.com/turbotax/ and https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax

I had the same issue and just resolved it.  Basically, I tried to disable as much stuff as possible.

Turn off Antivirus software (3rd party software, Windows Defender, etc)

Disable Windows Firewall.  There were 3 (public, private, etc).  I disabled all.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete, go to Startup tab, and disable every app running.

I don't know which one did the trick...  Good luck.

Had the same problem.  

Software Firewall was preventing it reaching its activation server.   I use Norton so I right clicked on the Norton Icon bottom right of window 10 screen and selected "disable smart firewall" for 15 minutes to complete the activation.   It got to the activation server ... I put in my License Code (new this year) and then it spun again for about 3 minutes before I got an all set Icon.  So bottom line temporarily disable your firewall so the software can go outbound to reach the license server.  Then you can re-enable it. 

Thank you. I had the same problem. Activation screen hanging on load. Disabling my firewall for a short time worked!

I had the same problem. I disabled all firewalls and anti-virus software, to no avail.  My situation is a bit different, being behind 2 routers and running Windows 10 as a guest machine under Linux, but disabling all that stuff did not work for me.  Although i was able to ping and browse various websites, i suspected the DNS was the problem, so i went to Settings->Network->Change Adapter Settings->(right click)Properties->Internet Protocol 4 (in list) and changed the DNS setting to manual configuration, using the DNS server of the first router off the cable (i.e. the ISP DNS); did the same thing for Internet Protocol 6. The "Activation" worked immediately. Not sure why the TT Activation server could not be found using the standard DNS configuration, which works for everything else, but i suspect that they are being a bit too clever with their server. I don't know whether the firewall or anti-virus settings mattered in my case.

Hello everyone,

Thanks for the tip. This worked for me! Intuit should have done a better job of coding the software to avoid such hang ups. Also, why do we need an activation code if we bought the software in person. They should only require an activation code if purchased online.

All downloaded/CD versions this year require a code to cut down on pirated versions being sold illegally ... sadly this is what the world has come down to. 

*sigh*.  one gets the pirated issue thing, but i'm now attempting to do my taxes on 5/9/20.  looking on the web, this has been an issue since the release.  it's sad that intuit has not coded around the issue by this time.

Proposed solution didn't work for me :(

The best and most efficient way for you to connect with the right person to get the help you need is to select the version you are using below.

We're open daily from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM PT through July 19 and will be open until midnight PT on July 15.

TurboTax Online

TurboTax mobile app

TurboTax CD/Download software

I had installed and activated my TT2019 Deluxe (CD media) back in February and activated it without any problem.  I came across this problem today when I needed to file another return.  After google around a bit I found several threads that had suggestions, most of which did not work for me until I came across this post.

To summarize, I did a full uninstall followed by these steps:

Delete these folders:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intuit\TurboTax\TY19
• C:\Users\[Your username] \AppData\Roaming\Intuit\TurboTax\TY19
• C:\Program Files (x86)\TurboTax\Deluxe 2019
• C:\ProgramData\Intuit\TurboTax\TY19

I then used a cleaner tool (CCleaner) and scrubbed my registry followed by a reboot of the computer.

Running the installation at this point was smooth and after the updates (which you can't bypass for some reason) I saw the activation window popup on screen and it was blank for a few seconds followed by the activation prompt inside that window.  I entered my code and success!  The application launched and I was able to edit prior returns and create the new one.

Some of the errors I had in my log prior to doing all this i've listed below:

• (0x00003fdc) [LOG_CLOUD] [LoggerWrapper.cpp(58) @ function : log_cloud] {"tag":"ProductActivation","levelName":"ERROR","message":"Verification of entitled product activations is unsuccessful"}
•  (0x00003014) [LOG_CLOUD] [LoggerWrapper.cpp(58) @ function : log_cloud] {"tag":"ProductActivation","levelName":"ERROR","message":"Error on decrypt value using AES encryption algorithm.\nIssue in Decrypting."}

I hope this helps at least one person struggling with this issue.

Thanks @DrMcole for your post.

@mattsocal if you haven't solved your problem posted here

I purchased a Turbo Tax Deluxe 2020 Download today. I was able to download it. When I ran install, it installed Turbo Tax, ran updates, and then asked if we should run Turbo Tax. I said yes, the Activate screen came on and it froze. I deleted and reinstalled it, several times.

I changed my screen resolution to 800 x 600 and the screen opened right up to put in the activation code.

I can't believe that this worked.  But it did.   smh.

You are absolutely right! I have a brand new laptop with an 11th generation Intel chip. When I couldn't get my purchased CD code to work on this new machine, turboTax sent me a download with a new code, and when they had me install it, they told me to reduce screen resolution to 800x600. I put the code in, and after the program started they had me switch back to normal resolution. However, it seems I may have to do this every time the windows software gets a new update.

Closing app, changing screen resolution to 1366 x 768 worked for me.  I had also change profile on app to be administrator.

Spent 2 hours with two different Intuit experts -- they were unable to get it to work.   Brand new laptop.   Always worked on my old desktop.  Disappointed.   Customer for 10 years.

UPDATE:  As others have noted the problem is the screen resolution on newer computers like 1920 x 1080.   I dropped it to 1366 x 768 and activation screen then opened just fine to accept product code.   I changed resolution back the next time I launched and other screens seem to work ok with higher res.    Hopefully Intuit will fix their install software to accommodate 1920 x 1080 for all windows / screens. 

So I have a brand new HP laptop and was experiencing the same activation error as others.  I reset the video resolution to a lower setting (1024x768) and it worked right away.  After activation, I reset the video resolution to the previous setting and all are working fine now!  Wish Inuit would recognize that there are computers with native screen resolutions like 1920x1080!

@mgkruk 

Please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support as your issue would be best resolved with one-on-one support. Please visit the Contact Us page and select your product to get you to the right person.

Changing the resolution solved my activation screen hang problem.

Thanks

Had been patient (since early November download with weekly program updates coming in just fine) trying repeatedly the various suggestions (turn-off anti-virus, disable firewalls, reset router, re-do screen resolution and/or scaling, flushdns etc command prompts). I have up-to-date Windows 10 Pro 1909 build. Also tried Copy/Paste on the quickly appearing then disappearing blank activation dialogue; no luck. Fiddled with various browser privacy and security settings just in case; no luck. Was almost ready to either call TT (I did not want that much pain though) or go to manual preparation (I've used TT Deluxe for years).

Setting up TT Deluxe 2020 compatibility (to Windows 8 ) then running as adminstrator did the trick - the activation dialogue initialized, offered the activation code slots, and then accepted the code, started TT. Huzzah!

But why, oh why do ordinary users have to jigger this warped system?

Did this and fixed the problem instantly!