Blank activation screen

[MichelleLO]

Thank you for your feedback, and while we are happy that you found a workaround, we will escalate this issue to our programmers to see if the experience can be improved. 

@laila

[COC2]

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  From what I have read this issue has been happening since last tax season so in my opinion it needs to be fixed before Turbo Tax loses more customers.  I have spent hours on this issue and have contacted support where a kind lady tried to help me.  I have done everything as asked and nothing so far is working.

[Katina S]

Have you tried making sure your Windows was recently updated? Or trying these steps if you are getting a blank activation screen.

You may also want to try deleting your browser's cookies. Please see this Turbo Tax FAQ regarding  How to delete cookies!

@COC2

[JimWalk]

I feel your frustration! I spent several days wrestling with this issue. I phoned TurboTax Customer service and was finally elevated to the higher tech support level (after 2 hours on the phone with 2 other support reps). It is the oddest thing, and having been in the computer business for over 40 years, that is saying something. So, here is how we finally got around it:

When you have the white Activation screen open, leave it open.

Type your Activation Code in to NotePad, including dashes. Then highlight it and copy it.

Then on your screen, right click and go to Display Settings.

Change Display Settings to 800x600, Say OK.

This will make your screen type very large.

The Activation Screen may now show you where to Paste the Activation Number with Control V. If it doesn't, just move the cursor until it looks like you can type and paste it in. DO NOT  CLICK ON THE ACTIVATE BUTTON for some reason.

Once again right click on the desktop and select Display Settings.

Change the settings back to normal, and save them.

When the screen changes, you should see that the Activation was initialized and you can now use TurboTax.

I know, a very strange and complicated work around.

[JimWalk]

The workaround I just typed is for a Windows PC. I have no idea it it will work on a MAC.

[Ghalfaire]

The file ProgramData\Intuit Canada\tt2020 does not exist on my computer. I am running windows 10 21H2.  None of dpi fixes work either.

[Ghalfaire]

This has been my experience too.  I am sure we're not alone in this.

[JimWalk]

I would hope the programmers are looking for a fix. This may drive customers away from an otherwise good piece of software!

[Stawsh]

I too "fixed" this by changing my display scale to 100%, and am now activated.  I went back to 200% resolution, as recommended on my Microsoft Surface Pro (at 100% some type is too small to read).  But it's not a fix, rather a work-around of Intuit's BUG.  Intuit need to fix this.

I have used TurboTax for over 20 years and have held Intuit in high regard.  But this event and that they haven't fixed it now after months of knowing about it, is a significant disappointment in Intuit Engineering.  And support is out in left field, suggesting I have a "video card driver problem" on my brand new Microsoft Surface Pro device.  Sheesh.

[kbb57]

The scaling tweaks worked for me also. I had to also do some blind typing to get the activation code entered. Once I tweaked scaling and blind typed enough, I finally was able to successfully activate TT. 

[Ghalfaire]

Well after 2 days I have finally managed to get passed the blank screen.   Here is how I believe I did it. I reduced the resolution to 1366X768 and the Scale to 100%.   I started TT and the blank screen came up and froze.  So I right clicked outside the activation screen (as one of the fixes described) and the activation screen appeared.  But it would not take any inputs, no it wasn't just invisible, it was frozen and would not accept my code.  I closed TT and restarted it again.  This time when the blank screen appeared, I double clicked quickly on the blank screen and the information came up and accepted the code and, Wah-Lah, I am in.  

I had tried this before and not sure why it worked this time, but an thankful as I like TT, but this time it used a lot of my time and seems to me this problem has been around for awhile and shouldn't be in a production released software.

[rwiner]

It actually worked. Unf##cking believable.

[kh98771]

TurboTax 2021 install fails on Activation - screen is blank. This is a resolution and scaling issue.

-copy code (if you have to, type it out on something on your computer: notepad, word, sticky note, ect. Highlight and Copy/Ctrl+C)
-open TT download to blank screen
-open display (start>setting >system> resolution for Windows) or right click on the desktop and chose display setting from the pop-up box
- change to 800 X 600 ( or something close, remember the original)
-keep changes (everything is going to be huge)
-go back to TT
-(Even though they won't see it happening) click the box where the LC goes
-Ctrl+V and then hit Enter on the keyboard
-you won't see anything
-Go back to display and change back to original resolution
go back to TT -you should now see the license code
-select activate/enter (you may need to close and reopen, but you should be taken to the register screen or the turbotax home screen.

[waisaacs]

Will add my 2 cents.  I got the blank activation screen and found the advice about video drivers (nope), screen resolution scaling (nope), and the usual advice about closing everything else (didn't matter).  I found that by dragging the activation window around, it eventually became visible.  But clicking in the activation code window didn't show a cursor there.  I saw earlier advice about blindly typing in the code, which I did, and clicked the Activate button.  I got the "I know this is taking more than a minute" window indicating at least something was going on.  Tried waiting that out, but eventually clicked the Activate button again, and that finally pulled up the registration page.  Appears to be properly installed now, can close and reopen without any complaints.

[Chad34]

Installed and updated TurboTax Deluxe CD from Best Buy. Can't get past the ACTIVATION spinning circles. Attempted the resolution change with NO LUCK!

I've been using the same computer for years (sense 2014) an ASPIRE 5532.  Last update Installed on ‎8/‎14/‎2020,   Windows 10 Home Version 21H1.

Any suggestions?