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

[SusieQ5]

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

[DaraLO]

@SusieQ5 Are you experiencing an issue with a blank activation screen when trying to install TurboTax?  If so, we are tracking how many users continue to have this issue.  In the meantime, refer to this post by another community member who was able to successfully resolve the issue by updating their drivers.

[rjb6]

The instructions below fixed the issue for me. I had to change my resolution twice for it to work. 

PC Security and Other Useful Information - Problem installing TurboTax 2021? (msmvps.com)

I downloaded and tried to install TurboTax 2021 on my Windows 11 laptop. Ran into 2 issues:

1. Error 2803
   This was fixed by turning off the Kaspersky firewall.
2. Blank white activation screen.
   It seems that this is a known issue with the TT 2021 program. Apparently, it’s a resolution issue. At each step of the process, you need to change the resolution to be able to see what was supposed to be displayed.This is the process I had to follow:

1. Launch the executable and wait for the white activation screen
2. Change the resolution. Magically, the contents of the window appear. Unfortunately, you can’t seem to be able to enter the license.
3. Click once on the license window and enter the license number. You won’t see any change, but the information *IS* being entered. Best to use Ctrl-V to past the license.
4. Change the resolution
5. Verify that the license you entered is correct
6. Select to verify/continue
7. Change the resolution
8. Keep doing this until you get to the registration screen.

A this point, you should be OK. I was told, though, that this could happen again if you purchase anything from Intuit (State tax?).

Hope this helps someone avoid the hassles I had…

[wcmo8]

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.

[AimeeHubacek]

@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]

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

[EJudeA]

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.

[EJudeA]

I have the same problem installing TT Home & Business.  TT tech support had no clue - told me to call Microsoft. 

[wcmo8]

Saw your message, I'm not a tech person.  First try what 'rjbo' (or whoever that was above me) suggested from their link to PC Magazine -- I had same problem with 2020 TT, and pretty sure that was what I did to resolve it a year ago.  I tried that process first, but it didn't work for me this time (same computer as last year).  I found the actual tech support for TT to be totally worthless, and quite annoyed that they kept me on hold for a long time, said they were getting me additional help, said they would then call me back in a few minutes, and I think all that happened on Monday (today is Friday, and they still haven't called me back, though they did send me an email a day or two again saying that my issue was resolved, guess that's how they get paid, who knows).  How I actually resolved the issue myself on my computer for 2021 TT, per my prior comments, is just from memory -- I can't recite the exact steps I took without uninstalling and doing it again, which I really don't want to do, in case I'm unable to repeat my prior success.  I will say this in case it's helpful -- I never did see an entry box for the key code, but I did type it into the white blank box even though what I was typing seemed unresponsive (didn't show what I was typing), then when I was nearer success, the key code did show up at one point.  And, like the other person said, it was slow, apparently TT was downloading or installing even though that wasn't apparent.  I have 2 laptops, I will get out of this for now, then get back in and attempt to review my process on one laptop and describe it using the other.

[DaraLO]

@EJudeA  are you getting a blank white activation screen?  If so, please try this workaround until we are able to get this issue resolved.  Thank you for your patience, and you are welcome to reply to this post if the workaround does not resolve the issue for you.

[wcmo8]

I'm back, again, please try 'rjbo' remedy 1st, as am pretty sure that's what I did for 2020 TT.  It is also the process I basically attempted from memory, which might have been successful for 2021 TT -- I'm not sure what was successful this time since I tried a few things, and the 1st thing might have been successful without me knowing it.

The other processes that might have been helpful -- 

- on the TT icon on your home screen, right click on the icon, and click on Properties

- within Properties, click on Compatibility, this is where you can make changes to screen resolution, etc.

- under 'rjbo' instructions, this is where you can click box for 'Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution

- another thing I tried was 'Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8

- what I thought worked -- again, under Compatibility, toward bottom, click on 'Change high DPI settings', click on box for 'Program DPI', select to use when 'I open this program', then click on box for 'High DPI scaling override' and select 'Application'.  Then click on 'OK', 'Apply', and 'OK'.  Then try to restart TT.

- remember what you did so you can set things back to previous settings after you're successful.

Again, I really don't want to uninstall TT and go thru process again, simply because I can't swear 100% what worked for me, and it was frustrating.  But I do hope something here helps you.

[EJudeA]

No its not a blank screen - I get the .exe file, open it and then get the window that asks if you want to loan on your computer,  I answer yes, and then I get nothing after that

[EJudeA]

Load nit loan 

[LindseyLO]

Please click here for more assistance and help with working around the issue you are having.

[scottifixed2021tt]

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!