TurboTax 2020 install fails on Activation - screen is blank

[larss19]

Reducing the resolution to 100% solved it for me.  Thanks a bunch!

[Bola007]

Changing the resolution to 800x600 worked for me too. Awesome. Thanks, everyone.

[DSZ1]

brand new tried to install but freezes on blank activation screen.  ... this is taking longer than doing my taxes!

[mesquitebean]

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@ DSZ1 wrote:

brand new tried to install but freezes on blank activation screen.  ... this is taking longer than doing my taxes!

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Perhaps you've already found the solution by looking through this thread.  If not, here's how to proceed:

Are you using Windows?  And at the end of installation is the activation screen window blank?

If so, a blank or partially-blank activation screen may be related to either a screen resolution or scaling problem in your Windows settings.

In Windows 10 to get to the scaling or resolution settings click the Windows start button in lower left corner, then choose Settings (gear icon), then System, then Display.   Or for a shortcut, you may be able to simply right-click on an empty area of the main Windows desktop monitor screen (not the TurboTax program screen) and in the popup menu choose "Display settings".

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scale set to a higher value than the normal 100%?  If so, change it back to 100%. Once the license code is entered and activated, you can later change your scaling setting back like it was.

If lowering the scaling to 100% didn't help, then it may be screen resolution.  Try a lower screen resolution such as 800x600.   If that doesn't work, then try 1024x768.   Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

[rikafrlty]

Turbo fails on activation 

[mesquitebean]

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@ rikafrlty wrote:

Turbo fails on activation 

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Please describe what that means.   Do you get a blank or partially-blank activation screen or a spinning blue dot?  Or are you able to enter the license code OK, but then it won't connect to the activation server?

[1980rca]

I got linked up with a TurboTax CS agent about this issue at around 4:15pm on a weekday, he put me on hold at around 4:40, the line just clicks and hangs up at exactly 5pm.  Coincidentally, they support line closes at 5pm.  I’ve worked customer service on the phones for Verizon and it doesn’t matter if you answer a call 5 minutes before your shift ended...too bad, you help that customer even if it takes you 2 hrs into OT.  

[rstumpf]

Under Settings/Display/Change the size of text, apps, and other items:

I changed this from 150% to 100% and launched TurboTax 2020 and everything worked fine.

[DavidR0]

Thanks to everyone who posted the scaling trick. It worked for me too. Honestly, 😖 why is it that a problem recognized 6 months ago in the most up-to-date Windows OS hasn't been fixed in a program that I downloaded today? If this were free software, I could understand. But it suuuure is not.

[HelenaX]

Yes! This solution works!! Thanks for sharing!

[ssoerens]

That did display the Activation Screen, but the box for entering the code is greyed out: I cannot enter my activation code at all. Now what?

[mesquitebean]

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@ssoerens wrote:

That did display the Activation Screen, but the box for entering the code is greyed out: I cannot enter my activation code at all. Now what?

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Does that mean you tried a screen resolution of 800x600?    If so, and if it was only partially successful, also adjust the scaling setting.   Many people have their scaling set to 125% or more.   Keep the resolution at 800x600, and try lowering the scaling to 100%.   Windows Settings>System>Display.

If still unsuccessful after that, then experiment with other screen resolutions, working up.   Next try 1024x768 keeping scaling at 100%.

After activation you can return your screen resolution and scaling to your preferred settings.

[DavidR0]

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@ssoerens wrote:

That did display the Activation Screen, but the box for entering the code is greyed out: I cannot enter my activation code at all. Now what?

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The same thing happened to me. After resetting the scale to 100% or 800x600, you then have to quit TurboTax and restart it. That will give you a visible, functioning activation screen. Once it's activated, you can reset the screen to whatever % or resolution you normally use. You may have to restart TT again.

[Yolanda50]

Thank you so much after dealing with this for several days this worked for me and I was able to download my 2019 and 2020 turbotax file.

[Parnold1]

This worked for me.  Of Course  worked on it for 3 1/2 hours before I read this message.