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

[rmladden]

I had this problem until today. In my case it was having OneDrive's Personal Vault open. So besides USB drives, cloud drives changing causes this problem too. Keep your connected cloud drives the same.  You may have to disconnect the clouds. 

[skyfx]

I wasted almost an hour on the phone with tier 1 tech support chatting with tier 2, only to be told I should either uninstall Bitdefender Internet Security or request a refund. I've been using TurboTax for many years and never had this issue before. What a joke for a software company to recommend you uninstall your anti-virus and firewall to get their software to work. Guess I will need to look elsewhere in future years...

FWIW - quitting my Google Drive and OneDrive sync applications made no difference.

[user17704079517]

I wasted more than an hour with tech support...and the call was dropped - still no resolution. My taxes are almost done so I am getting ready to use yet another allotted activation code (#3 out of 5) to complete and file everything. Before the issue appeared, I was thinking about sharing activation code with other family members...now this is out of question.

So many users who ran into the same issue, which (as far as I can tell from the blog) started happening 7 years ago and still no fix! Any idea on how to make TurboTax listen to all of us to fix their software? 

[mymail94041]

Just uninstalling Bitdefender will fix this issue. Bitdefender is a third-party anti-virus software, which is nothing to do with Window 11. 

The built-in antivirus/firewall software on Windows 11 is Microsoft Defender Antivirus. It is part of the broader Windows Security app, which comes pre-installed and active on every Windows 11 system from the moment you start the PC. Therefore, you do not need Bitdefender on your PC.

[NakedRanger]

Why would anyone trust Windows Defender to protect them? 

[NakedRanger]

your a fool if you trust Microsoft to make a decent anti-virus.

it's completely absurd that any software, other than a virus or malware would even suggest that you uninstall your anti-virus software or firewall.

I run 3 layers of protection, if you count the Microsoft Defender, always have, and BitDefender and Malware Bytes catch stuff that Microsoft would let thru the door,  So NO, I'm not dropping my armor just because Intuit can't program their way out of a wet paper bag.

[Birdieboy]

Had this same problem, and yes customer service was of no help.  Here's how I fixed it without uninstalling Bitdefender.  Now I can access my tax return without having to reactivate.

1)  Disconnect Bitdefender VPN

2)  Turn off Bitdefender Shield (under Antivirus, Advanced)

3)  Turn off Online Threat Prevention (all 6 settings)

4)  Turn off Firewall

5)  Turn off Advanced Threat Defense (under settings)

6)  Turn off Cryptomining Protection

7)  New step needed today (2/22/2026) . . . once all Bitdefender protections are temporarily deactivated, I also had to turn off Windows Defender Firewall to open my return.

Essentially, you're rendering Bitdefender and Windows Defender Firewall completely inactive.  By the way, you can turn all of this back on after you open Turbo Tax and everything works, i.e., updates, online assistance, importing 1099-DIV, etc.

It appears that Turbo Tax is using some crazy ip port/protocol blocked both by Bitdefender and Windows Defender Firewall to complete the activation process.

Come on Intuit, certainly you can develop software that's compatible with Antivirus protection!

[andyb4]

Thanks for taking the time to research and post this