TurboTax 2020 install fails on Activation - screen is blank

[AnthoniL]

"Many people are able to solve it with a lower screen resolution or scaling" ???  Don't count me on this "many people", I got tax done, not on the Windows Laptop, but on the Desktop computer. I did not report back, it doesn't mean that the problems solved !

After activated by lower resolution on my new laptop computer - which the average skill computer users shouldn't mess with - I got it going until to the $20 payment screen for state e-file, I got blank white window again. This time, resolution was not working on any setting, low or high.

Very frustrated, I un-installed and restored the laptop to previous working state, the TT software downloaded earlier  was also gone.  Try to download again, TT said the code is already used, so I can not download it. Lucky me, I have portable CD/DVD reader to re-install using CD disk (new Laptops do not come with DVD drives any more), I got SAME problems as before. At this pointed I gave up using TT on the LAPTOP.  I installed TT on DESKTOP with 27" HD monitor and got the tax done - WITHOUT playing with any resolution settings. 

Both e-files are now still on Pending since 2/16, and while waiting - I may try to go back to play with TT on  laptop again to see if TT solved the problems - for anyone who does not the luxury like me to have both LAPTOP (with external DVD drive) and the DESKTOP to depend on.

Will have feedback later !

BTW - TT is a very good software, I used to file TT on this desktop many years back without any issues, this is the first time I run TT on laptop, maybe never again on this LAPTOP 😉 

[cabal95]

I also ran into the blank screen issue. I was able to get past the activation one by just waiting long enough and switching apps repeatedly (while trying to search for a resolution) and it fixed itself enough to enter the code and continue.

The state purchase was another story. The only way I could get past that (and this took a LONG time) was to change resolution every time I wanted the screen to refresh. They use an embedded web browser to do all this stuff (lazy) and for some reason it won't refresh correctly. So for example, what I did was get the white screen, then in Display Settings change my resolution to 1600x900 and then back to my normal resolution. Typed into one field (it probably won't show what you type), switch resolution to 1600x900 and back again, and it will now show what I typed. Go to the next field and do the same... Rinse and repeat about 87 times and you should get through the entire process of buying state.

[olsen1]

Easy solution on Dell Inspiron 15 3000 running Win10.

The default display setting has the size of text, apps and other items set to 125% by default. (Resolution: 1920x1080}

Just change that 125% to 100% and it works without changing the Resolution setting.

[hase]

Re: TurboTax 2020 (premiere) install fails on Activation - activation code works once only, fails after rebooting desktop

[ArchieCanada]

TurboTax has known about this problem for over a couple of months now.  After my grappling with this white screen problem for a couple of weeks, the crunch hit on the weekend.  I read through this thread, tried most of the suggestions with no success, spent about half an hour on the phone with TurboTax tech support (the guy thought he had solved my problem, but he hadn't).  I had to get some tax decision-making done, and so chose to switch to Wealthsimple Tax, and had great results, easily and quickly.  Not coming back to TurboTax.  They've lost my trust and my business.

[murray_sontag]

I cannot open the TT 2020 program after using it yesterday then closing it.  it says I have to activate it again but then it just shows a blank screen.  How do I open it? 

[mesquitebean]

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@murray_sontag wrote:

I cannot open the TT 2020 program after using it yesterday then closing it.  it says I have to activate it again but then it just shows a blank screen.  How do I open it? 

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Did you purchase your product directly from TurboTax or another authorized retailer?

Is it the Windows version or Mac?   This answer addresses the Windows version.

That sounds like 2 different issues.   First of all, it should not be asking you to activate again.  Did you just install/activate it yesterday?    Is there anything different in your system today?  Do you have a USB thumb drive or external drive plugged in that wasn't there yesterday, or an SD card that wasn't there?   If so, remove it and try again.

Hopefully, you installed the program on your internal drive.  It should not be installed on a thumb drive or external drive.   And the *.tax2020 data file you are working on should not be on an external drive while you are working on it.  It, too, should be on the internal drive.

Secondly, a blank (or mostly blank) popup screen such as the activation screen is commonly due to a screen resolution or scaling issue if you are using the Windows version. 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.

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scaling 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.  Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

NOTE:  If you happen to encounter a blank popup screen later on in some section of the program, you may have to temporarily perform this maneuver again.

[mesquitebean]

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scaling 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.  Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

NOTE:  If you happen to encounter a blank popup screen later on in some section of the program, you may have to temporarily perform this maneuver again.

[tesla2101]

I had the same issue.  I just bought the laptop in late February.  After 4 hours of having the white screen on death I called TurboTax and they went into my computer and told me I was going to have to install it in my old laptop and it should work and it did.  I guess their software is not compatible the latest computers.

[DoninGA]

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@tesla2101 wrote:

I had the same issue.  I just bought the laptop in late February.  After 4 hours of having the white screen on death I called TurboTax and they went into my computer and told me I was going to have to install it in my old laptop and it should work and it did.  I guess their software is not compatible the latest computers.

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On your new laptop you might want to try this if you install it again -

Another user posted this fix.  See if it works for you -

• change your resolution to 800 x 600 (start>setting >system resolution. once it's been changed, your screen size will look very big. REMEMBER your initial resolution setting!
• launch TT and the activation screen should launch.  copy / paste in your activation code. you should get the 'all set' green check mark
• change your resolution back to what is was originally. 

[VolvoGirl]

I have a new Windows 10 laptop.  I downloaded and installed TurboTax fine.  What problem are you having?  If you can't get the Activation screen to work you can try changing your screen resolution.  Hmmm, can't find it now but there are several posts saying to change it to like 800x600 then you can change it back.

[olsen1]

Two possible workarounds:

1) Change the magnification from 125% to 100 %, or

2) Change the resolution to 800x600.

How to do it:

Exit TurboTax "white screen of death" by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner.

Go to...

Start > Settings > System > Display

Scale and Layout is where you can change the magnification. It might be set to 125% by default. Set it to 100% and restart TurboTax. If that didn't work, exit TurboTax and...

Same place but a bit further down to Display Resolution. You might want to jot down the current setting. Then, change it to 800x600 and restart TurboTax.

If those two didn't solve the problem, I've got nothing.

[olsen1]

I have two possible workarounds:

1) Change the magnification from 125% to 100 %, or

2) Change the resolution to 800x600.

How to do it:

Exit TurboTax "white screen of death" by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner.

Go to...

Start > Settings > System > Display

Scale and Layout is where you can change the magnification. It might be set to 125% by default. Set it to 100% and restart TurboTax. If that didn't work, exit TurboTax and...

Same place but a bit further down to Display Resolution. You might want to jot down the current setting. Then, change it to 800x600 and restart TurboTax.

If those two didn't solve the problem, I've got nothing.

[olsen1]

I know of two possible workarounds:

1) Change the magnification from 125% to 100 %, or

2) Change the resolution to 800x600.

How to do it:

Exit TurboTax "white screen of death" by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner.

Go to...

Start > Settings > System > Display

Scale and Layout is where you can change the magnification. It might be set to 125% by default. Set it to 100% and restart TurboTax. If that didn't work, exit TurboTax and...

Same place but a bit further down to Display Resolution. You might want to jot down the current setting. Then, change it to 800x600 and restart TurboTax.

If those two didn't solve the problem, I've got nothing.

[PatsFaninMD]

I change my resolution to 800x600, launch TurboTax I get the Activation Screen to come up and can enter in my activation code, Upon pressing enter I get cannot connect to the Internet.   Have no idea why changing the resolution would impact the network connectivity.   Change the Activation process.Turbo Tax Error 

[Wyodot]

Changing the scaling of your display down to 100% will allow the screen to load.  Found this on another thread and worked perfect for me.