TurboTax 2020 install fails on Activation - screen is blank

[mesquitebean]

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@Cathybeth wrote:

It worked for me too, thank you!!!

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Great news!  You're welcome.  Good luck.

[tspaulding11]

I had the same blank screen problem and bought my Dell laptop in January 2021 with the same operating system version mentioned in the thread.  I changed my screen resolution to 800x600 and the activation worked!

[dffraser]

I have a similar problem.  It's blank when the activation screen is on my second monitor but I can see it when I move it to my laptop screen.   My other problem is that I can't activate.

[mesquitebean]

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@ dffraser wrote:

I have a similar problem.  It's blank when the activation screen is on my second monitor but I can see it when I move it to my laptop screen.   My other problem is that I can't activate.

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Are you using Windows?

If so, a blank activation screen or a partially-functioning 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.

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.   If unsuccessful, try 1024x768..  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.

[Cath75]

this did not work for me..

[mesquitebean]

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@Cath75 wrote:

this did not work for me..

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Without any description or explanation about your issue, it may be difficult in a user forum for folks to know what to recommend.   Such as what/where your roadblock is, any error message, etc.

If your issue is a blank activation screen and a resolution of 800x600 didn't work, you can experiment with other intermediate screen resolutions such as 1024x768 or 1280xY, etc.

You can provide more details and see if someone has additional suggestions, or if you wish to get realtime help with your issue, here's how to speak to TurboTax Support.

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

You can use this contact form to get a phone number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

[rasj111]

It worked like a charm for me!

I was getting very frustrated.

The tech support person was no help.

Told me to use a different browser to repair/reinstall.

Said TT "likes CHROME." 

Thanks!

[jpsweet]

Same problem here; downloaded from Amazon, have the Activation Key, but there's only a blank white screen.  Nowhere to enter the 16 digits.

[EbonyA]

The link below will provide you with tips on troubleshooting blank screen issues:

Troubleshooting Blank Screen Issues

@jpsweet

[NCperson]

if you have Windows Version  (e.g. computer purchased after Oct, 2020), reduce the resolution to 800x600 and then launch the software... does that fix the problem?

[jpsweet]

Thank you very much!  Crude, but effective 😉

[Cath75]

Move your cursor to the left side about an inch down from the top.  Working in from the left, when the arrow changes to a straight line, start typing in your code.  Then go down to the bottom right corner and when the arrow changes to a hand click on it as that is the OK button.

[jk48326]

I tried the 800x600 resolution trick and that did NOT work.  I tried changing compatibility mode, running as admin, even turned off all pop-up blockers, because THAT is what this problem looks like, a rogue pop-up blocker blocking TurboTax's pop-up Activation Window!!  I even had Tech Support perplexed (his word) over the problem such that he kept trying to solve it for 3hrs one night!! 

Today though, I just launched to the Activation Window again, did a mouse-over to find where the data fields were, and just tried to guess where to put the fargin' Activation Code.  First try launched a Help Webpage.  Second try pasting in the Activation Code with no hyphens, WORKED!!!  I can't believe this worked, and I can't believe that it came to this, GUESSING where the data fields were!!!  Took a guess, pasted, then <enter> since you also can't see where an "OK" button might be, and it worked. 

Here's the catch.  There are 2 data fields as you mouse own the window from the top.  The Activation Code goes in the 2nd data field down, not the first.  That is likely the key.  It worked, but I'm sure not going to try it again to verify the method!!  Now I'll proceed with my taxes, but I just won't have any TurboTax Info or Help Windows available because,.... THEY ARE BLANK!! 

What a crock.  Might be TaxSlayer next year....

[mesquitebean]

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@ jk48326 wrote:

I tried the 800x600 resolution trick and that did NOT work.

Today though, I just launched to the Activation Window again, did a mouse-over to find where the data fields were, and just tried to guess where to put the fargin' Activation Code.  First try launched a Help Webpage.  Second try pasting in the Activation Code with no hyphens, WORKED!!!  I can't believe this worked, and I can't believe that it came to this, GUESSING where the data fields were!!!  Took a guess, pasted, then <enter> since you also can't see where an "OK" button might be, and it worked. 

Here's the catch.  There are 2 data fields as you mouse own the window from the top.  The Activation Code goes in the 2nd data field down, not the first.  That is likely the key.  It worked, but I'm sure not going to try it again to verify the method!!  Now I'll proceed with my taxes, but I just won't have any TurboTax Info or Help Windows available because,.... THEY ARE BLANK!! 

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Yes, that method to find the missing field elements can work if you can figure out where the data fields are with the mouse cursor.  Apparently  the data field elements on the activation popup window aren't appearing for some, but the underlying program code linked to the missing elements can still work.    Sorry you had so much trouble prior to that.

A resolution change to 800x600 doesn't work for everyone, but it does work for quite a few--enough that's a good easy suggestion to try first.   Sometimes when 800x600 won't work, 1024x768 might work.   Sometimes it's not the resolution, but the scaling that has to be adjusted.  A lot of people have their display scaling set to 125% or higher, and lowering it to 100% solves it for some.  And for some, neither works.  There's no one-size-fits-all since there is too much variability between computers and system configurations, age of monitors, etc.     That activation screen has been a pretty common problem this year.   I don't know why they didn't program it to accept all of the usual screen resolutions.   800x600 is pretty archaic except on really old monitors. 

Be aware that you may encounter a similar problem in the FILE section if you need to pay for a state efile, since it uses a payment popup window.   Some users have reported a non-functioning Continue button on the payment screen that starts working when scaling is reduced to 100%.

[sylvias]

Lowering the scale to 100% worked for me but it was definitely hard to read/see the screen.