TurboTax 2020 install fails on Activation - screen is blank

[nataliescraft]

Need help! Tried your remedies and still no success. Can't Turbo Tax do something? Please contact me!!

[Paul001]

This has been an issue for months. It's quite astonishing that TT support do not seem to be aware of it. Fortunately, the tax software works much better once you get in!

[mesquitebean]

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@nataliescraft wrote:

Need help! Tried your remedies and still no success. Can't Turbo Tax do something? Please contact me!!

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You didn't mention your issue, but since the topic of this thread is "blank activation screen", I'll assume you are using desktop software (CD/download), and that a blank activation screen is also your issue.   I'll first give you some information on that and a couple of things you can try.   We have no way of knowing what all you have already tried.  I'll also tell you at the end of this post how to speak to TurboTax Support by phone, if needed. 

Are you using Windows?

If so, a blank or partially-blank activation screen is commonly 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 the scaling back to 100%.

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 a resolution of 1024x768.   Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution and scaling settings back like they were.

If you end up needing to speak to TurboTax Customer Support, here's how to reach them by phone:

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

[IWantARefundForTT2020CrapFest]

How Do We Get A Refund For This Crap TurboTax2020 Application?

Cleared Cache

Updated Windows

Clean Boot with no accessories plugged in (no external monitors either)

No VPN

Only Windows Defender in place

Reinstalled

Activated fine (resolution hack on native screen fixed this issue)

Fails immediately upon launch.

None of the suggestions work.

[Critter-3]

Go to this TurboTax website to request a refund for the software purchased from TurboTax - https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/forms/refund-request.jsp

[IWantARefundForTT2020CrapFest]

Turns out my solution was to drop the router all together - switching to a HotSpot makes it work!  Wasted time for such a stupid programming flaw!

I could see that TT2020 was registered online, as the window flashed up, but something then crashed the application on every subsequent opening.  TT customer support is so very lacking, both in listening to the problem, and actually fixing it - SO MANY WEEKS LATER!

I hate that I have done untold damage to my machine stripping it down, running without anti-virus, VPN, or behind the router, etc.  So much ignorance on the part of the Intuit programming team - makes you wonder if they are involved with organized crime, as the number of customers who have opened their doors to trojans and other malware is HUGE. 

So it was a real surprise when I saw it was something as simple as using a hotspot instead of wasted HOURS in windows forums. 

Intuit still has likely lost me as a future customer, and the three young families (my kids) that will likely never come back to them because they will follow where I go if I am to help them do their taxes as consolidated packages (transfers etc.).  At the very least customer support should be fired for not pinning every one of these solutions at the top of active threads!

[mdeceault]

failure to install no screen to enter license code

[mesquitebean]

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@mdeceault wrote:

failure to install no screen to enter license code

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Are you using Windows?

If so, a blank, partially-blank, or missing 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 that doesn't work, then 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.

[Trighten]

I had the same problems for months. Tried everything to fix it had to use an old slow desktop to do my taxes. I think I'm going to try wealthsimple next year. I've heard good things about them. 

[whatalulu2]

Thank you for the resolution idea; it worked perfectly!

[djehewty--ah]

After resolution change keep opening and closing turbo tax until a good looking activation screen appears, that's ready for data entry. (white field)

[deres80]

The initial resolution setting! for  me not working at all !

Installed 2020 Canada Turbo Tax Deluxe on the new HP all in ONE computer Windows 10 20H2 Sytem  

2021-04-06 

Still  blank activation screen ?

[DoninGA]

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@deres80 wrote:

The initial resolution setting! for  me not working at all !

Installed 2020 Canada Turbo Tax Deluxe on the new HP all in ONE computer Windows 10 20H2 Sytem  

2021-04-06 

Still  blank activation screen ?

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This is the TurboTax US user community website.
Go to this TurboTax Canada website for assistance with a Canadian tax return or the TurboTax Canada editions - https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/community/turbotax-support/help/03/en-ca

[deres80]

Thanks

[1980rca]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

THIS WORKED like a charm.  I spent more than few hours messing with firewall and security settings to no avail.  Tech support for Turbo Tax was pitiful to say the least.  The agent sounded like she just exited a time machine from 1942.  Changing the resolution to 800 x 600 took a minute to get the activation completed.  It is absolutely ridiculous that people have to do this.