TurboTax Premier 2020 fails to complete activation. 4 blue dots circle endlessly. TurboTax support couldn't activate either. Can someone help?

[danyank7]

After installing, and reinstalling TurboTax Premier 2020 several times, when launching the product, it fails to complete the activation process. It displays 4 blue dots circling around endlessly. I turned off my firewall and reset my network and nothing works. TurboTax support initially sent me to Amazon where I purchased the product because they couldn't activate it at their end. Amazon gave me a refund, so I purchased it again at Best Buy and reinstalled it from the disc and then from download. The same problem occurs. Endless blue dots circling. Please help. [removed], xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx

[Cass0317]

First, be sure you have the minimum system requirements: Minimum system requirements for TurboTax Windows software

Here's some solutions that have helped others. A blank activation screen may be related to either a screen resolution or scaling problem in your Windows settings.

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.

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.

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.

"mesquitebean Level 15"

 Please see the TurboTax Articles below for additional troubleshooting help:

• How do I install the TurboTax software for Windows?
• Troubleshoot TurboTax for Windows downloading issues

If you are unable to download the program from your CD, you can contact Product Support to send you a download. Please have the CD and purchase information available when contacting them. 

Follow these instructions to connect with TurboTax Customer Care who is specially-trained to handle your unique question or concern. Live help is available from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM Pacific, seven days a week.

If you're using the TurboTax CD/Download software or can't sign into your TurboTax account, click here to contact us. Ask your question, click Continue, and follow our onscreen instructions.

If you need further assistance, you may also reach back out to us here in the forum.

[Anonymous]

I also had this problem. I didn't even try the laughable suggestions from @Cass0317 . No "expert", hahaha. You know it is not a resolution issue or a hardware system requirement issue because the the program loads.

My First thought was the latest update had a bug that didn't like something on/in my system. I also removed Turbo Tax 2020 and installed again from my installer file created from the CD. I figured a fresh install without updating could work. Nope, you don't have the option to not update. I also flaunted the idea that it had issue was part of the recent massive update of Windows 10 (going to version 20H2). If this was the case, I am sure there would be way more heat on the program now working, so I didn't touch my current Windows 10 settings. Removing the program and installing fresh a) did not fix the issue and b) will use one of the five activation codes each purchase is allotted. 

The populated window with moving blue dots suggest a hang in the authentication per the window title and not a hardware or system setting issue. There is a communication issue between your system and the Intuit Turbo Tax Servers. @danyank7  I like that realized this and you changed your firewall and network. That is the correct line of thinking. Have you a VPN? Perhaps on your computer or built into your router? Turning that off just long enough to get the Intuit Turbo Tax server to accept connection from your computer and authenticate. Then you can turn that VPN back on and enjoy some privacy. Took me fifteen minutes to remember my VPN. Be sure you turn your firewall back on. Shout if this doesn't work.

[NCperson]

reduce the resolution to 600x800.  THEN install TT.

the problem relates to Windows Version  2H02. 

a dollar says it will work,

@Anonymous _ I had the same problem...program loaded by the blue dot either got stuck, kept spinning but never got me to the activation page.  changing the resolution fixed it in 2 minutes. 

[Anonymous]

Glad resolution worked for you. I'd take the dollar tho because I didn't change a thing on windows. 

I turned off my VPN and restarted the program. That worked. 

[danyank7]

Miraculously, my problem went away one morning after Window 10 had been updated and TurboTax also applied updates. Thanks for your suggestions. I appreciated your advice.

[FedUpWithThis]

I was successful in fixing this today. Customer support recommended I uninstall TT and install all updates to Win10 and also provided me with a download link for Premier, which I had originally downloaded from Amazon months ago. After the updates, I opened the fresh download. Before clicking on "Install " (which I think might have come after the update, but not positive), I changed my resolution to 800 x 600.  At first, I stared at the blue dots, but after a while, the activation screen appeared.  I have no idea if the Amazon version would have behaved the same way. I also do not know if changing the resolution after the installation screen launched, but before the installation began had any bearing on the outcome. Before talking to customer service, I had tried all kinds of screen resolutions without success. So, it could be a later version from Intuit today or it could be the updates to Win10 or it could be changing the resolution at the point that I changed it.

[udontluvme]

i ordered TTax from amazon early in the year. when i tried to load it in april, the software told me it could not load because of a problem. i tried two laptops with internal DVDs and a notebook with an external drive; all gave me. the same results. amazon said it was too late to return. i filed for an extension.

today i tried to download.  TTax saays the software is connected to another user. how do i look it up? obtw, the account i used was an old one and we had been using my husband's account fr a few years, but i didn't try his account infomfor this download. [said plaintively] i am so confused. please, someone, help.

i used to be great with mainframes, and started to get good with personals-then i retired. so please pretend i'm computer illiterate

[jrpretto]

i'm having same issue with 2021.  i tried resolution change, and turned off VPN.  still staring at spinning blue dots, not fields to enter activation code.

[MichelleLO]

Please see the below TurboTax help article to assist with your blank activation screen. If this does resolve the issue for you, please comment back.

How do I fix blank screens during activation or in-product purchases in TurboTax Desktop for Windows...

@jrpretto

[Blesscfm]

I am receiving the same problem with installing TT Business 2021. Just get moving blue dots on activation screen. Tried calling tech support. No help. Was on hours and went through all their resolution “fixes” which didn’t work. Finally they gave up. Ridiculous that I’m out $140 because TT support doesn’t know how to fix their own issue. If anyone has an actual fix for this I’d be happy to have it. Resolution doesn’t work. All firewalls were disabled. But still get spinning blue dots with no option to enter the code. 

[CarissaM]

Do you ever get any actual error @Blesscfm ? 

Also, when downloading are you hardwired or wi-fi?

[Spotty99]

Mine is doing the exact same thing.  I already verified it with the License Code ID.  I should only have to do this once.  So the idea that this blue dot is holding me up and it says "activation" doesn't even make sense because I already activated my software before I installed it.  Usually TurboTax works pretty smoothly for me.  Hopefully they will get this ironed out soon.  But the way I see it, is not that it's failing to activate because it shouldn't be doing that even. Once it's activated it should be done - it's a one-time process.  You shouldn't have to keep activating it over and over.

[CarissaM]

For assistance activating it, please click here to call us as we will need the activation code. @Spotty99