Activation FAQ

Is activation required?

Yes. Within 60 days of installation, you must activate your Microsoft Expression product either online or by phone. Setup will automatically attempt to activate your Expression product during installation unless you choose not to.

For more information about activating your Expression product, see Activate an Expression product.

How can I tell if I've activated an Expression product?

Click About on the Help menu in any Expression product to see your current activation status.

For more information about activating your Expression product, see Activate an Expression product.

Where do I find my product key?

The product key is located on the Expression package or in a confirmation e-mail that was sent to you at the time that you purchased and downloaded your Expression product online. Purchase the product online .

What's the difference between activation and registration?

Activation is required, but registration is not. Activation is the process of making sure that the Expression product that you install on your computer is used according to the Microsoft Software License Terms. Registration is the process of entering information (such as your e-mail address) to sign up for product support, tools and tips, and other product benefits.

Does activation collect information that is used to contact me?

No. The information collected during activation will not be used to contact you.

What do I do if activation fails?

If activation fails, the failure may be because of one of the following reasons:

• An Internet connection wasn't available.

• The activation server wasn't available.

• The product key that you are trying to use to activate your Expression product has already been used the maximum number of times allowed by the Microsoft Software License Terms.

If none of these reasons is true, and you are still unable to activate your Expression product, you'll have to activate it by phone.

For more information about activation by phone, see Activate an Expression product.

Will I ever have to activate my Expression product again?

It's possible. You do not have to activate your Expression product again if you previously installed it and activated it on the same computer and are now reinstalling that Expression product. However, there are a few scenarios in which activating your Expression product again may be required:

• You replace the computer that currently has your Expression product installed on it, and you install your Expression product on the new computer.

• You perform a complete clean installation of a new operating system on the computer that had your Expression product installed on it.

See also

Tasks

Activate an Expression product

Other resources

What is activation?

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