[KB872] I receive the error message "Serial number or Activation key already activated" or "Serial number exceeded the allowed number of activations"

• You receive an error message when attempting to activate a serial number or activation key on the ESET website

If you are receive either of the error messages shown below (see Figure 1-1) while activating on our website, you have already activated your activation key or serial number and received a Username, Password, and/or License Key via email. 

Figure 1-1

You now need to activate your ESET product. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Upgrade to the latest version of your product.
   • Instructions for ESET Windows home products
   • Instructions for ESET Cyber Security
      
2. Activate my Windows home product using my Username, Password, or License Key.


3. Verify that your ESET product is updating correctly. How do I know ESET Smart Security/ESET NOD32 Antivirus is updating correctly?

If you are receiving the error message "The serial number you entered could not be found in our system" (see Figure 1-2), it is likely you entered your serial number incorrectly.

Figure 1-2

When entering your serial number or activation key, use the following guidelines:

• Any hyphens ("-") in the serial number must be included


• The serial number must be entered with no spaces


• Verify that the letter "O" was not typed instead of the number zero

Need further assistance? Contact ESET Technical Support.