# Advice on Dongle Failure & How To Proceed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cubase\ **Tags:** cubase-older-version, computer-and-devices, steinberg-licensing\ **Created:** [September 7, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779 "2026-09-07T12:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Essa\_Boy\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/51bf81/32.png) [@Essa\_Boy\_T](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/Essa_Boy_T)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/1 "2026-09-07T12:12:52Z")
Hello, first off let me say I am not very tech savvy, so please reply with baby steps as to how to proceed. I am running Cubase Pro 11 on a Macbook Pro with a pretty dated OS of Big Sur 11.6. I am aware that the e-licenser dongle system has been superseded by a kind of licensing ID inside the box (?) Steinberg licensing. The thing is, my dongle is now failing to light up or be recognised. I need to rectify this and (probably) update/upgrade both my Mac OS and probably my version of Cubase. What steps do I need to take to sort all this out? Any help hugely appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Reco29](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/steinberg/user_avatar/forums.steinberg.net/reco29/32/319942_2.png) [@Reco29](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/Reco29)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:24pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/2 "2026-09-07T12:24:21Z")
Hi, please open your MySteinberg account and log in. Do you see your Cubase Pro 11 license? In this case it’s quite simple: Just buy the update (sales are on as we speaking) and enter the Download Access Code in the Steinberg Download Manager or Activation Manager. That’s all. If you haven’t registered your C11 license, yet, you’ll need to contact Cubase support. That will work as well but requires an additional step. HTH ---
**Author:** ![mkok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dfb087/32.png) [@mkok](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/mkok)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/3 "2026-09-07T12:34:48Z")
If the dongle fails you can’t rectify that though. Even if you got another dongle you would not be able to move your licence to it as the servers go down this don’t exist. Your only option is to upgrade to 15. ---
**Author:** ![Googly\_Croft](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/steinberg/user_avatar/forums.steinberg.net/googly_croft/32/409531_2.png) [@Googly\_Croft](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/Googly_Croft)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/4 "2026-09-07T13:24:05Z")
Do it while the sale is on! ---
**Author:** ![Essa\_Boy\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/51bf81/32.png) [@Essa\_Boy\_T](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/Essa_Boy_T)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/5 "2026-09-07T15:46:44Z")
If I upgrade to 15 and do as you all say, would I need to update my Mac OS as it’s Big Sur from several years ago? (I don’t like changing stuff too much!) ---
**Author:** ![steve](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/steinberg/user_avatar/forums.steinberg.net/steve/32/193789_2.png) [@steve](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/steve)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/6 "2026-09-07T16:03:37Z")
> [@Essa\_Boy\_T](#): > > would I need to update my Mac OS as it’s Big Sur Looks like yes. [![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/steinberg/original/4X/1/7/4/1745e187f1aa9fd18fe1956c8f39d17a7197ff6d.png)](https://www.steinberg.net/system-requirements/) Cubase 12 is the newest that is officially supported on Big Sur. ---
**Author:** ![mkok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dfb087/32.png) [@mkok](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/mkok)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/7 "2026-09-07T17:09:56Z")
You could buy 15 and use 12 for now until you are ready for an OS upgrade. Does your Mac support a newer os version? ---
**Author:** ![DosWasBest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@DosWasBest](https://forums.steinberg.net/u/DosWasBest)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.steinberg.net/t/advice-on-dongle-failure-how-to-proceed/1040779/8 "2026-09-07T17:26:52Z")
> [@Essa\_Boy\_T](#): > > The thing is, my dongle is now failing to light up or be recognised. I need to rectify this and (probably) Well …the first thing I’d do is pop the dongle into a different computer…different usb port. Just to confirm it’s not a port issue.