Cant activate cubase pro 11 after installing on new pc

Cubase
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1

I have a new PC, and my copy of Cubase 11 with e-licenser. I have installed the software but it refuses to activate. The activation manager shows no licenses, but my license is listed in Steinbergs website and the elicenser used to work just fine on my old PC (which is sadly no more..)

I understand they have discontinued the elicenser servers, but its meant to still allow your old licenses, but this seems to be broken.

How do I get my software that I paid for working again ?

I tried opening a support ticket and after 20days, no response whatsoever, so support is clearly piped to /dev/null

thanks for any help,

Kevin.

2

Do you have the usb licenser? If so then just plug it in, download and run the latest licensing software.

if it is a licence on you pc then you can’t as the licence servers no longer exist. This has been sent on emails, in the forum and I’ve even seen it on social media for over a year. The warnings have been coming thick and fast over that time period.

Contacting support is the correct thing to do. Unless you have the usb licenser then you will not be able to run Cubase 11. You don’t say which version of 11 you have? Support may be able to help you with an upgrade since you have an account.

3

The Activation Manager only shows applications using the new licensing system, like Cubase 12 and later.

Cubase 11 still requires the eLicenser and the corresponding eLicenser Control Center (eLCC) which is no longer automatically installed together with the Download Assistant. However, you can download it from the page linked below. If your dongle is plugged in, the eLCC should show your Cubase 11 license and Cubase should run again.

4

I have the usb licence and it doesn’t activate the software (as it used to fine on my old pc)

Here in the UK we have legal protection against companies disabling software, so steinberg need to offer a remedy within 14 days, which they already failed since they ignored my request for 20d already.

That puts them in breach, so I’m hoping someone here can help before I have to resort to legal measures..

Kevin

5

If you actually have the the license on the USB dongle, no activation is needed.

If you do not have a physical USB dongle, which seems to be the case in spite of what you said, contact Steinberg.

For a period of nearly 4 years Steinberg has been notifying users about the change.

See also https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/26707291820562-eLicenser-service-closed-down-on-May-20-2025

6

The elicencer app is installed. It failed to update itself and shows no licenses whether or not the dongle is in the pc. It seems its not working.

7

Does it light up when you plug it in?

8

Yes it lights up. It worked fine on my old pc.

9

Do you have the latest version of the eLCC (6.12.11.1328) installed? Have you already tried different USB ports of the new PC?

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10

There’s something else going one possibly.

Have you tried plugging it into other USB ports?

Now that you are calmer, it would be helpful if you posted info for troubleshooting. What PC? OS? What have you done so far? Have you restarted the machine?

11

I tried both front and a rear USB ports, and it appears in device manager correctly with good driver.

I’ve tried the latest and some of the older versions, no difference.

My ur824 plus all its software work OK.

12

Calmness is not a problem. Non responding companies are. I’m giving them a break here!

Dell XE3 mid tower running latest win 11. All apps recently downloaded latest versions, installed using the download manager.

What have I tried? Everything I can think of! The pc has been rebooted quite a bit…

13

What do you mean by this? Did you get an error message during the installation of the eLCC? If so, it might help do uninstall it and reinstall it again.

14

No. It installs OK. But on launch it says it’s database is out of date, tries to update, but ofc. No server available

15

Ok, this message usually indicates that the eLCC is too old. Did you install the latest version from the website linked above?

16

Yes, as I mentioned

17

Could you post a screenshot of the eLCC window?

18

I probably can, but I’m away from my pc now (it’s 10.40pm). I’ll provide some screenshotsand the like. I might start from scratch just to check nothing went awry.

At least you imply it should work OK. So there is hope :grinning_face:

19

Ok, no need to hurry. Here in Germany it’s 11:35 pm and I should also go to bed.
Anyway, your Cubase 11 should definitely still work as long as the dongle isn’t broken.

20

I do reinstalls of Cubase 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 regularly on my win 11 Pro computers. Follow the checklist below. Some of which you’ve done.

In fact…disconnect your computer’s internet completely for the next 10 minutes so that nothing is confusing…

  1. Have the cubase 11 pro iso or installer
  2. Have the final-released teeny tiny driver for your elicenser pre-safely downloaded from sb downloads area. And stored for the future.
  3. Plug in the dongle
  4. Install the NEW elicenser dongle driver.
  5. Install Cubase 11 from your installer
  6. Start up Cubase 11..OF COURSE YOU WILL GET AN ERROR…WHY?…because the installer itself posseses an old dongle driver. YOU WILL GET A NO SERVER MSG..WHY? BECAUSE THERE IS NO LONGER A SERVER. NO BIGGIE..finish the install of cb11.
  7. Exit…restart computer with dongle still plugged in.
  8. Start up Cubase 11 with dongle inserted.

Everything fine now? If an error (unlikely), simply exit, reinstall the newest teeny tiny driver, and restart. All will work.

All licensing for cb11 reside on your dongle. There is zero interaction with Sb or your sb account. Everything lives and breathes on that elicenser dongle for cb11. Until your dongle breaks or is eaten by your dog, you can use cb11 on Win11..Win12..etc.

And when the dog DOES eat the dongle 4 years from now…keep this 2024 message from Steinberg in mind (not the discount part….that’s old like your dongle :slight_smile: )

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