Please can someone help. I bought Cubase 11 some time ago for my other half and he didnt actually get around to using it. we then had an email to say you had to change from the usb stick license to something els and we didnt know how to do it. Long story short, I want to start using it and I havent a clue if it is activated (along with everything else or not). We also have other programmes on it I think as well. i have clicked on various download managers etc but nothing seems to work.
I am so sorry, I haven’t got much of a clue, please can anyone help? I am also building a new PC tomorrow and dont want to lose it if i still have it.
On the self service it says under products Cubas Pro 11 and Steinberg Zero pro E-licenser, then USB e-licenser. Under licensed devices they are both under the usb sign and there is nothing under the key sign.
So you have a USB Dongle for Cubase Pro 11, right? Did you ever install and activate it, or was it never used?
First of all download and install the Steinberg Download Assistant, it must be the latest release of it. Then follow the description in the support article here
After this you will have the eLicenser Control Center installed and start it to see if your Cubase 11 license is stored on the USB dongle.
No problem, you should also read the support article about the end of the eLicenser licensing system. It has a lot of information about the switch to the new Steinberg Licensing.
Important to know is, Cubase 11 will stay on the eLicenser forever and will not be changed. To get into the new world of Steinberg Licensing you need at least Cubase 12. However, the update is always to the latest release and that is Cubase 15 at the moment.
Did you follow the description on how to get the eLicenser Control Center installed again? It is the first link I’ve posted.
If the eLicenser Control Center is installed, connect the USB dongle to the computer and start it. It will show you the licenses that are stored on the dongle.
Look for Cubase 11, because that is what you need to start the application.
When the Download Assistant is started click on Settings in the upper right corner and then on the lower left look for “Optional Runtime Components”.
Make sure the checkbox is ticked and then restart the Download Assistant. If the eLicenser Control Center is currently not installed it will now be installed during the restart.
Then follow what I said above about starting the Control Center
It has loads of serial numbers on and i cant get them off. When i open it I get loads of pop ups about repairing the soft thing and it just says failed. In the control one, under my licenses it states usb with the number then deactivated soft e in red with a serial. Above both it states enter activation code
Yes, that is expected. It tries to find the eLicenser servers, but they have been shutdown in May 2025. Don’t worry, that is not a problem. You can simply ignore that and do not try to do a maintenance, it is also not working anymore.
The important part is, while the dongle is connected, do you see an entry on the left side of the eLicenser Control Center, that shows licenses on that dongle?
It would be easier to help you if you can show a screenshot of it here.
Ah here you go… you have a valid Cubase Pro 11 Education license.
So all you need to do now is, in the Download Assistant, under “My Products” on the left side, look for a button named Cubase Pro 11. Click on it and you will see a long list of available items for your license.
If it is not shown there, open the category “All products” on the left side and look for Cubase Pro 11.
Download at least the Cubase Pro 11 Application, the first entry in the list. You should also install at least HALion Sonic Instrument and Content and Groove Agent SE and content from that list.
After the installation you can start Cubase Pro 11 on your machine and it should work, as long as your USB dongle is connected.
Due to the size of these downloads it will take a while until everything is downloaded and installed, but your license is there and should allow you to use Cubase Pro 11.
However, you should clearly think about an update to the latest release Cubase Pro 15, because Cubase Pro 11 is no longer supported and if the USB dongle breaks or is lost you will not be able to use it anymore.
For now, install Cubase and start creating music…
