If I have a license for Cubase 9 Pro and I bought the update license to 14 Pro and I perform this upgrade on my e-licenser, will I lose the ability to use 9 Pro? Or will it retain both licenses on that licenser? I’m a little confused about this based on what I’ve read. I have an older computer that I will still need to open projects on, and I want to make sure I shouldn’t be buying a completely new e-licenser to avoid losing the ability to run version 9.
No, you can still use C9 Pro with that eLicenser.
Your eLicenser will only include all licenses from Cubase 11 Pro downwards including C9 Pro. Cubase 12-14 Pro versions are part of the new licensing system and don’t need an eLicenser. You can use C12-14 on any computer given that they meet the basic system requirements of the version.
If you use a Soft-eLicenser you will be able to use it as long as you want. BUT: Only on that particular computer and only as long as this computer works or you exchange system relevant parts. After that your license will vanish into thin air.
My advice: Buy a USB-eLicenser (not expensive) and transfer your licenses for C11 Pro and below from your Soft eLicenser to this USB-eLicenser before May 20th.
This way, you can use C11 Pro downwards on every computer in the future until the USB-eLicenser breaks (USB-eLicensers are usually very robust).
I hope this helps 
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Thank you for the great explanation! I didn’t realize the newer versions were now not going to be using the e-licenser, so that makes sense.
I noticed when upgrading my C10.5 licence to C14 that the eLicencer Control Centre was updating the licence on my eLicencer dongle. Why is this when C14 uses the new licencing system?
Because your eLicenser should be able to run up to Cubase 11 now.
OK, so this actually didn’t work as you described… now I’m kinda in a bad position and I’m guessing I will have to get Steinberg support involved.
My e-licenser went to Cubase 11 Pro (upgraded) and not Cubase 9 Pro, so now it doesn’t think I have a license for 9 Pro and I can’t use the program on my old computer. On the new computer Cubase 14 Pro still says “verification pending” and it looks like I have a couple weeks to use it. This is … suboptimal.
I guess by “you” you mean @Reco29 ?
Yes, that’s the way it works. You actually don’t have a license for 9 anymore since you updated it. However, the USB-eLicenser should now allow you to use up to 11 as well as previous versions including 9. Did you try it?
Steinberg Licensing: “Verification Pending” or “Expired” – Steinberg Support
Yes, sorry, I should have specified who I was talking to.
I did try to use the 11 license for 9 and it didn’t recognize it. For 14, I did follow those instructions and for a while it was still saying “verification pending” but it looks like it is now “activated” correctly, so at least that appears to be solved (not sure why there was a delay but oh well). I have sent an e-mail to Steinberg asking for their assistance with the 9 vs. 11 issue. If it were as simple as upgrading my version of 9 to 11 that would be fine but unfortunately that computer tops out at macOS 10.12 and Cubase 11 requires 10.14 to run.
OK I actually solved this, so hopefully this might be useful to others who are in the same boat.
When I opened e-License Control Center on my old computer I realized that in place of my Cubase 11 license it was saying Unknown License or something like that. It was also asking me to update my license library or something like that. When I attempted to do that it told me it couldn’t because my e-Licenser was too old. It was version 6.10, and when I looked on Steinberg’s downloads page the current one is 6.12 I believe. So I downloaded that and now the Cubase 11 license was showing up properly, and I was able to run Cubase 9. I guess the older license software was just didn’t know what to do with that upgraded license format. So if you’re having problems, definitely make sure you have the most up-to-date e-License Control Center.
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@msintros Yes, updating the eLicenser ControlCenter is a necessary prerequisite to benefit from Steinberg’s generous policy to run all previous versions that work with the eLicenser. I didn’t mention that, sorry.
Thanks for your kind reaction when it didn’t seem to work at first - I appreciate that!
Glad that it works now as it’s supposed to do 
Don’t forget to think about buying a USB eLicenser as I mentioned in my first post…
Thanks for the info. Is there any other actions I need to take in order to continue running C14? AFAIK, I just need to hook up to the internet once every 90 days?
The only time you’d connect to the internet is if Cubendo14 actually flashes a message saying it needs you to do that…which…I’ve never experienced Cubendo asking that.
As to the elicenser, I can run Cubase 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (my fav usually being 6.5). All on Win11 Pro.
If you plan on doing that regularly (in addition to cb14), I suggest downloading the installers for any/all NOW in 2025. You never know what will disappear off the ftp in 2026+.
And…VERY important if you plan on continuing to use the dongle for various old versions…DOWNLOAD AND SAVE the actual installer for the elc dongle itself. The teeny tiny file.
Why? Because if you ever do a clean reinstall of your os, you’re gonna have to install the teeny tiny elc pgm as well…it’s the ONLY way your dongle can communicate with the computer.
If you suddenly don’t have that installer out there in 2030…and it’s no longer on any server…you’re as screwed as if your dog eats the dongle.
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