Run in to same issue, changed dns to google (as suggested), nothing happened / still not working / unable to sign in
I was able to log in today (without any changes)
Steinberg-Activation-Manager-Diagnostics_20250326T141829.zip (22.3 KB)
i changed my dns to google dns, but still i cant sign in, nothing happens when i click on sign in button in activation manager
Still a damn issue since latest Dorico Pro Update. When i launch Dorico Pro and Cubase 14 Pro at the same Time the License Manager shuts off the connection cannot be resolved. Iam on Windows 11
So I just ran into the same issue where the Steinberg Activation Manager was not opening up my browser when I clicked “Sign In”
I think I found the issue and honestly, this is something that Steinberg needs to address. My primary browser is Google Chrome, but I have multiple profiles on Chrome. It wouldn’t open Chrome. I had to switch my default browser to Microsoft Edge and it finally opened as intended. There has to be a way to have it open in Chrome if there are multiple profiles. That’s the way Chrome is intended to be used, especially if you have a personal + work account.
I’m also using Chrome with multiple profiles but for some reason my default browser for SAM was already set to Edge and SAM STILL isn’t working in Edge. I’ve tried everything from firewall permissions to disabling VPN with no success. What makes all of this nonsense MORE ridiculous is that I just HAD to purchase CB15 for the “Nektar fix” after only having CB14 for 3 months and now I can’t even register CB15.
I am having the same issue. I cannot sign into Steinberg Activation Manager, even though I have been signed into Cubase LE AI Elements 12 for 2 years now. This is happening on Windows 11, and here is the diagnostics.
Steinberg-Activation-Manager-Diagnostics_20260204T204724.zip (40.9 KB)
@sushiman Welcome to the forums!
It looks like you’re running a quite old version of Steinberg Activation Manager. I would advise installing the most recent version from here: Steinberg Activation Manager | Steinberg
Reporting back with the newest version of Steinberg Activation Manager. I am having the same issue, but I am getting the message to check my internet connection, even though I am connected to a fast network.
Steinberg-Activation-Manager-Diagnostics_20260208T152056.zip (58.5 KB)
Hello @sushiman - the logs are quite informative. Do you have Internet filtering software installed on your computer? perhaps as part of an Anti-virus?
I do have a VPN installed but I temporarily turned it off because I read those can cause problems with Steinberg Activation Manager
… internet filtering could even be customized on your WiFi router
Hi, sorry for the late reply with a possible solution, I hope you didn’t give up yet.
Judging by the logs, it looks like your computer is having trouble to reach a special server used to check the security (revocation-) status of our certificates, which can cause this error in the Activation Manager.
You could either try to change your DNS settings to a public DNS like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). Some users found that using a VPN actually resolved this issue too sometimes..
Alternatively we also have a setting in the Activation Manager for this case that you could try:
Open the file
C:\Users\\AppData\Steinberg\Activation Manager\settings.json in a text editor and set “tlsRevocationForceSoftFail”: true
This will tell the Activation Manager to ignore that the revocation status of the certificate cannot be checked (called “soft fail”).
Please make sure that the Activation Manager or any other app using Steinberg Licensing isn’t running while you change the settings.json.
hi, same issue here. it never logs into SAM after opening web browser. And now I cant use Cubase 15 because it says I don’t have a license.
I also cant upload diagnostic zip because its 16mb, which is too big for here
Welcome to the forum!
Did you try SKnapp’s advice here?
‘Twer it I, I’d try a VPN first to ensure it’s not IPv6 related. Depends on what you’re comfortable with 
Hi, yep I’ve tried all the work arounds so far. i don’t understand why its stopping me from using Cubase 15.
I’ve currently got $800 worth of software I cant use due to this stupid licensing system!
If the SAM can’t authenticate against your account, it can’t activate the software. That’s why you can’t use it.
You could try posting your diagnostics file to some 3rd party file-sharing site and link to it. Or just open a ticket directly with Steinberg support (this is a user forum).
But I’ve been using it for months now, its already activated. It doesn’t connect online and recheck each time i open Cubase. Support in Australia is through Yamaha, so this will be fun.
Sorry to hear! I’ve never tried to start the SAM without being logged in, so I’m not sure how that would work. If Cubase was previously licensed, then I agree it shouldn’t need anything at all - even an internet connection. If the SAM is showing it activated (if it even lets you even logon) then something is certainly afoot. Any chance you can try to connect to a different internet provider altogether, e.g. using your cellphone as a hotspot?
Worth a shot. Have you tried disabling IPv6 altogether on your system (the method depends on your OS, which you haven’t specified). That may help, but the VPN should have done that. Curiously, which VPN did you use?
Steinberg-Activation-Manager-Diagnostics_20260223T203436 (2).zip (875.0 KB)
Ok sorted the log file, was a bunch of advert pics included for some reason. And i tried proton VPN 
oh and Windows 11