How can I get my registration / product key information
Table of contents
AccountsGetting your products and keysI just purchased but its not showing up in 'My Downloads'Changing your email addressChanging your username or password for your accountHow do I merge two accountsHow do I close and accountReprinting Invoices
ActivationThe Stardock installer failed sent me hereMissing 'Activate' buttonHow to activate your product with the current activation methodHow to activate offlineHow to activate with the legacy style of activation (Pre 2014)How to review your current activation'sHow do I deactivate my product? (use this if you have reached a maximum).How to install /activate our current software with the command promptHow to deactivate our current software with the command promptRedeeming your Steam key for a Stardock game (and some software from our vendor partners)Why is my Steam version (purchased there) asking for a product key?What is the activation server address and portI did not receive my verification or trial activation emailHow Do I Perform A Manual ActivationDo you have an offline activation method for a trialError activating the product: cannot read SID / Error code 205Keeps asking to activate even after activationError 212Activation window buttons do not respond to clicksAdding activations to an existing key (corp products only)
When you make a purchase from the Stardock store, you'll have the option to log in (if you already have an account), create an account or check out as a guest (no account is created). In any case, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download your products and keys.
Below will detail the methods to use for getting your products and keys at a later date depending on how you purchased (account or guest checkout).
Accessing Products Through EmailAfter any purchase, the following link can be used to have product installers and keys emailed to the email account that purchased them:https://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval While this page will work for both account holders and Guest Checkout purchase, that page is the only way a Guest Checkout purchase can retrieve products and keys at a later date if they have lost their receipt. Accessing Products Through a Stardock AccountIf you have a Stardock account, you can access it here. If you don't have a Stardock account, you can create one here. You can also use that page to convert a Guest Checkout email to a full account by just supplying a password (and replying to a subsequent verification email).All of the purchases you've made through our store can be found in this location. Also, if you have an Object Desktop or WinCustomize membership, you can easily check how many days you have left of your membership.
After any purchase, the following link can be used to have product installers and keys emailed to the email account that purchased them:
https://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval
While this page will work for both account holders and Guest Checkout purchase, that page is the only way a Guest Checkout purchase can retrieve products and keys at a later date if they have lost their receipt.
If you have a Stardock account, you can access it here. If you don't have a Stardock account, you can create one here. You can also use that page to convert a Guest Checkout email to a full account by just supplying a password (and replying to a subsequent verification email).
All of the purchases you've made through our store can be found in this location. Also, if you have an Object Desktop or WinCustomize membership, you can easily check how many days you have left of your membership.
With the exception of Object Desktop purchases, no product will appear in your account under ‘My Downloads’ until the product has been activated at least once. Once activated that 1st time, it will then show under ‘My Downloads' under the account that activated it.
Please also see this article for how to have your product installers and keys emailed to you:
Getting purchased products and keys
If you do not find a solution, a ticket can be created for this issue type here.
If you want to change your account information, please visit the site below to access your Stardock account:
https://www.stardock.com/accounts/accountinfo
Even if you no longer have access to the email address you used to set up your account with Stardock, you can still use it to log in and change it here. You can use this site to change other account information as well.
If you no longer remember your password, you can reset it here:
https://www.stardock.com/accounts/resetpassword
For password resets where you no longer have access to an old email address, we can update your account for you. For verification purposes, we require at least two of the following:
Your full name
Address at the time of your last purchase
Order number of purchase or the serial number \ product key from one
Click here to create a ticket to submit them with your request.
While logged into your http://stardock.com account, click your avatar image in the upper right of the page, then 'Settings':
From the 'Login' tab, you will be able to change them:
If you have access to both email accounts, you can merge your registrations here:
https://www.stardock.com/accounts/registrations/
If you do not have access to both accounts, we will need information for both accounts such as one of the following:
Order numbers associated with each account
The full physical address associated with the account
Click here to submit them.
If you would like to remove all of your information from Stardock, please use the form linked here.
After logging into the Stardock store ( https://store.stardock.com/myaccount) and selecting "Order History", you can view order invoices and refunds for your account.
You can upgrade to a full Stardock account using the email address you used to purchase here (you set any password you like there):
https://store.stardock.com/createaccount
You can then access your purchase(s) \ invoice(s) here:
https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/orders
Please note, if there are omissions or mistakes made while entering payment data (VAT for example), we cannot alter invoices after their creation.
Typically, when the a Stardock installer fails, it's because it cant write certain files to the PC. The primary reason for this is that 'Windows Controlled Folder Access' or 'Ransomware protection' is enabled. To resolve this, please chose one of the following:
Temporarily disable:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4046851/windows-10-allow-blocked-app-windows-security
Allow / Whitelist Start10:https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/113430-add-remove-allowed-apps-controlled-folder-access-windows-10-a.html
While very rare, and because of some security settings on some PCs, the 'Activate' button is missing on the activation prompt:
With this window up, use the Tab key to highlight that area:
Press 'Enter' on your keyboard with it highlighted to proceed.
The other option is to reset your Internet Options so that the button shows henceforth. Directions for that can be found here.
If all efforts fail, activating via the command line is possible.
For purchases made directly from Stardock, you can get your key(s) from here:https://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval Some Stardock Software partners (resellers) issue Steam keys for use on the Steam platform. For activation information for such purchases, please click here.Activation Via In-app PromptThe images in this example will show Fences but the dialogue and the procedure will look and be the same regardless of the product. If your activation method does not look like any of the images below, please click here.To activate, click the 'Enter Product Key' button.Enter in the product key you received and your email address and click 'Activate'. If you do not have your product key, you can go here for instructions on how to retrieve it. If you already have an account and have activated the product previously, you can click the 'Stardock Account' option at the bottom to activate with your Stardock account credentials instead. NOTE: To avoid entering your product key incorrectly, please copy the product key directly from your products page or receipt, and paste it directly into the "Product Key" field. The product key must appear EXACTLY as it does on your products page or receipt in order for activation to succeed.If the activation is successful, you will see a dialog stating so.Offline ActivationIf there is a problem activating, you may see the following:In this case, your Internet connection may be functioning but your ability to connect to the activation server may be blocked. Click the 'Offline Activation' button to proceed.Click 'Save Activation Request'. A dialog will prompt you to save the .req file. Save it to a location of your choosing. You will then see the following:If your machine is able to access http://activate.stardock.com/ you can go there and upload the .req file which will give you a .resp file to save to your computer. You can then click the 'Select Activation Response' button to browse to where the .resp file is saved. This will complete the activation.If you are not able to access http://activate.stardock.com/ from the machine you are activating on, you will need to bring the .req file to a machine that has internet and complete the process there and then bring the .resp back to the machine you wish to activate on. The .resp file can also be loaded using the 'select offline file' option as seen on the initial activation screen in the second image at the top of this webpage above.If you receive any errors trying to upload the req file or download the resp file (404 errors), please try another web browser like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox Note: The req file must be created the PC needing the activation and the subsequent resp file can only be used to activate that PC, not any others.Troublshooting Activation IssuesPlease see:https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1350696976/Activation+Troubleshooting
Some Stardock Software partners (resellers) issue Steam keys for use on the Steam platform. For activation information for such purchases, please click here.
The images in this example will show Fences but the dialogue and the procedure will look and be the same regardless of the product. If your activation method does not look like any of the images below, please click here.
To activate, click the 'Enter Product Key' button.
Enter in the product key you received and your email address and click 'Activate'. If you do not have your product key, you can go here for instructions on how to retrieve it.
If you already have an account and have activated the product previously, you can click the 'Stardock Account' option at the bottom to activate with your Stardock account credentials instead.
NOTE: To avoid entering your product key incorrectly, please copy the product key directly from your products page or receipt, and paste it directly into the "Product Key" field. The product key must appear EXACTLY as it does on your products page or receipt in order for activation to succeed.
If the activation is successful, you will see a dialog stating so.
If there is a problem activating, you may see the following:
In this case, your Internet connection may be functioning but your ability to connect to the activation server may be blocked. Click the 'Offline Activation' button to proceed.
Click 'Save Activation Request'. A dialog will prompt you to save the .req file. Save it to a location of your choosing. You will then see the following:
If your machine is able to access http://activate.stardock.com/ you can go there and upload the .req file which will give you a .resp file to save to your computer. You can then click the 'Select Activation Response' button to browse to where the .resp file is saved. This will complete the activation.
If you are not able to access http://activate.stardock.com/ from the machine you are activating on, you will need to bring the .req file to a machine that has internet and complete the process there and then bring the .resp back to the machine you wish to activate on. The .resp file can also be loaded using the 'select offline file' option as seen on the initial activation screen in the second image at the top of this webpage above.
If you receive any errors trying to upload the req file or download the resp file (404 errors), please try another web browser like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
Note: The req file must be created the PC needing the activation and the subsequent resp file can only be used to activate that PC, not any others.
Please see:https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1350696976/Activation+Troubleshooting
In this case, your Internet connection may be functioning but your ability to connect to the activation server may be blocked somehow. Click the 'Offline Activation' button to proceed.
Click the 'Save Activation Request' button. A dialog will come up asking you to save the .req file. Save it to a location of your choosing. You will then see the following:
If you receive any errors trying to upload the req file, or download the resp file (404 errors), please try other web browser like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge or Firefox
Note: The req file must be created the PC needing the activation, and the subsequent resp file can only be used to activate that PC, not any others.
VIDEO: Creation of the .REQ file on the PC that needs activation
VIDEO: Submit the .REQ file from PC with internet access at http://activate.stardock.com/
VIDEO: Submit the downloaded .RESP file, finish on PC that needs activation
This article is for activating Stardock products with a legacy activation system. If your activation menues do not look like anything below, click here.
If the prompt for activation does not come up when launching the product, typically there will be an option to activate within the 'Help' section of the configuration menu for the application. Note that in this example Fences is used but the options will look the same for the other products.
Select the "Unlock" button.
Select the "I have a serial number" button and fill in the form.
Fill out the form. Note that the product key is the same thing as the serial number.
Select ‘Register’
To view your current activations and which PC they're activated to, click below and log in:
https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products/
Once logged in, you can click View Product Keys, for example:
Then click the '…' icon
A window will then display the requested information:
(From here you can also deactivate the activated PC's)
Create an account using the email used for purchase: https://store.stardock.com/createaccount
Then use the process detailed above.
Primarily used for resellers, this option is best used for people who do not have the actual products registered under their accounts, but made the actual purchase of the products.
Login to your Stardock account and select Order History:
From this page, click the “Download Product Key Status .CSV
Open the file in Excel, or similar program:
Under the Registered To column, it will display the name of the computers that the product is activated on. (NOTE: in this example, the product is not activated)
There may be times when you want to deactivate a Stardock product on one PC so you can activate it on another.
This method is especially useful if you had PC issues that prevented you from deactivating from within the app.
For clients with accounts (did not use 'Guest Checkout'), you can deactivate products from your account page using the https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products link:
If you do not have an account (used guest checkout), you can still create an account here to use this feature: https://store.stardock.com/createaccount
Use the same email and whatever password you like.
From the machine you wish to deactivate, open the configuration for the application and then go to the help/about section and then click the following (Start11 is shown in the following example):
On the window that comes up, click the 'Deactivate Local Machine' button and then click 'Deactivate'. This will free the activation up so you can activate on another machine of your choosing.
The 'Update Product Key' option would allow you to specify a new key to attempt the activation with. This would be applicable if another license was purchased and you wanted to activate with that product key.
Silent Install Not available for Steam versions Running any app installer via a command line with /s switch will silently install. Adding /noreboot will not reboot the machine post-install.After any install (manual or silent) is done, the Stardock Activation window is shown as well as the config UI or the app:If your desire it to have an end-to-end silent install \ activation, in your script after the silent install, you would include the following before any silent activation. taskkill /f /im Fences.exe taskkill /f /im SdDisplay.exe If you are installing over an existing install, it is important to reboot at the earliest possible convenience. Silent Activation Not available for Steam versions Most of Stardock's current applications can be activated via the command prompt. The command line option will activate the application without exposing the application or activation UI. If you are deploying a Stardock product from an image, it must be done so unactivated. Activation must happen on the destination PC.Command line exampleStart11"C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start11"\SASUpgrade.exe -prodId=2663 -prodName="Start11" -company="Stardock" -ver="1.0" -email="USER@USER.COM" serial="PRODUCTKEYGOESHERE"VariablesprodIdThe internal Stardock product ID is unique to every product lineprodNameThe Stardock issued product name. This must be accurate. (Example: Fences4 <-note no space in name and version)companyFor Stardock products, this will always be “Stardock”. Do not enter your company name or the activation will fail. versionThe version being installed.serialThe serial \ product key for the registration.emailEmail address of the account the current registration is activated under or the email account it is to be attached to if activating for the 1st time If this is the 1st time a registration is being activated, take great care in what email address is chosen as it will be tied to that email address henceforth. For enterprise deployments, it is HIGHLY recommended that a generic (e.g. stardockLicensing@YourDomain.com) is used to avoid proper name email address credentials and their inherent problems. Stardock Product IDs‘ProdID’ and ‘ProdName’ table for command line activationProductProdNameProdIDCursor FX 4CursorFX2651CurtainsCurtains2654DeskScapes 10DeskScapes2646DeskScapes 8DeskScapes2268Fences 2Fences22240Fences 3Fences32628Fences 4Fences42664Fences 5Fences52675GroupyGroupy2644Groupy 2Groupy22670Launch 8Launch82276Modern MixModernMix2271Multiplicity 3 KM/KVM/ProMultiplicity2283Multiplicity 4Multiplicity2684ObjectDockObjectDock1169ObjectDock 3ObjectDock2682Sound Packager 10SoundPackager2653Space MongerSpaceMonger2625Start 10Start102623Start 11 v1Start112663Start11 v2Start112674Start 8Start82267TilesTiles1942WindowBlinds 11WindowBlinds2667WindowsBlinds 10WindowBlinds2630WindowBlinds 8WindowBlinds2272WindowFXWindowFX2245Activaiton VerificationIf a command line activation was successful, a product-specific license.sig file will be created in the app-appropriate folder in\ProgramData\Stardock. For example, a successful Start11 activation will have a license.sig file created in:\ProgramData\Stardock\Start11Example VideoThe example video below is for Fences but can be used for any of the apps above:https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/sdComPromptAct.mp4
Not available for Steam versions
Running any app installer via a command line with /s switch will silently install.
Adding /noreboot will not reboot the machine post-install.
After any install (manual or silent) is done, the Stardock Activation window is shown as well as the config UI or the app:
If your desire it to have an end-to-end silent install \ activation, in your script after the silent install, you would include the following before any silent activation.
taskkill /f /im Fences.exe taskkill /f /im SdDisplay.exe
If you are installing over an existing install, it is important to reboot at the earliest possible convenience.
Most of Stardock's current applications can be activated via the command prompt. The command line option will activate the application without exposing the application or activation UI.
If you are deploying a Stardock product from an image, it must be done so unactivated. Activation must happen on the destination PC.
Start11"C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start11"\SASUpgrade.exe -prodId=2663 -prodName="Start11" -company="Stardock" -ver="1.0" -email="USER@USER.COM" serial="PRODUCTKEYGOESHERE"
prodIdThe internal Stardock product ID is unique to every product line
prodNameThe Stardock issued product name. This must be accurate. (Example: Fences4 <-note no space in name and version)
companyFor Stardock products, this will always be “Stardock”. Do not enter your company name or the activation will fail.
versionThe version being installed.
serialThe serial \ product key for the registration.
emailEmail address of the account the current registration is activated under or the email account it is to be attached to if activating for the 1st time
If this is the 1st time a registration is being activated, take great care in what email address is chosen as it will be tied to that email address henceforth. For enterprise deployments, it is HIGHLY recommended that a generic (e.g. stardockLicensing@YourDomain.com) is used to avoid proper name email address credentials and their inherent problems.
‘ProdID’ and ‘ProdName’ table for command line activation
Product
ProdName
ProdID
Cursor FX 4
CursorFX
2651
Curtains
2654
DeskScapes 10
DeskScapes
2646
DeskScapes 8
2268
Fences 2
Fences2
2240
Fences 3
Fences3
2628
Fences 4
Fences4
2664
Fences 5
Fences5
2675
Groupy
2644
Groupy 2
Groupy2
2670
Launch 8
Launch8
2276
Modern Mix
ModernMix
2271
Multiplicity 3 KM/KVM/Pro
Multiplicity
2283
Multiplicity 4
2684
ObjectDock
1169
ObjectDock 3
2682
Sound Packager 10
SoundPackager
2653
Space Monger
SpaceMonger
2625
Start 10
Start10
2623
Start 11 v1
Start11
2663
Start11 v2
2674
Start 8
Start8
2267
Tiles
1942
WindowBlinds 11
WindowBlinds
2667
WindowsBlinds 10
2630
WindowBlinds 8
2272
WindowFX
2245
If a command line activation was successful, a product-specific license.sig file will be created in the app-appropriate folder in\ProgramData\Stardock. For example, a successful Start11 activation will have a license.sig file created in:
\ProgramData\Stardock\Start11
The example video below is for Fences but can be used for any of the apps above:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/sdComPromptAct.mp4
Most of Stardock's current applications can be deactivated via the command prompt. The command line option will deactivate the application without exposing the application or activation UI.Command line exampleFences 4"C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\SdDisplay.exe" -deactivate -prodID=2664 -prodName="Fences4" -company="Stardock" -prodVer="4.00"VariablesprodIdThe internal Stardock product ID is unique to every product lineprodNameThe Stardock issued product name. This must be accurate.companyFor Stardock products, this will always be “Stardock”. Do not enter your company name or the activation will fail.versionThe version being installed.Stardock Product IDsProductProdNameProdIDCursor FX 4CursorFX2651CurtainsCurtains2654DeskScapes 10DeskScapes2646DeskScapes 8DeskScapes2268Fences 2Fences22240Fences 3Fences32628Fences 4Fences42664GroupyGroupy2644Groupy 2Groupy22670Launch 8Launch82276Modern MixModernMix2271Multiplicity 3 KM/KVM/ProMultiplicity2283ObjectDock Plus (v2)ObjectDock1169ObjectDock 3ObjectDock2682Sound Packager 10SoundPackager2653Space MongerSpaceMonger2625Start 10Start102623Start 11Start112663Start 8Start82267TilesTiles1942WindowBlinds 11WindowBlinds2667WindowsBlinds 10WindowBlinds2630WindowBlinds 8WindowBlinds2272WindowFXWindowFX2245Deactivation VerificationIf a command line deactivation was successful, a product-specific license.sig file will be removed from the app-appropriate folder in\ProgramData\Stardock. For example, a successful Start11 activation will no longer have a license.sig file created in:\ProgramData\Stardock\Start11
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\SdDisplay.exe" -deactivate -prodID=2664 -prodName="Fences4" -company="Stardock" -prodVer="4.00"
prodNameThe Stardock issued product name. This must be accurate.
ObjectDock Plus (v2)
Start 11
If a command line deactivation was successful, a product-specific license.sig file will be removed from the app-appropriate folder in\ProgramData\Stardock. For example, a successful Start11 activation will no longer have a license.sig file created in:
If you purchased a Stardock game / DLC from us, purchased certain products from one of our software partners, or received a gift key for registering, you will do so via the Steam client.
For Steam games purchased directly from Stardock, you can get your Steam key from here:
For any Steam product that was purchased from one of our software partners, you need to refer to your receipt to get your key. If you no longer have your receipt, you will need to contact the vendor directly.
You will need the Steam client open (not the Steam website) to be able to activate the game. (obtain the Steam client here: http://store.steampowered.com/about/ )
Once you have your Steam key and Steam installed, open Steam. At the bottom left click ‘Add a game’ and select ‘Activate a Product on Steam’
The Sins game pictured is just an example:
Next, you have a new window with a couple of screens with agreements, instructions, etc. You will then be prompted to enter your key.
After that, you will get confirmation and install info screens.
That’s just about it. You can click the downloading area at the bottom of Steam to open up your downloads, and you can also view them from your Steam library.
If your game/software is already in your Steam library, you do not need to do this.
While rare, sometimes a Steam version of our software products (not games) will prompt for a product key when it should not.
You do not have any other version of the software from any other source (http://stardock.com for example)
If you do, you need to uninstall that other version
That you are logged into Steam and not as a 'guest'
In the install directory of the product in question, run sassteam.exe and see if you are able to use the product again.
Fences:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences
Groupy:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Groupy
Start10:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start10
Multiplicity:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Multiplicity
Curtains:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Curtains
DeskScapes:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\DeskScapes
If the above fails, uninstall/reinstall from within Steam (and only from within Steam) and try again.
The below address is where Stardock apps will try to contact for activation:
https://activate.api.stardock.net over port 443
Please try the following:
Try to activate the trial again so as to trigger sending another activation email
Check your spam \ junk folder
If you have your mail forwarded from another web-based account (Hotmail, Gmail), check that other account directly as well as its spam \ junk folder.
If you have an alternate email, please try using it instead.
For problems with activation pertaining to a trial version, unfortunately, we do not currently have have an offline activation system in place.
In lieu of being able to experience the trial, if you purchase the product (which does have an offline activation method), and it does not meet your needs, we will refund it.
You may see this if you have the older style of activation:
You may see this with the newer style of activation:
This can happen when your computer name has non-Western characters or symbols in it. To avoid this, you would need to change the name of your computer so that it contains only Western characters and then try to activate it again.
Even after a successful activation of a Stardock product, the client will keep being prompted to activate - immediately or over time.
Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time. A "Run" dialog box will pop up, please paste the path below into the "Open" field and press OK:
%ProgramData%\Stardock\
In the folder that pops up, you should see a folder named PRODUCTNAME (<-- the product that is giving you the error). Please delete this folder and all of its contents.
After you have deleted that folder, please attempt to activate it once again and it should succeed without any errors.
It has also been reported that some “system cleaner” type software will remove these needed files, if this happens, adjust your program to not scan these folders
After entering in the proper credentials to activate a product, the buttons to proceed to not respond to clicks.
There are components of IE (Internet Explorer) in that window. If you have restrictions on IE (some do), the 'Activate' but may fail to respond to clicks. The options are:
Do a search for ‘Internet Options'
Security → Medium → Apply →
An alternate option would be to use the command line activation method.
Click here to see command line activation directions
Note: The command line method will not work for a trial - only for the paid version of the product. This process will also not work for Steam version of Stardock apps.
You can log into your account and purchase additional activations for any key - for example:
If you are a reseller trying to purchase additional activations for a client and their key, go to the product page for the product and select the business option. From here click on the Add activation to an existing key link found under the Single Key and Multiple Keys options
This will then take to a page to validate the user key and continue the order process
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
Sign in or Create Account
