Good morning WilemAO,
Thank you for stopping by the QuickBooks Community! I will be happy to shed some light here. The process for obtaining a validation code depends on the source of your purchase. If you purchased QuickBooks Desktop online, check your email inbox for a receipt or confirmation message containing the validation code, along with your license number and product number. If you purchased a physical copy, check the printing on the packaging or the installation documents included in the box.
If you are comfortable, you can try these advanced steps to access the validation code in the registry. Here's how:
- Open the File Explorer (Windows Key + E).
- Navigate to: C:\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks.
- Find the QBRegistration.dat file.
- Open it with Notepad (right-click, Open with > Notepad).
- Search for "License Number" (Ctrl+F) to find the validation.
Please note that if you are activating a version of QuickBooks that is no longer supported or is older than 3 years, you will need to upgrade to a newer version, as Intuit does not provide validation codes for discontinued products.
If you cannot locate your validation code or are experiencing activation issues, please get in touch with our QuickBooks Desktop Phone Support team. Provide them with your product information, and they will suggest customized options for your situation.
If you need further assistance or have additional QuickBooks concerns, feel free to reply below. We are always here to help!
