How to Activate A Tableau Desktop License

Owned by Cortlandt _
Last updated: about 6 hours ago
2 min read

Activating, re-activating and reinstalling Tableau Desktop License.
How to address the “We were unable to activate the product” message.

Activate Tableau Desktop License

  1. log on to Tableau Online website

    1. Complete MFA.

  2. opened Tableau Desktop (retail),

  3. Enter registration information.

  4. click on Activate Tableau at the top.

  5. click on "Activate by signing in on a server".

  6. clicked on Tableau Cloud.

  7. Enter login credentials on Tableau Cloud screen.

  8. Complete MFA again.

  9. Enter info into Registration screen again.

  10. At this point, Tableau Desktop should be registered and Tableau Desktop open.

  11. Enter DataSelf’s Tableau Server URL into Server url

  12. Close Tableau Desktop and reopened it, to make sure it will open without issues.

Re-activate Tableau Desktop License

Occasionally, the Tableau Desktop license might stop working. When this this occurs, you will see a prompt to enter a license key when you open Tableau Desktop.

  • Enter the license key in the prompt.

If you receive the "Product activation was unsuccessful" message

image-20240517-193925.png
Message: We were unable to activate the product.
Make sure you are connected to the Internet and try again. Alternatively, save an activation file and go to http://wwvv.tableau.com/en-us/activation to complete the activation process.

  1. Verify your internet connection. If it was unavailable, select Retry.

  2. Close all Tableau instances.

  3. Completely remove the application versions.
    See https://kb.tableau.com/articles/howto/completely-removing-tableau-desktop

  4. Navigate to the folders/directories below and rename the folders.
    Rename and append “_backup" to the folder names.

    • C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet

      • Rename folder to Flexnet_backup

    • Optional folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FlexNet Publisher

      • Rename folder to to FlexNet Publisher_backup

      • This folder/directory may not be found on your computer.

  5. Reinstall Tableau Desktop.

    1. Install the package as an administrator (Right > Run as administrator).

  6. Open Tableau Desktop and activate the software with the license key