Help Centre

What is company file activation?
Activation is a way of protecting your software against potential piracy and provides you with the reassurance that you are using an authentic product that can be trusted with your business data. Activation occurs when you create a new company file or upgrade a company file from a previous version (2003 releases and prior).
The activation process authenticates your product serial number (which is stored in your company file) against the MYOB software database, and also records how many company files you’ve activated using that product serial number.
How do I activate a company file?
1
Open the Activation window.
This window appears the first time you open a company file after you have created it, and appears each subsequent time you open the file until you activate.
Is activation the same as product registration?
No. Product registration enables MYOB to identify you as the software owner and contact you should there be any issues with your software. The activation process authenticates your company files as being licenced under your product serial number.
How often do I need to activate my company file?
Where is my serial number?
Your product serial number is located on your registration card and on the back of your AccountRight product CD sleeve. Or, if you purchased a full software version online, your serial number is in a confirmation email from MYOB.
What information is sent to MYOB when activating a company file?
When you register your software, a record is added to our database that contains your basic contact details and program licence details, including your product serial number. MYOB also records how many company files you have activated under your product serial number.
During activation, the only information that is sent to MYOB is your product serial number and the unique company file code for that company file. MYOB then provides you with a confirmation code to complete activation.
None of your company information is transmitted during the activation or confirmation process. We do not obtain the company file name or any business data from your company file.
Do I need to activate a company file I have upgraded?
You will only be prompted to activate an upgraded file if the file was created in a pre-2004 software version (e.g. MYOB Accounting v13, Premier v7). You only need to activate the upgraded file if you want to continue entering data.
If you upgrade thecompany file, but you don’t plan to make changes to it using the new software version, do not activate the file after upgrading. Select the I only need to view information in this company file (Read-only access) option in the Activation window.
What happens if I don’t activate my company file within the required period?
Each time you open a company file that has not been activated, the Activation window will appear, prompting you to activate. You have 90 days (for new company files) and 30 days (for upgraded files created in a pre-2004 software version) in which to activate them.
After the specified period has lapsed, the Activation window will show you have 0 days left to activate your file. You need to activate the file immediately if you want to continue entering transactions. If you do not activate the file at this time, it will become read-only.
Do I need to activate a company file if I only want to view information?
No. You can open the file in read-only mode, which allows you to access the file and view all information, print reports and export data. Select the I only need to view information in this company file (Read-only access) option in the Activation window. You cannot add new data or make changes to a read-only file.
How many company files can I activate?
Can I de-activate a company file?
Yes. You might consider doing this if you have reach your company file activation limit and you need to activate another file. You can de-activate an old file that you no longer use instead of purchasing a licence extension for more company files.
Do I need to keep my confirmation code?
If you received your confirmation code by phone, you need to record it so you can enter it into your software. Once your company file has been activated or confirmed, you do not need to keep this code.
Should my accountant activate the company file?
No. An accountant or consultant can create a company file on you behalf and provide it to you. However, the accountant or consultant must not activate the company file using the serial number from their software version. Activation needs to be done using your software serial number.
File activation can be performed up to 90 days from the date the file was created, so there is plenty of time for your accountant to provide you with the file to activate yourself.
Which company files do I need to activate?
You can also defer company file activation by selecting the Activate Later option in the Activation window. The number of days you can defer activation is shown in the Activation window.
Where do I direct my questions regarding company file activation?
How do I confirm a company file?
After you activate your company file, you will be required to periodically confirm (usually once or twice a year) that you are the registered user of that company file. When confirmation is due, the Confirmation window will appear when you open the company file.
How often do I need to confirm my company file?
What happens if I don't confirm a company file within the required period?
If you don’t confirm the file within the time period allowed, the company file will become read-only. This means you can still view your business information, print reports and export data, but you won't be able to enter new transactions or make changes to information.
I have already activated my company file. Why am I being asked to activate again?
Once you have activated your company file, you should not be prompted to activate again. You should only be prompted to confirm an activated file. If you are prompted to activate a file again, you might be trying to open the wrong file (for example, a backup file instead of your current file).
I have already confirmed my company file. Why am I being asked to confirm again?
Once you have activated your company file, you should only be prompted to confirm it once or twice a year. If you are being frequently prompted to confirm a file, it may be for one of the following reasons:
You provide your company file to your bookeeper or accountant for them to enter transactions at end-of-period. They may be prompted to confirm the company file each time they open it and this could be several times in a short period.
If you confirm a company file too often, a confirmation limit can be reached and all your company files will become locked. If this occurs, you need to contact MYOB Support to resolve the issue.
Switch off automatic file confirmation so that you will know if you are being asked to confirm your file too often. This gives you a chance to deal with the problem before it occurs.
To ensure that non-registered users cannot backdate the computer’s system data to avoid the activation process, confirmation will be required for all company files that are opened after changing the computer’s system date.
Why isn’t my confirmation code working?
In the event you have written the code down incorrectly, you will need to get a new confirmation code. Close and re-open the file, then complete the full activation or confirmation process again.
Why am I receiving a connection error when I try to use the online activation or confirmation option?
Your firewall or internet settings may prevent you from accessing the activation and confirmation services online. You can either activate or confirm the file by phone, or you can obtain your confirmation codes via the my.MYOB website.
Go to my.myob.com.au and log in using your email address and my.MYOB password. Once you have logged in, click the Confirmation Code link and enter your serial number and company file code to obtain your confirmation code.
Why am I receiving a message saying that the company file cannot be confirmed?

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