How do I manually activate or update subscriptions?

Note: The instructions below assume that the user is on a computer with no Internet connection. If you have an Internet connection and are manually activating because online activation fails, then when instructed to save activation files to external media, you can save the files to the Desktop and email from the same computer instead.

Note: If running Sage 50 on a network, the steps in Sections 1 and 3 must occur at the server.

Section 1: Create the activation file

1. Open Sage 50.
2. Click Help.
3. Select Sage 50 Activation, Licensing, and Subscription Options (for initial activation) or Sage 50 Subscription Updates.
4. Select Activate Manually; if updating the subscription, select Manually.
   • If you do not get the prompt that gives you the options to Activate Online and Activate Manually, follow How to force the program to Activate again to get the Online/Manual Activation options prompt to display (this only applies to Activating Sage 50, not updating the subscription)
5. Click OK.
6. Select I need to start the process from the beginning.
7. Click Next.
8. Enter the required company information (denoted by asterisks).
9. Click Next.
10. Save the ActivationRequest.arq file to an external device, such as a USB memory stick, that you can take to another computer that has Internet.
11. Click Next.
12. Leave the window open and proceed to Section 2.

Section 2: Email activation file

1. Take the external media containing the ActivationRequest.arq file that you created in Section 1 to a computer that can send and receive e-mail.
2. Create a new e-mail and attach the ActivationRequest.arq file stored on the external media to the email.
3. Send the file to [email protected].
   Note: Subject line can remain blank.
4. You will receive a reply e-mail within 2 to 5 minutes, and should include an attached file named, Sage50Activation.sma.
5. Copy the Sage50Activation.sma file to an external media device such as a USB drive.
6. Remove the external media device and take it back to the computer that has Sage 50 installed.
7. Proceed to Section 3.

Section 3: Activate the product

1. On the computer that has Sage 50 installed, insert the media that contains the Sage50Activation.sma file.
2. Open Sage 50.
3. Click Help, Sage 50 Activation, Licensing and Subscription Options.
4. Select Manually.
5. Select I have the activation file that was e-mailed to me from Sage.
6. Click Next.
7. Click the Browse button and locate the Sage50Activation.sma file.
8. Once you have selected the file click Activate.
9. Click OK to complete the activation process.

Note: If, after the activation, you receive the error "Sage 50 has stopped working...", follow How to completely remove and reinstall Pervasive/Actian.