FIXED: This product key cannot be used to extend the use of this product

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Microsoft Visual Studiois an essential suite for developers. Both for professionals and homeusers, as Microsoft is trying to encourage the development for their platform. However, someusershave had a strange problem with product activation. Namely, some of them who purchasedVisual Studiohasn’t been able to activate it with a functioningproduct key.

They were met with the “Thisproduct keycannot be used to extend the use of this product”error. If you’re in the group of affectedusers, check the steps below.

Visual Studio can’t be activated with your product key? Here’s what to do

Solution 1 – Change Visual Studio serial number with the Master Product key

Firstly, we suggest signing in with your officialaccountyou used to purchase the software. This seemingly fixed it for some. If that doesn’t help, check additional steps.

Now, this isn’t exactly legal to do, but it will work for some iterations ofVisual Studio. Microsoft providesuserswith the 90-days-long free trial. In addition, there seems to be a masterproduct keywhich should allow you to activate the product.

Of course, you’ll still need your purchasedproduct keylater on, but this will at least allow you to go over the product keyerror.

Follow these steps to try it out:

Even though this isn’t legal, as you already have the right key and have issues with it, this is a somewhat reasonable step to follow in order to activate the license.

Solution 2 – Integrate the product key into the setup.sdp file

Alternatively, instead of going for a product activation through the user interface, you can tweak the setup.sdp file and insert the masterproduct keythere. This should allow you to enter your personalproduct keylater on and fix the issue in a seamless manner.

Here’s how to insert the masterproduct keyin the installation setup file:

Solution 3 – Reinstall Visual Studio

Finally, if the master key workaround doesn’t work for you, we can only advise backing up everything and reinstallingVisual Studio. In addition, make sure to remove all previous versions ofVisual Studiofrom the system, as their presence might cause activation issues.

With that said, we can conclude this article. In case you have any alternative solutions or questions, feel free to tell us in the comments section below. Furthermore, contacting Microsoft support is a good idea, as they usually should be able to deal with the product activation issues on their respective software suits.

FIXED: This product key cannot be used to extend the use of this product#

Visual Studio can’t be activated with your product key? Here’s what to do#

Solution 1 – Change Visual Studio serial number with the Master Product key#

Solution 2 – Integrate the product key into the setup.sdp file#

Solution 3 – Reinstall Visual Studio#

FIXED: This product key cannot be used to extend the use of this product

Visual Studio can’t be activated with your product key? Here’s what to do

Solution 1 – Change Visual Studio serial number with the Master Product key

Solution 2 – Integrate the product key into the setup.sdp file

Solution 3 – Reinstall Visual Studio