Reviewing my account subscriptions on my computers shows Active and Other available subscriptions that say OVERUSED. They all show ‘X of Y devices used’ where X is greater than Y. Some are crazy: 148 of 10. Some subscriptions are valid until 2028. The same products are shown having multiple subscriptions, but all with the same activation key. Can someone explain what’s happening here?
I want to install Premium Security on a new computer, but am afraid that the activation code for something that is OVERUSED won’t be accepted. I’ve always bought Avast products from 3rd parties, so the Avast subscription history isn’t helpful. Thanks!
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First, I’m an Avast user and not an Avast Team member.
You don’t say what those 3rd parties resellers were ?
You could bring this up with them.
I know PC Pro, a UK Pc magazine sells Avast Premium and I haven’t heard anything about them not selling legit Avast Premium Subscriptions. There are no doubt others, but how to tell if what they are selling is legit.
If they aren’t authorised resellers for Avast (and I don’t know how to check that), they might be selling multiple subscriptions using a single code.
I don’t know if there is a list of authorised Avast Sellers available to the public.
In a nutshell, exactly what David said.
There are some legit and some dodgy re sellers out there and its difficult to tell which is which.
I bought from a new third party this year but looked at around 4 on ebay and amazon.
The one i picked was a 10 pc 3 year licence and the only one that came by post with a credit card licence with the code which also showed instructions with a link to the official avast download page. all the others were download code by email.
mine still shows as 3 used out of 10.
If yours is showing as 148 used out of 10 then that does sound like a dodgy code and your only contack would be the supplier of the code if said page still exists as ive checked the other 3 i looked at on amazon and ebay and none of them 3 pages exist anymore.
only way is to try the code on your new pc and hope for the best.
Appreciate the answers. While I don’t recall all the details, I’m pretty sure I procured these 3-device licenses on eBay. So yes, someone could be selling the same activation code over and over. Seems odd though that it would keep working once the limit was hit, which Avast seems to know per the OVERUSED tag. I’m just afraid that when I try to use this on my third device, something will kick in and the activation will be blocked. The new device has McAfee on it. Don’t want to remove that to find I can’t activate Avast. But doesn’t Avast come with a 30-day trial? This would give me time to address any failed activation. Note: Most of the Avast subscriptions on eBay now originate in the UK.
The 30 day trial is directly from Avast as far as I’m aware, you can’t use another subscription code for a 30 day trial.
To get the Avast product free trial you have to sign up to a payment mandate in order to get the trial. You have to cancel the trial and payment mandate before the end of the trial otherwise payment would be actioned. I would suggest not leaving it to the last minute to do that.
Personally I wouldn’t purchase Avast from eBay
Thanks. The plan would be to remove McAfee, then download and install Avast. If my current activation code doesn’t work, I’d still be protected for 30 days to get a new code. In the past I’ve activated downloaded versions with a code obtained separately.
Buying from eBay hasn’t been a problem, until now if there is a problem. Still curious though the Avast knows subscriptions are Overused, but doesn’t seem to lock people out from doing so.
Maybe it’s time to go back to Norton. I never had problems with their product, just their support, e.g. when I couldn’t use my license on the allowed 3rd device, Norton support “fixed it” by removing the 3rd device!
I’m not sure that you would.
I don’t know if you can just download the program and install it for 30 days. In order to get the 30 days trial you essentially have to complete the 30 day trial subscription and complete a payment mandate.
If you just installed Avast Premium I believe it would be asking/pestering you for your subscription code. Which as you said you used an existing one, if that is invalid you would be right back where you are with no 30 trial.
For me Avast Free has always met my requirements. Currently there is an issue reported in the forum about the inability to renew. A bug that Avast have yet to fix/resolve as is reported in the forum.
You do know that Norton, AVG and Avast are under the same company Gen Digital.
That’s how I’ve always loaded versions onto new devices. Download the “trial” version, then validate it with an existing license key purchased separately. If the key I have doesn’t work, I just purchase another one from a 3rd party. But I have 30 days to do so.
Thanks for the info on joint ownership.
You’re welcome.