This article provides easy-to-follow instructions for activating your new Bitdefender subscription. Bitdefender offers two options to choose from: you can either click on the activation link provided in the purchase email you receive after placing an online order or manually enter the activation code from the email or retail box. Automatic activation only happens in specific situations, which we will explain in more detail below.
Video tutorial – How to Activate your Bitdefender Subscription
Please use one of these activation methods:
Activating Your New Subscription via Email Link
1. Open the confirmation e-mail sent by Bitdefender upon completion of the online payment and click on ACTIVATE IN CENTRAL.See the image below for reference.
2. Once you click the ACTIVATE IN CENTRAL button, your browser will open and direct you to Bitdefender Central, where your subscription will be instantly activated after you log in.
- If you don’t already have a Bitdefender account, please create one. If you need more details, please refer to the article –
3. If prompted, choose how you would like to use the code, and then press the CONFIRM ACTIVATION button.
For instance, you can decide to add a separate subscription or extend the current one. The latter option is only available if one of your current subscriptions is identical to the new one you are trying to add.
The subscription is now active in your Bitdefender Central account! If you have further questions about the activation process, check out the FAQ below.
Activating Bitdefender with an Activation Code
This section covers manual activation. Manual activation means that you can use the one-time code from the purchase e-mail or retail box to activate your subscription, as follows:
1. Go tohttps://central.bitdefender.comand sign in to your Bitdefender Central account.
If you don’t have an account, choose to create one. For more information, read –
2. Ifyou don’t have any active subscriptions in your Bitdefender Central account, as soon as you sign in you will be prompted to either activate your new subscription or to buy Bitdefender. Click ACTIVATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION.
If another subscription is already active in your Central account, access the My Subscriptions panel located on the left side of the page. Next, click +Activate with code.
3. Enter the new activation code you received via email or from the retailer.
- If you bought Bitdefender directly from the Bitdefender website, enter the activation code found in the confirmation email you received after your purchase. This code can be located beneath the section that reads “Want to use your activation code instead?” In the reference image provided below, you can see the code labeled as IOTESTCODE.
- On the other hand, if you purchased Bitdefender from a physical retail store, you’ll find the activation code printed on a card inside the box that the Bitdefender software came in.
ⓘ Note: The e-mail is received only upon purchase. If you already activated this code and your Bitdefender product expired, visit www.bitdefender.com/solutions to purchase a new one.
4. ClickACTIVATE to continue.
5. Choose how you would like to use the code, and then press the CONFIRM ACTIVATION button.
For instance, you can choose to add a separate subscription or to extend the current one. The latter option is only available if one of your current subscriptions is identical to the new one you are trying to add.
The subscription is now active in your Bitdefender Central account! If you have further questions about the activation process, check out the FAQ below.
Auto-Activation of a Bitdefender Subscription - for recurring customers *
* Exclusive to recurring Bitdefender purchases processed by 2Checkout.
How does auto-activation work?
When you make a purchase through the Bitdefender website, the activation takes place immediately after completing the transaction. No further steps or actions are required on your part. Automatic activation is available only for current Bitdefender users who meet the following conditions:
- You have bought Bitdefender from our website before.
- You have previously activated a Bitdefender subscription in the same Bitdefender Central account.
- Your previous Bitdefender subscription is still valid.
If the new acquisition matches the name and seat number of a product already active in your Central account (e.g. both Bitdefender Total Security, 5 users) then the old subscription will be extended automatically. Otherwise, the new subscription is activated and added in parallel.
How do I know my subscription was automatically activated?
When the subscription activates itself automatically, customers receive a separate email, similar to the one below, informing them that the subscription has been automatically activated and associated with their Bitdefender Central account.
As a result, if a Bitdefender subscription is activated automatically, and you attempt to activate it using one of the activation methods described above, you will be prompted with the message “Your subscription is already active”.
For further questions about the activation process, check out the FAQ below.
Frequently asked questions
When does my subscription start?
Your Bitdefender subscription starts as soon as you make the purchase. The countdown begins immediately after you buy the code from our online store at www.bitdefender.com, even if you haven’t redeemed it in your Bitdefender Central account yet. So, the subscription starts on the day you place the order, not on the day you activate the code in Bitdefender Central.
How can I tell if my new subscription was correctly activated?
You can check your subscription status and the expiration date of any subscription activated so far in your Bitdefender Central account. Open the My Subscriptions panel to find out if your new Bitdefender subscription was successfully activated.
Do I need the activation code each time I install Bitdefender?
No. Bitdefender codes only need to be activated once and may only be activated in one Bitdefender Central account. Once the subscription is active, the activation code is no longer needed in the (re)installation process, as all installations are managed directly from your Bitdefender Central account.
I renewed my Bitdefender subscription, but the product expired
If you purchased a subscription and the new validity is not reflected in the installed product, just log out and log back in again to your Central account using the Switch Account button (see the image below for reference).That should refresh your Bitdefender account and allow you to use the renewed subscription.
How do I install Bitdefender on my devices?
You don’t need to reinstall Bitdefender on devices that are already protected.
If you’ve already activated the subscription and need help with the installation process on a new device, check out these articles:
How to install Bitdefender on Windows | on Mac | on Android | on iOS
If I install Bitdefender on a virtual machine, will it use up one of the seats from my subscription?
Yes, if you install Bitdefender on a virtual machine, it will use up a seatfrom your subscription.
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