Your Nero software includes certain features that require the activation of a third party patent. The activation of these patents is easy and free of charge. If you choose to activate the patent at a later time, you can still use the respective features, but you will receive periodic reminders that activation needs to occur within 30 days of your initial use of the product. After this 30-day period you must activate the patent technology before you can continue using the corresponding features.

Please check the following points if Nero does not accept your serial number:

• Make sure that the latest update of your Nero version is installed.


• Make sure that you're not having any typing errors.


• Make sure that the correct Nero version is installed on your PC.

You cannot install Nero 9 using a Nero 8 serial number. Nero serial numbers are structured as follows:
Nero 9/Nero Move it/Nero BackItUp 4/Nero MediaHome 4: 9Mxx-xxxx-xxxx-… or 2Mxx-xxxx-xxxx-…
Nero 8: 1K2x-xxxx-xxxx-… or 2K2x-xxxx-xxxx-…
Nero 7: 1Cxx-xxxx-xxxx-… or 4Cxx-xxxx-xxxx-…
Nero 6: 1Axx-xxxx-xxxx-…
Nero 5: 15xx-xxxx-xxxx-…

If Nero does not accept your Nero serial number, please contact our Customer Service team providing your Nero serial number as well as a proof of purchase.

Unfortunately, your license for Nero only allows you to use the Nero suite on one PC at a time. This message most likely indicates that you are attempting to use your Nero-licensed product on more than one PC. Please follow the dialog box in the activation window in order to obtain an additional license for your Nero software at a special discount price.

I have purchased a Nero 8 serial number
Enter your serial number as follows:
Launch Nero StartSmart and open Nero ControlCenter.
To do so, double-click the Nero StartSmart icon on your desktop.
• Nero StartSmart will open.
Click the Nero StartSmart icon in the left corner at the bottom and select Toolbox – Nero ControlCenter.
Nero ControlCenter will open.
If you do not have a shortcut to Nero StartSmart on your desktop, open Nero StartSmart as follows:
Click Start to open the Windows start menu.
Then select All Programs -Nero 8- Nero ToolKit – Nero ControlCenter.
• Nero Control Center will open.
Click the Licence icon on the left side and then the Add button.
• The Nero ControlCenter window will open.
Enter your Nero 8 serial number into the input field and click the Add button.
• The Nero trial version is changed into the full version of Nero 8.

I have purchased a Nero 7 serial number
Enter your serial number as follows:
Launch Nero StartSmart.
To do so, double-click the Nero StartSmart icon on your desktop.
If you do not have a shortcut to Nero StartSmart on your desktop, open Nero StartSmart as follows:
Click Start in the Windows® Start menu.
Then select Programs-Nero 7 Premium-Nero StartSmart
• Nero StartSmart will open.
Click the "Nero" logo in the upper left corner of the Nero StartSmart window.
• The Nero ProductSetup will open.
Click the Licence icon on the left side and then the Add button.
• The Nero ProductSetup window will open.
Enter your Nero 7 serial number into the input field and click the Add button.
• Your Nero trial version is changed into the full version of Nero 7.

I have purchased a Nero 6 serial number
Enter your serial number as follows:
Launch Nero StartSmart.
To do so, double-click the Nero StartSmart icon on your desktop.
If you do not have a shortcut to Nero StartSmart on your desktop, open Nero StartSmart as follows:
Click Start to open Windows® Start menu.
Then select Programs-Nero 6 – Nero StartSmart.
Nero StartSmart will open.
Click the Nero logo in the upper left corner of the Nero StartSmart window.
Nero ProductCenter will open.
Click the Serial Number tab to see the entered serial number.
The entered serial number is displayed.
Please delete the present Nero serial number using the red sign beside it, and add your personal serial number by clicking the Add button.
The Nero trial version is changed into the full version of Nero 6.

OEM represents "Original Equipment Manufacturer". These versions are normally sold to customers with bundled hardware like recorders or pc systems. The sale of these versions without the hardware (recorders, pc systems etc.) is allowed in Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and China. It is not allowed to sell these versions without the related hardware in all other countries. Nero 7 and Nero 8 Essentials are OEM versions whith limited functionality. Customers who have purchased an OEM or Essentials version can buy additional plug-ins or upgrade to the full version of Nero 8.