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Summary
SPSS should prompt for a choice of activation method when it finishes installing or the first time you launch SPSS. Please read the following carefully to choose the correct option and the steps to take to activate SPSS.
There are two licensing options for SPSS: the network concurrent license server and the personal license code. We recommend the network concurrent license server for people who are able to be online when using SPSS, and who are able to also be on VPN if using SPSS off-campus. If someone is not able to be online when using SPSS, or cannot be on the VPN when using SPSS off-campus, they can request a personal license code instead. This article provides detailed instructions on activating your installed SPSS software using either the network concurrent license server or the personal license code.
Important for Mac Users: If you upgrade to
MacOS Sonoma (version 14), SPSS will not open. SPSS will allow you to license it, but it will not let you actually run the software. Please see
SPSS: Fixing MacOS Sonoma "Server Login" Error to apply a fix for this issue
after you complete the licensing steps below.
How-To
Task: To activate SPSS using the network concurrent license server
Note: If you cannot be online when using SPSS or if you cannot connect to VPN when off-campus, we recommend requesting a personal license code.
You will setup your computer to check in with a central license server on the network to obtain a license each time the program runs. This means that whenever you use SPSS, you must be online on campus or connected to the VPN. Once this is set up, though, you will never have to modify the configuration again for this version of SPSS. There are unlimited licenses available from the license server so you will never have to wait for a license to be available.
For computer labs or other situations where computers are on the campus network permanently, this is the only solution that is supported.
Instructions
If activating during installation:
Step 1 - Choose "Launch License Wizard."
Step 2 - Choose "Concurrent user license".
Step 3 - Enter academic.unh.edu and click "Finish".
Step 4 - Restart the application.
Step 5 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS
If activating after installation:
Step 1 - If not already licensed or did not activate during install, launch SPSS which will say that "No License exists for IBM SPSS or the license has expired."
Step 2 - A dialogue box will appear. Click "Launch License Wizard". You may have to have local administrative privileges to perform this step.
Step 3 - When prompted, select the Concurrent user license option and click Next.
Step 4 - Enter academic.unh.edu as the License Manager server name or IP address and continue through the rest of the tool, clicking "Finish" at the end.
Step 5 - You will be asked to restart SPSS to apply the license. Click "Restart" to restart the application.
Step 6 - At this point, SPSS will check in with our license server each time you launch the program. You must be connected to the VPN before you launch SPSS.
Step 7 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS
Outcome
You have successfully activated SPSS through the network concurrent license server. You must be connected to the VPN before you launch SPSS when using it in the future.
Note for Mac Users: If you upgrade to
MacOS Sonoma (version 14), SPSS will not open. SPSS will allow you to license it, but it will not let you actually run the software. Please see
SPSS: Fixing MacOS Sonoma "Server Login" Error to apply a fix for this issue
after you have completed the licensing steps above.
Back to top
Task: To activate SPSS using the personal license code
If you are a graduate student, undergraduate student, or anyone else who cannot be online when using SPSS or cannot connect to VPN when off-campus, you may request a personal license code for SPSS.
First, submit an Academic Software Applications Request to ask for your license. In addition to the usual fields, type SPSS in the Application field and detail why you need a personal license code in the Description field. Your request will be reviewed and someone will follow up with further instructions.
After your request has been completed and you have received your personal license code, then you can activate SPSS with these instructions:
Instructions
Step 1 - You will need to have an active Internet connection during the activation process. Be sure you are connected to the Internet.
Step 2 - If not already running, launch the SPSS License Authorization Wizard tool:
- If SPSS is not yet activated, run SPSS and click on the "Launch License Wizard" button on the Activate IBM SPSS Statistics pop up dialog box.
- If SPSS is activated already, open SPSS, click "File", "Manage License", and then "Launch License Wizard".
Step 3 - Proceed through it, clicking Next.
Step 4 - When prompted, select the Authorized user license option and click Next.
Step 5 - Copy/paste the activation code from the form into the Enter code: field and click Next.
Step 6 - Continue through the rest of the tool to activate SPSS.
Step 7 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS
Outcome
You have successfully activated SPSS with personal license code.
Note for Mac Users: If you upgrade to
MacOS Sonoma (version 14), SPSS will not open. SPSS will allow you to license it, but it will not let you actually run the software. Please see
SPSS: Fixing MacOS Sonoma "Server Login" Error to apply a fix for this issue
after you have completed the licensing steps above.
Back to top
Further Readings
Academic Software Applications Request
SPSS: Installing on Windows
SPSS: Installing on MacOS
SPSS: Fixing MacOS Sonoma "Server Login" Error
SPSS: Using SPSS
Need additional help?
Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.