Windows SPSS 28 and 29
License or renew license
SPSS licensing must be completed after the installation of SPSS software and again annually for license renewal (licenses expire each year in June). This licensing authorization process will attach an individual license to your computer’s installed copy of SPSS. When you installed SPSS, you read and agreed to the terms of the license.
A 20-character authorization code is required for licensing. This code is emailed to your VCU address when you perform the steps at Download/Renew-Register.
To license SPSS using this code, follow the licensing steps listed below. You must have an Internet connection. A wired connection (one that uses an Ethernet cable) is preferred, as licensing may fail with a wireless connection. If licensing does fail, please see Licensing Failure below.
After licensing has been completed, and again every few weeks, you are strongly urged to visit SPSS Updates to see if any Fix Packs are available to be installed for Windows SPSS 28. Fix Packs correct bugs and other SPSS software issues and are released by IBM tech support as such issues become known.
Licensing Steps
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If you have just finished installing SPSS 28 and the License Authorization Wizard has just been launched, please proceed to step 2 below.
Otherwise, begin by launching, or attempting to launch, the IBM SPSS Statistics 28 software from your Windows Start menu.
- If SPSS 28 fails to launch, the activation screen shown below (or a similar screen) will display. Click the Launch License Wizard button in the that screen, then proceed to step 2 below.
- But if SPSS 28 launches successfully, then from menus within SPSS 28, select File / Manage License. A Manage License screen will display (not shown here). Click the Launch License Wizard button in the that screen.
- If SPSS 28 fails to launch, the activation screen shown below (or a similar screen) will display. Click the Launch License Wizard button in the that screen, then proceed to step 2 below.
- Within the license wizard, proceed through the License Status screen, if it is displayed.
- Continue to the Product Authorization screen and select “Authorized user license”, as shown here.
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Proceed to the Enter Codes screen. In the Enter Code box, input the SPSS authorization code found in the installation or renewal email that was sent to your VCU account.
Then click Add.
Then click Next.
- Continue to the Internet Authorization Status screen and wait for the “Authorization succeeded” message.
- If you instead receive an “Authorization failed” message, DO NOT PROCEED beyond this screen. Exit the license wizard now (click Cancel) and follow the steps in Licensing Failure below to obtain assistance from the IT Support Center.
- Continue to display the Licensing Completed message and select “Finish.” (If this was the initial licensing of IBM SPSS Statistics 28, the software will now launch and open on your Desktop.)
- After licensing has been completed, and again every few weeks, you are strongly urged to visit SPSS Updates to see if any Fix Packs are available to be installed for Windows SPSS 28. Fix Packs correct bugs and other SPSS software issues and are released by IBM tech support as such issues become known.
Licensing Failure
If you have re-attempted to license and repeatedly received an “Authorization failed” message, follow these steps to obtain licensing assistance from the VCU IT Support Center:
- Launch the License Authorization Wizard and proceed to the Product Authorization screen, as shown here.
- Do not proceed beyond this screen. Note the lock code displayed on this screen (for example, 4-2B7E2). Copy or write down that code.
- Exit the License Authorization Wizard (click Cancel).
- Send an email to itsc@vcu.edu describing your licensing problems, and include that exact lock code in your message. Make the subject of your email “Problem licensing Windows SPSS 28.”
This article was updated: 04/11/2023