I have used Sibelius since Version 1 and have upgraded over the years through all the various platforms - even moving to the annual subscription, which I have recently paid, and ensuring that I have the full version with all upgrades as they come on stream. I have just received an email saying that despite my up-to-date subscription my platform will be downgraded to Sibelius First and will no longer enjoy the benefits of the full programme. What have I been paying for? I now find that despite my loyalty I am now being offered a inferior platform. Another money spinner for Avid?
Sorry to hear of the confusion. I've checked your account and you don't have a subscription at all but a perpetual license of Sibelius. This means you'll always have Sibelius Ultimate and won't ever be down-graded. The software update and support plan is also valid for a long while so you have access to the latest update we've just released.
The email you received doesn't sound right either. Can you forward it to me so I can check it out?
I am having the same issue - I own a perpetual license of Sibelius. When I try to open Sibelius Ultimate after updating, it gives me a window (image attached) telling me that I cannot use my copy of Sibelius until I renew my subscription (a hefty price for a poor college student). What happened to "Buy it once and own it forever"?
This is getting me worried. I paid for the 3 year upgrade plan. Although I still use 6.2, I hope I can access the FULL Sibelius if and when I want/need to.
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Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 17R Windows 8.1 16GB Ram
Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 9400 Windows XP 2GB Ram
Sibelius7 for Acorn Risc PC 700
> This is getting me worried. I paid for the 3 year upgrade plan. Although I still use 6.2, I hope I can access the FULL Sibelius if and when I want/need to.
>
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> Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 17R Windows 8.1 16GB Ram
> Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 9400 Windows XP 2GB Ram
> Sibelius7 for Acorn Risc PC 700
Hi @Howard,
Yes! Upon checking, you currently have Sibelius | Ultimate (full version) in your My Avid Account. If ever you encounter issues with the downloads, please let us know right away.
> I am having the same issue - I own a perpetual license of Sibelius. When I try to open Sibelius Ultimate after updating, it gives me a window (image attached) telling me that I cannot use my copy of Sibelius until I renew my subscription (a hefty price for a poor college student). What happened to "Buy it once and own it forever"?
Hi @ shawns858,
Have you tried performing the license reset fix to get rid of this message?
If you haven't, please follow the steps below for a fix. If the problem persists, please let us know right away so that we could create a case for you.
- Right-click on the task bar > Task Manager > Processes
- Select the AvidApplicationManager.exe then click on "End Task"
- Select the AvidAppManHelper.exe then click on "End Task"
- On your keyboard, press the [Windows Key] + [R]
- type %programdata% then press [Enter].
- Go to Avid > Licenses
- Then delete the whole 'Licenses' Folder
- After that go back to Avid > Common
- On the window that opens, delete all files inside the Common folder.
- Empty the Recycling Bin, then restart the computer.
Many thanks Ingrid for your quick reply.
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Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 17R Windows 8.1 16GB Ram
Sib 6.2 Dell Inspiron 9400 Windows XP 2GB Ram
Sibelius7 for Acorn Risc PC 700
We need to be careful to understand the specific meaning of words that are used by Avid. A "subscription" is used to describe a version of Sibelius that is not full owned. You do not make a big payment up-front. You pay monthly or annually and you can use it as long as your subscription is active, and you have paid to get all updates during the subscription period. When the subscription runs out you can no longer use that version of Sibelius(Ultimate). You can start another subscription at any time and start again.
If you have a perpetual license, which is what we all used to have, you can use that version of Sibelius indefinitely. If you have a software update and support plan, you get all updates for the duration of that plan.
If you do not have a software update and support plan, or do not renew one that has run out, you can still use the version of Sibelius you were using, but you are not eligible for updates.
At the moment, if you need to renew an active support plan, it will cost $89 USD. If you go out of support and want to get back on it will cost $199 USD, which is really not bad, especially compared to what it has cost earlier.
But the main point is that if you have a subscription you do not have a perpetual license, and it will stop working when the subscription runs out.
I am having this problem too. My Avid account shows "Perpetual Product". I clicked the upgrade only because my Avid Application Manager prompted me. I certainly would not have clicked if I had known it would require me to pay an additional $390CAD/year to use the product I've already paid for. I have been using Sibelius 8.5 without a support plan since April of last year (2017). I am on a Mac, I tried to download and reinstall Sibelius 8.5, but it stalls on the Verifying "Install Sibelius" popup.
I don't have time for this. How do I remedy this quickly and continue using the product I've paid for?
I purchased my original version of Sibelius years and years ago for whatever it cost. Then in 2012, I paid £128.88 for a 7.1.2 upgrade. When orange juice was spilt over my computer and almost everything was wiped off my hard drive, I was unable to download Sibelius 7 on my new computer. Instead, I have a choice between Sibelius First (which is way inferior to Sibelius 7) and paying a new subscription for Sibelius Ultimate. Why do I have to pay all over again to have access to Sibelius which is not inferior to Sibelius 7?
> Also, when I go to My Aviv, and my products - it shows only Sibelius First.
> No sign of the previous version of Sibelius or upgrade which I purchased.
You probably purchased your original Sibelius long ago before My Avid existed, and possibly even under a different identity.
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Sibelius 2018.7/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 8.8.2, Dolet 6.6 for Sibelius, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book.
It was with a different email address. My upgrade was paid to Avid Technologies - actually in December 2011. I have the System ID and Activation ID for my original Sibelius subscription..
> I was unable to download Sibelius 7 on my new computer.
Why not? Sibelius 7 still works.
> and paying a new subscription for Sibelius Ultimate.
> Why do I have to pay all over again
Since you already have a perpetual licence for Sibelius 7.1, you do not need a "new" anything. All you need to do is purchase the upgrade to the latest version (which is now called Sibelius Ultimate, version 2018.7)
Hi. I am having the same problem. I have switched to a new computer, and I cannot find any download files or options for the full version of Sibelius 7, only "updates" on their Legacy Sibelius Software-site. It also seems like the Sibelius-team Ingird and Sam have stopped answering this post. Is it really so that I don't have the option anymore to use the original Sibelius 7 at all, and that I now HAVE to pay to purchase Sibelius Ultimate (which is now €69.99)?
Depending on the version of operating system on your new computer (which you have not told us), then Sibelius 7 might not work correctly, or might not be capable of being activated. Please check these possibilities before investing in trying to use Sibelius 7 on a new computer.
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Sibelius 2021.2/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book.
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