A game, add-on or subscription key most often fails to activate for one of three reasons: the key's region doesn't match the account, the key has already been entered, or the code was copied with an error. Let's go through each one and what to do.
1. Key and account region
- PlayStation. The code works only in the store region the account is tied to. To check: “Settings → Users and Accounts → Account → Profile Info”. The region of an existing PSN account can't be changed.
- Xbox. The country of a Microsoft account can be changed in the profile once every three months, and any remaining balance is lost when you change it.
- Steam. Keys can have regional restrictions: “This product is not available in your region.” The Steam region is determined by the account's country and the network you sign in from. Changing your Steam country to a foreign one is risky: accounts are restricted for a mismatch.
2. The key has already been used
A key can be activated only once. If you're sure you're entering it for the first time, contact us and give your order number: we'll check with the supplier and replace it. Don't enter the key many times in a row; after a series of failed attempts, stores temporarily block code entry.
3. A mistake in the code itself
Copy the whole key, without spaces at the edges, and check for look-alike characters: O and 0, I and 1, B and 8. On PlayStation, codes are entered without hyphens; Microsoft codes have no letter O.
Key activation on your account
If the key is from another region and you don't want to change your account, or activation keeps failing, order “Key activation on your account”: a specialist will activate the key on your PSN, Xbox or Steam account, changing the store region if needed. The key itself is not included in the price; the service covers activation only. If the key has already been used or doesn't fit the account, we will tell you before activation. After activation, change your account password.
Subscription keys for ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity are activated differently, via the activation page from your order; common questions about them are collected in FAQ. PlayStation games without keys, added straight to your account, are bought in the section “PS Games”, details in the guide “How to buy a game on PS5 in Russia”.