Sadly, all activation codes have an expiration date, which is on the activation card inside the box, and it is typically about 2 years from the initial release date of that “year” version. The only exception is/was the ones issued with the first 2018 subscription packages, which have/had no expiration.
Subscription codes are good for 2 years from when they are created. So a code from 2020 is almost certainly not going to be useable in 2023 & I wouldn't spend any money on one.
And, from my experience, tech support isn't very sympathetic to extending your subscription with an expired code. In my case, this was also back in the day when there was NO MENTION AT ALL on the packaging or the key card that the code had an expiration date. I complained that it was unfair that they would enforce an expiration date when no mention of one was ever made. They threw me a bone by extending my subscription by a month, but I was SOL.
Why don't they put an expiration date on the card??!?!?
Actually, they should put it on the box, so people would know before purchasing and opening the shrink wrap if the code inside has expired. If they can put a "sell by" date on a box of cereal, then they could certainly do the same on a box of software. Why don't they? No one knows! I'd guess because it would cost more to manufacture the boxes to do so. I'd think their customer support people waste a lot of time with annoyed customers who have purchased a box with a code that doesn't validate.
In any case, glad to hear it worked for you. 😀
