How to Register Your Software

As part of our efforts to modernize the Tableau experience on campus, we have activated login-based license management (LBLM) on the Tableau server. This means you will no longer need to acquire a code to activate Tableau Desktop or Tableau Prep. Instead, you will be required to connect to the Tableau server to ensure you have an active license.

If you have a current, active Tableau license, you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Open Tableau Desktop
  2. Navigate to the Server menu and be sure you are logged into the UM site. The menu should read: “tableau.dsc.umich.edu (UM)”. If it does not say 'UM' as the site, you will need to change sites.
  3. Navigate to the Help menu.
  4. In the Help menu, choose Manage Product Keys.
  5. In the Manage Product Keys window, choose Activate.
  6. On the Activate Key window, select Activate by Signing into a Server.
  7. When prompted for a server path, enter the following URL: https://tableau.dsc.umich.edu/
  8. When prompted to log in to the server, enter your full university email address, <uniqname>@umich.edu. The '@umich.edu' IS required.
  9. You will be prompted to authenticate using Okta. Do so.
  10. If prompted again, choose the UM site.
  11. Please allow a few minutes for the process to complete. Some users report the blank window remains after a few minutes.  If this occurs, close the blank window.
  12. To verify completion the Manage Product Keys window will appear again. Within it, you should see a license named “Tableau Creator” with an expiration date in 2029.   Note: This does not mean your current license will last until 2029.  An annual license purchase IS required.

If you have purchased a new Tableau license or your license is expired, you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Run Tableau Desktop setup.
  2. The Activate Tableau screen will include a prompt screen to activate a license.  Select "Activate by Signing into a Server."
  3. When prompted for a server path, enter the following URL: https://tableau.dsc.umich.edu/
  4. When prompted to log in to the server, enter your full university email address, <uniqname>@umich.edu. The '@umich.edu' IS required.
  5. You will be prompted to authenticate using Okta. Do so.
  6. If prompted again, choose the UM site.
  7. Please allow a few minutes for the process to complete. Some users report the blank window remains after a few minutes.  If this occurs, close the blank window.
  8. To verify completion the Manage Product Keys window will appear again. Within it, you should see a license named “Tableau Creator” with an expiration date in 2029.   Note: This does not mean your current license will last until 2029.  An annual license purchase IS required.