Guide to Activating Bitdefender on Multiple Devices via Bitdefender Central

If you have ever wondered how to activate Bitdefender on multiple devices, you are not alone. When I first purchased my Bitdefender Total Security subscription, I was excited to use it across all my devices my laptop, smartphone, and even my family’s devices.
However, I quickly realized that I needed to understand Bitdefender Central, the online platform that manages all your devices under one subscription.

In this blog, I will share my step-by-step experience activating Bitdefender on multiple devices, along with a few tips and tricks I picked up along the way. Whether you are a first-time Bitdefender user or just want a refresher, this guide will help you through the process.

When I first got my subscription, the first thing I did was set up a Bitdefender Central account:

1. I visited central.bitdefender.com.

2. I clicked Create Account and filled out the form with my email and password.

3. After confirming my email, I logged into Bitdefender Central.

Tip: Make sure to use the same email that you used to purchase your subscription. This ensures that your license is automatically linked to your account.

Now comes the part many users ask about: activating Bitdefender on multiple devices.

Here is how I did it for my smartphone and my spouse’s laptop:

1. On Bitdefender Central, I clicked + Install Protection again.

2. This time, I chose Protect other devices.

3. Bitdefender gave me the option to send an installation link via email.

4. I sent the link to my spouse’s email and to my own phone email address.

5. On each device, I opened the link and followed the installation process.

6. After installation, each device appeared in My Devices on Bitdefender Central.

Tip: You can activate Bitdefender on as many devices as your subscription allows. For example, a Bitdefender Total Security 5 Devices plan allows you to protect up to 5 devices.

Like any tech process, I ran into a couple of small issues:

Activation Code Already Used

I initially tried to enter my activation code again on my spouse’s device. But I learned that you only need to activate the code once in Bitdefender Central.
After that, you simply use the install links for additional devices.

Installation Link Expired: One of my emails was delayed, and the installation link had expired. I just resent a new link from Bitdefender Central.

Device Not Showing as Protected: On one device, I had to log in manually to the Bitdefender app with my Central account to link it properly.