Creating a Chief Architect Account

Reference Number: KB-02889
Last Modified: March 18, 2022

The information in this article applies to:

Home Designer Professional or Home Designer Architectural or HomeDesigner Suite



QUESTION

When I go to activate my Home Designer product, it is asking if I want to create a Chief Architect account. What is the purpose of a Chief Architect account?


ANSWER

A Chief Architect account gives you one central location to access the Support Center, Training Videos, Knowledge Base, 3D Library, the ability to manage your license, as well as options to download the Mac and Windows versions of the software.

If you purchased a Home Designer product directly from Chief Architect, Inc., a Chief Architect account was setup for your use. However, if you purchased a Home Designer product from a third party retailer, such as Amazon.com, Inc., then you may not have a Chief Architect account.

When you activate your software for the first time, and the product key is not linked to a Chief Architect account, you will be given the option to create one.

Without a Chief Architect account, you will not be able to remotely manage your license to switch to a new computer. 


To create a Chief Architect account

  1. In the Product Activation dialog, type in the product key and click the Activate button.

    Product Activation dialog where your 20 character product key is entered

    If the Activate button remains grey, verify that the product key is entered correctly and that the correct product version is installed. If you have trouble locating your product key, please see the Related Articles section below.


  2. After successfully activating the software, a prompt to create a Chief Architect account will display. Click on the Create Account button.

    Create a Chief Architect Account by selecting the Create Account button


  3. On the Create Account web page that opens next, type in your e-mail address and click on Submit.

    Enter a valid e-mail address and click Submit on the Create Account web page


  4. Next you will receive an e-mail requesting that you activate your account. Login to your e-mail account, find the Chief Architect e-mail and click on the Activate My Account button.

    Select the Activate My Account button in the Chief Architect e-mail

    Note: This is an automated e-mail. The subject of this e-mail will be titled 'Your New Chief Architect Account' and will be sent from the e-mail address: CustomerService@chiefarchitect.com

  5. The next web page will ask you to create a password. Once a password is entered and confirmed, click on the Activate My Account button.

    Enter your desired password and click Activate My Account on the Choose a Password web page


  6. On the Claim Product Key web page, verify that the product key is correct, then click Submit.

    Enter your product key and click Submit on the Claim Product Key web page to add the license to your newly created Chief Architect account


  7. The Digital Locker will now display the product key and contain a link to manage your license, as well as options to download the Mac or Windows versions of the software.

If you receive any error messages during account creation or when attempting to add your product to your Chief Architect account, please contact Customer Service for further assistance.


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