Which activation option should I choose?

Applies to:

Users who activate a Nero subscription while the same product is already active in their Nero Account.

Why am I seeing this dialog?

You’re activating a product that is already available in your Nero Account.

Instead of automatically extending your existing subscription, Nero Start now lets you choose how you would like to use your new activation code.

You have two options:

Extend an existing subscription
Use on another device

Option 1: Extend an existing subscription

Choose this option if you want to extend your current subscription.

Your activation code will be added to one of your existing subscriptions, and the expiration date will be extended.

For example:

Current subscription:

Expires: July 10, 2026

After activation:

Expires: July 10, 2027

If your account contains multiple subscriptions for the same product, Nero Start selects the subscription that expires first by default. You can also select a different subscription by choosing Change subscription.

Best for:

You want to continue using the same subscription.
You don’t need another product license.
You want to extend your subscription period.

Option 2: Use on another device

Choose this option if you want to create a separate product license.

Your activation code will become a new subscription in your Nero Account instead of extending an existing one.

Since most Nero products are licensed for 1 PC per license, this option is useful if you want to use the product on another PC.

For example:

Your account currently contains:

Nero Platinum Suite (expires July 10, 2026)

After choosing Use on another device:

Nero Platinum Suite (expires July 10, 2026)
Nero Platinum Suite (expires July 10, 2027)

Each subscription can be used on its own licensed PC.

Best for:

You want to use Nero on another PC.
Another family member or colleague will use a separate license.
You don’t want to extend your current subscription.

Which option should I choose?

If you want to…	Choose…
Continue using the same license for a longer time	Extend an existing subscription
Create another license for a different PC	Use on another device

Can I change my choice later?

No.

Once the activation code has been used, the selected option cannot be changed.

Please review your choice carefully before selecting Activate Now.

Nero Start release notes v.29.5.9.0

What’s new in this version?

Nero Start introduces new ways to find the right tools, access your recent work, and manage your Nero products more easily.

Here’s what’s new and improved.

1. Get things done faster with Nero Quick Actions

Not sure which Nero app to use for a particular task? Nero Quick Actions helps you get started without searching through different applications.

You can start in two ways:

Drag and drop your files: Drop videos, photos, audio files, or other supported files into Quick Actions. Nero Start suggests relevant actions and applications.
Choose a task: Browse common tasks, such as burning discs, converting media, or working with AI tools, and select what you want to do.

Nero Start guides you to the appropriate application. If the required app isn’t installed or available with your current license, it can help you find installation or upgrade options.

Tip: Use Quick Actions when you know what you want to do but aren’t sure which Nero application to open.

2. Find apps and services more easily with the new navigation

Nero Start 2027 introduces Creative and Market sections to help you explore Nero’s tools and services.

Creative: Discover Nero’s AI-powered creative tools and online services.
Market: Browse Nero applications or products on other channels, and available VIP offers.

These sections make it easier to find what you need without browsing through unrelated applications or features.

3. Continue your work with Recently used

Need to reopen a project or file you’ve worked on before?

The improved Recently used section provides quick access to your recent projects and files directly from Nero Start.

Open Nero Start.
Find the Recently used section.
Select a recent project or file to open it in the corresponding application.

Tip: Recently used is especially helpful when you’re working on the same media project over multiple sessions.

4. Activate and extend your Nero products more smoothly

If you purchased a Nero product from an offline retailer and received an activation code, Nero Start 2027 makes activation easier, especially if your Nero Account already contains a subscription to the same product.

You can choose to activate the product for another device or extend your existing subscription. The improved process also helps you manage activation when you have multiple licenses for the same product.

5. Bug fixes and usability improvements

Nero Start 2027 also includes additional bug fixes and usability improvements for a smoother, more reliable experience.

Get started with Nero Start 2027

Explore Nero Quick Actions, check out the new Creative and Market sections, or open a recent project to try the improvements.

With Nero Start 2027, it’s easier to find the right tool and get back to what you were doing.

Get things done faster with Nero Quick Actions

What is Nero Quick Actions?

Nero Quick Actions helps you start common media tasks without first figuring out which Nero application to use.

Go to Nero Start > Quick Actions and either:

Drag and drop your files — Nero analyzes the file type and suggests suitable apps and actions.
Choose a task — select what you want to do, such as rip an audio CD, burn a disc, create a slideshow, or edit a video.

QuickStart then guides you to the right Nero application for the job.

Why use Quick Actions?

If you have several Nero applications installed, you may know what you want to do, but not necessarily which app you need.

Quick Actions makes this easier:

Start with your task, not the app — tell Nero what you want to do and let it find the right tool.
Save time — launch common tasks directly from Nero Start.
Discover what Nero can do — browse tasks by category and find useful features you may not have used before.
Get the right app — if a required Nero app is not installed yet, Nero Start can guide you to install it.

Start with your files

Already have the files you want to work with?

Open Nero Start > Quick actions.
Drag your video, audio, image, disc image, or supported project file into the Drag & drop files to start area.
Nero QuickStart checks your files and shows suitable actions.
Choose what you want to do.
Nero Start opens the appropriate Nero application so you can continue.

For example, drop a video file to quickly find options for editing, converting, playing, or enhancing it.

Start with a task in Quick Actions

You don’t need to add files first.

Under Popular tasks and Common tasks, simply select what you want to do.

You can browse categories such as:

Rip & Burn · Edit & Convert · Nero AI · Manage & Play · Backup & Optimize

Select a task such as Rip Audio CD, Burn Data Disc, Create slide show, or Edit Videos, and Nero Start will take you to the appropriate Nero application.

What if the required Nero app is not installed?

QuickStart can also recognize when the Nero application needed for a task is not currently installed.

In this case, Nero Start will guide you to install the required app before you continue.

If the required application is not included in your current Nero product, Nero Start may show you an available upgrade option.

Quick tip

You don’t need to remember which Nero application handles each file type or task.

Just start with your files or what you want to do — QuickStart helps you find the right way forward.

How to digitize your CD collection faster with Nero Burning ROM?

If you have a large collection of audio CDs, Nero Burning ROM can help you digitize them with fewer manual steps while keeping your music files organized.

With Collection Ripping and Custom File Naming, you can:

Automate repetitive steps — start ripping automatically, select Gracenote album information, and eject finished discs.
Step away while ripping — return when a disc is finished and you hear the sound notification.
Track ripping results — use session reports to review ripping status and errors.
Match your existing music library — customize file names using your preferred metadata fields, order, and separators.

1. How to start ripping an Audio CD

To get started, open Nero Burning ROM and access the Audio CD ripping feature using either of these methods:

Option 1: From the toolbar

Click Rip in the top toolbar.

Option 2: From the menu

Go to Extras > Rip Audio CD…

Both options open the Nero CD Ripper window, where you can configure Collection Ripping and Custom File Naming before digitizing your CDs.

2. Set up Collection Ripping for multiple CDs

Collection Ripping automates steps that previously required repeated clicks, including starting each rip, selecting Gracenote album information, and ejecting finished discs.

How to enable Collection Ripping

In the Nero CD Ripper window, switch to Settings, find Collection Ripping Behavior.
Enable Automatically start ripping after album and track information is ready.
Under When multiple CD info found, choose:
- Use best match automatically — Nero selects the best available Gracenote album information and starts ripping without asking.
- Ask me to choose — select the correct album information yourself when multiple matches are found.
Enable Auto-eject disc after ripping.
Enable Play a sound when the disc is finished.
Optionally, select a folder for the Session report to keep a record of ripping results and errors.

How does it work?

With automatic ripping, auto-eject, and sound notifications enabled:

Insert an audio CD. Nero retrieves the album and track information from Gracenote.
Ripping starts automatically when the information is ready. If multiple matches are found, Nero follows your selected matching preference.
You can step away while Nero processes the CD.
When finished, Nero ejects the disc and plays a notification sound.
Insert the next CD to continue.

You still need to change discs manually, but you no longer need to monitor the ripping process or repeatedly click Rip and Eject.

Tip: Choose Use best match automatically for fewer interruptions. If multiple album matches are found and you prefer to verify the information, select Ask me to choose.

3. Customize file names to match your music library

If you already have a digital music collection, you may want newly ripped files to follow the same naming conventions.

With Custom File Naming, you can define how metadata is combined in file names, rather than relying on preset formats or manually renaming files after ripping.

How to customize file naming

In the Nero CD Ripper window, switch to Settings, find the file naming settings.
Under File name format, select Custom…
Under Custom file name format, select the metadata fields you want, such as Artist, Album, Title, or Track Number.
Arrange the fields in your preferred order.
Under File name separator, choose a separator such as - or _, or select Custom… to enter your own.
Start ripping. Nero will apply your naming format to the output files.

Example: Match your existing file naming style

Suppose you’re ripping a track with this information:

Artist: Queen
Album: A Night at the Opera
Title: Bohemian Rhapsody
Track Number: 11

You can choose a format that matches your existing music library:

File naming format	Example output
Artist – Title	Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody.mp3
Track Number – Title	11 – Bohemian Rhapsody.mp3
Artist – Album – Title	Queen – A Night at the Opera – Bohemian Rhapsody.mp3
Artist_Album_Title	Queen_A Night at the Opera_Bohemian Rhapsody.mp3

You can combine metadata fields in different orders and use your preferred separators.

Tip: Configure file naming before ripping a large collection to keep your new files consistent with your existing library and avoid renaming them afterward.

Quick tip

For large CD collections, enable automatic ripping, auto-eject, and sound notifications together. This lets you step away during each rip and return when the next CD needs to be inserted.

Set your custom file naming format beforehand so the resulting files are organized consistently from the start.

Browse your media your way with Folder view

What is Folder view in Nero MediaHome?

Folder view gives you another way to browse your photos and videos in Nero MediaHome.

Instead of browsing only through the MediaHome Library, you can now view your media using the folder structure you already know from Windows.

Switch between:

Library — browse media organized by Nero MediaHome.
Folders — browse media using your existing folders and subfolders.

Both views work with the same media. You can switch between them anytime depending on how you want to find your photos or videos.

Why use Folder view?

Many people already organize their photos and videos into folders such as:

Photos > 2026 > Summer Vacation
Videos > Family > Birthdays

With Folder view, you don’t need to learn a different organization just to find them in Nero MediaHome.

It helps you:

Find media where you expect it — browse using your familiar Windows folder structure.
Keep your existing organization — there is no need to reorganize or move your files.
Switch browsing styles anytime — use Folders when you know where a file is, or Library when you want MediaHome to help you explore your collection.
Combine folders with smart media information — find files by folder first, then use MediaHome information such as Faces, Places and AI tags to explore related memories.

How do I browse my media by folder?

Open Nero MediaHome.
Go to My Photos or My Videos.
Select Folders instead of Library.
Browse through your folders and subfolders just as you would in Windows.
Select a folder to see the photos or videos it contains.

You can switch back to Library at any time.

Switching views does not move, rename, or reorganize your original files and folders.

How do Folders work with Faces, Places and AI Tags?

This is where Folder view becomes especially useful.

Your folder structure tells you where you stored your media, while Nero MediaHome’s smart information helps you find and explore media based on who or what is in it, and where it was taken.

For example, suppose you open:

Photos > 2026 > Summer Vacation

You can browse the photos exactly where you saved them, while Nero MediaHome can still use smart information such as:

Faces — find and organize photos by the people in them.
Places — explore photos based on where they were taken.
AI Tags — automatically identify content in your photos, making it easier to find images by subjects and objects.

This gives you complementary ways to find your media:

Folders: Where did I save it?
Faces: Who is in it?
Places: Where was it taken?
AI Tags: What is in it?

You don’t have to choose one way of organizing your media. Use them together depending on what you remember about the photo you’re looking for.

When should I use Library or Folders?

If you want to…	Use
Browse media using your existing Windows organization	Folders
Go directly to a folder you already know	Folders
Browse your media through MediaHome’s organization	Library
Explore memories by people or location	Faces / Places
Find related media when you don’t remember where it is stored	Library + Faces / Places

Quick tip

You don’t need to reorganize your media to take advantage of Nero MediaHome.

Keep the folder structure that already works for you, and use MediaHome’s Faces and Places when you want a smarter way to explore your collection.