Battlefield 3, BOUGHT via Steam or EA app, Keeps Asking For A Product Key [ Edited ]

[SehriyeCorbasi31]

Recently, i bought BF3 on Steam. Then i entered the Battlelog via EA Play and invite my friend to coop but while it launches the game EA gives me an screen about entering the product key. I tried the look my product's key on Steam or EA-Play but i didn't see an option like that in both platforms. I tried launching game on Steam, EA Play, Directly shortcut but it gives me the same screen. What should i do? Thanks.

CM edit: edited title.

[EA_Leeuw · Accepted solution]

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Issue Resolved. Accepting as solution for visibility purposes.

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Hey everyone,

Just wanted to say a big thank you for keeping us updated on the issue.

Battlefield 3 via Steam and the License Key Error

The EA app dev teams have released a new update for the EA app. This update includes fixes that should solve the problem of Battlefield 3 via Steam asking for Product Keys when the game is launched via Steam.

We'd really appreciate it if you could check if your EA app is up to date (at the time of writing, the latest version is 13.55) or try manually updating it using the steps provided here. 

Battlefield 3 via EA app and the License Key Error

If you're playing Battlefield 3 via the EA app and you're also running into the License Key Error, please follow these steps:

1. Close/Exit the EA app.
   
   
2. Open Windows File Explorer and copy/paste* this 'url' into the address bar: C:\ProgramData\Electronic Arts\EA Services\License.
   
   
   1. *If you can't copy/paste this 'url', you can enable the "View hidden files and folders in Windows" option via these steps and navigate to the folder manually.
3. In the "License" folder, where you should be if you've followed the above-shared steps, delete all files that you can see*.
   
   
   1. *If you can't see any, please enable the "View hidden files and folders in Windows" option via these steps.
4. Open the EA app again and perform an App Recovery (clear cache).
   
   
5. Try to launch the game again, the game should now work.

If the problem persists, please keep following the steps below and report back to us in the thread. 

Thanks a bunch in advance!

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If you continue to experience the issue

If you continue to experience the issue, please provide the following details (please click on "Spoiler" to reveal the info):

Spoiler

• Windows version and build number (Press Windows keyboard button + R > Type “winver” (without the quotes), and press the Enter button on your keyboard),
  
  
• EA app version (EA app > Top-left Hamburger Menu > About),
  
  
• The region you're from,
  
  
• Are you using an internal or external drive to play your games?
  
  
• Are you using an HDD or SSD?
  
  
• Date this issue started (is it still happening?)?
  
  
• Other error(s)?
  
  
• If possible, share a screenshot of the Error Code or provide a recording of how exactly the Error Code presents itself (you can use YouTube or Streamable to share these),
  
  
• Please share a DxDiag,
  
  
• IMPORTANT:
• Please share an EA app Error Report ID. Steps can be found here on how to generate this ID.
  
  • If you cannot open the EA app, you can still generate an Error Report ID by following the steps mentioned underneath the section called "I can't open the EA app".
• Please share logs of the EA app, by either creating a .rar file of them and adding them to your post,
  • The EA app logs can be found in C:\ProgramData\EA Desktop\Logs & C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop\Logs.

None of the requested data contains any PII (Personal Identifiable Information).

This issue can be the result of a variety of root causes (please click on "Spoiler" to reveal the info):

Spoiler

• You are logged into the wrong, not Steam x EA app connected, EA account in the EA app,
  
  
• Your purchase didn't go as planned (please check this with Steam),
  
  
• If you redeemed a standalone code for the game that you got via a 3rd party site, it's possible that something is wrong with the code,
  • If that is the case, please get in touch with the store where you bought the code.
• You might have the trial of the game installed, resulting in this error,
  • You can check this by going to the Steam installation directory of the game > check if you see something along the lines of "...Trial.exe" and rename that file to "...OldTrial.exe".
• Check if your EA app is fully up to date,
  • You can manually check this by opening the EA app Updater program (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\EA).
• There is something wrong with the EA app cache, try to perform an EA app Recovery,
  
  
• Check if your Windows date/time is correct,
  
  
• Check if the game, Steam and the EA app are not being blocked by a VPN, Firewall, or other forms of Anti-Virus software,
  
  
• Make sure that if you have claimed the game via an EA Play subscription, your subscription hasn't expired.

[Slinky_SK]

I bought a battlefield 3 LE with PE add-on... after install i triend to play multiplayer and this EA as always have something wrong?! WHAT IS THIS?!

[SgtRothmans]

i just bought battlefield 3 on steam and it asks for a product key when i try to play it but i don't know where to find it, it should be in the origin app and i know how im supposed to access it but that's now the ea app and there doesn't seem to be a way to find it in there 

[EA_Darko]

Have you spoken with our live support in relation to this @SgtRothmans?

Darko

[SgtRothmans]

i think so but i haven't heard back 

[SgtRothmans]

@EA_Darko talked to live support and apparently steam are selling battlefield 3, an ea game, without permission of ea which is why they don't have activation codes

[EA_Darko]

If it is for sale there @SgtRothmans then it is because EA are selling it there.

Our live support team can help you with this, please speak with them again.

Darko 

[Caramel_Horse1]

I own BF3, have played it previously and had no problems until I was forced to change from the Origin app to the EA app.

When I try to enter a lobby an activation window pops up. When I click the button to enter my product key, the activation program thinks that my PC is offline for some reason.

Troubleshooting methods I have tried:
Updating drivers

Clearing the cache in the EA app

Reinstalling BF3

Reinstalling the EA app

Performing a clean boot of my PC

Performing a DNS flush

I've even tried redownloading the Origin app, starting the download on the EA app, closing the EA app and then continuing the download on the Origin app. Nothing has worked.

I went through 5 different customer service chats trying to fix this and none of them helped. One of them even changed some stuff on the back-end on my account but that didn't work.

I think the problem is because the activation program wants me to be on Origin, but since Origin is discontinued it thinks i'm just offline.

If anyone has a fix, please for the love of god tell me. I'm losing my mind.

[Caramel_Horse1]

Also just to clarify, BF3 is the only game where I have this problem. I can play BF1 with absolutely no problems from the same account and same app.

[Caramel_Horse1]

I knew it. The reason I couldn't play was because I wasn't on Origin.

* the EA app, Origin is terrible but at least it works.

Follow this guide to downgrade your Origin app and remove the window that demands you "upgrade" to the EA app. This way you can actually play your games:

https://twitter.com/p0358/status/1635796691902160896