Activating a License
How to activate your license on a device or domain.
Activation binds a license to a specific device or domain. Once activated, the software product can validate the license to confirm you're entitled to use it.
How Activation Works
When the software checks your license, it sends your license key plus an identity value to the platform. The identity value depends on the product's protection profile:
| Profile | Identity Value | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
hardware | 64-char hex hardware fingerprint | Tied to your device |
hostname | Domain or FQDN | Tied to the server/site where the software runs |
none | Fixed sentinel | No binding; license is consumed on first use |
Activation Methods
Native Applications
For desktop or mobile apps, activation typically requires a hardware ID (HWID). The app generates a unique fingerprint of your device and sends it along with your license key to the activation endpoint. If the license allows it, the device is registered and the app receives a signed activation token.
Web Applications
For web-based products, activation is tied to a hostname or domain. When the software checks your license, it includes the domain where it's running. Each unique normalized domain consumes one activation seat.
Key-Only Licenses (none)
Some products use the none protection profile, which means no device or domain binding. The first successful check consumes the license. After that, the license cannot be used again, even from the same device.
Activation Limits
Each license has a maximum number of allowed activations, configured by the seller. You can view your current activation count and remaining slots from your dashboard. If you've reached the limit, you'll need to deactivate an existing device before activating a new one.
Offline Activation
If the product supports offline mode, you can activate without an internet connection by using a pre-generated activation file provided by the seller. The license detail page also shows the offline grace period — how many days the client can run without checking in.