Settings

Settings: License

Activate Archyv, manage your license on this device, and check your status

Overview

The License tab manages the licence governing Archyv on this device — it shows your current status and lets you activate a licence key, recover a lost key, or release this device's seat. New installs include a 14-day free trial; this tab shows the days remaining so you can enter a key before it ends.

Archyv is licensed per device with a limited number of seats. This pane is where you enter a key, check how access is resolved, and free a seat when moving to another Mac.

When to Use

Open License settings at the moments your licensing changes — bringing Archyv onto a new Mac, checking how much of a trial is left, or moving your license from one computer to another. This is where the app's processing features are unlocked, where you see which machine a seat is currently tied to, and where you can recover a key you have mislaid. Because a license covers a limited number of devices, it is also the tab to visit before you retire or replace a Mac, so a seat is freed for the machine taking its place. During a trial it is worth a glance now and then to keep an eye on the days remaining and activate before they run out, so your work never pauses. The cards below walk through activating, moving, and recovering a license.

Requirements

  • Activating or moving a license requires an internet connection; day-to-day use works offline
  • Each license covers a limited number of devices; free a seat by deactivating a Mac you no longer use
  • Reinstalling does not grant a new trial; the trial period is tied to the Mac

Settings

Every control on this tab, grouped as it appears in Settings.

License Status
License StatusDisplay · status badge

Summarises how access is currently granted, shown as a badge beside an app-wide access summary: Licensed — Standard, Trial — N days left, Expired, or Locked.

When to useCheck here to confirm your licence is active or see how long a trial has left. The whole app, not just one feature, depends on this status.
Example“Trial — 5 days left” tells you to enter a key before access locks at trial end.
Activation
Activate LicenseAction · key entry

Enter or paste a licence key to license Archyv on this device. When you're already licensed this card reframes as “Switch license”. Activation needs a network connection to validate.

When to useUse after purchasing, or to switch this device to a different key. If all device seats are in use, Archyv asks you to deactivate another Mac first.
ExamplePaste the key from your purchase email and Activate to move from trial to a full licence.
Recover LicenseAction · Recover your license

Retrieves a licence key you've lost; it's emailed to your purchase address. The entry card also offers the same path inline as “Lost your key? — Email it to me”.

When to useUse if you no longer have your key. The same recovery option appears on the paywall and locked screens.
ExampleSetting up a new Mac without your key, you Recover to have it emailed, then activate.
This Device
Deactivate This DeviceAction · destructive

Releases this device's licence seat so the key can be activated elsewhere. Appears only while this Mac is licensed.

When to useUse before selling or repurposing a Mac, or to free a seat when you've used them all. You can reactivate here any time with your key.
ExampleYou've used every seat; deactivate an old machine to activate Archyv on a new one.

When a trial ends or a licence can't be re-validated within its offline grace window, the whole app becomes read-only until you activate.

Tips & Important Notes

  • During a trial, enter your key before the final days so your access never pauses.
  • Deactivating a Mac frees its seat immediately, even offline. Activating the new Mac then needs an internet connection.
  • If you replace or substantially change your Mac's hardware, use the Action Needed prompt to re-confirm your license.