Allowing License Deactivation and Transfers (the "Deactivations Left" Counter)
Deactivation lets a customer release a license from one computer so it can be activated on another (for example, moving to a new machine). If the option to deactivate is missing, it is almost always because of the Deactivations Left counter.
How "Deactivations Left" works
- Deactivations Left is the number of deactivations remaining on a license.
- Together with the Allow Deactivations Product Option setting, it controls whether a license can be deactivated (in the SOLO Server author interface, the Customer License Portal, and via the web service). A deactivation requires Allow Deactivations = True and at least 1 Deactivation Left; when Deactivations Left reaches 0, deactivation is no longer available, which is the most common reason customers (and authors) cannot deactivate.
- -1 means unlimited deactivations.
- Activating a license does not increase Deactivations Left. The two counters are separate, so frequent transfers will use up a limited deactivation allowance.
Let a customer deactivate and move their own license
For self-service deactivation through the Customer License Portal, two things must be true: 1. The Product Option has Allow Deactivations = True. 2. The license's Deactivations Left is 1 or more.
When both are set, the customer can deactivate the old installation themselves in the Customer License Portal, then activate on the new computer. See also Move / transfer a license to a new computer.
Re-enable deactivation when it is used up
If a customer needs to move their license but has no deactivations left, open the license in the SOLO Server author interface and increase Deactivations Left on the License Details page (set a number, or -1 for unlimited). Deactivation is available again once the value is 1 or more.
In your application
Your software can also deactivate from code. See Deactivating and Transferring Licenses for PLUSManaged or PLUSNative.
Offline (Instant Protection PLUS 3, no SOLO Server)
For a fully offline IPP3 deployment, re-open the license dialog by holding the SHIFT key while launching the software, then deactivate using Trigger Code 50. See Activate Fully Offline with Trigger Codes.