How to deactivate software
1 min read
Deactivation removes or releases an installation from the active license allocation where the licensed product supports that function. It is commonly needed when an existing production installation is being retired, replaced, or moved.
When you may need to deactivate #
You may need to deactivate a licensed installation when:
- retiring an old installation
- moving the software to another production domain or server
- replacing an existing production installation
- freeing an activation slot for another permitted installation
Because activation limits are finite, deactivating an installation can be important before moving the license to a different permitted production environment.
General deactivation process #
Exact steps vary by product, but the usual process is:
- Open the product’s licensing or activation area on the currently activated installation.
- Use the product’s deactivate or release-license function where available.
- Confirm the deactivation when requested.
- Where the product provides confirmation, verify that the old installation is no longer consuming the relevant activation.
Follow the product-specific documentation for the exact procedure.
Deactivate before removing an old installation when required #
If a product requires in-app deactivation, do not uninstall, delete, or permanently remove the old installation before completing the deactivation process.
Removing the software first may make the normal deactivation procedure unavailable.
If the old installation is inaccessible #
If you can no longer access the old installation, contact DotwebApps support for guidance rather than assuming that an activation slot will reset automatically.
Provide the relevant product, order, and license information needed to identify the licensed purchase and affected installation. Never send passwords, private keys, API secrets, payment credentials, or unrelated authentication information.
DotwebApps products may differ in how deactivation is presented, so do not rely on a universal button name, account path, automatic reset policy, or transfer guarantee unless the product-specific documentation explicitly provides one.
