Activation

SarabFX plugins don't render their effect until a valid license key is activated on the machine — before activation, the effect outputs an empty (transparent) frame. Activation is a one-time step per machine, handled by the built-in SarabFX Activator.

Before you begin

• Install the plugins first — see Installation.
• Have your license key ready. It is shown in your account on sarabfx.com and is also emailed to you after purchase.
• The machine needs internet access for the initial activation.

Activate a license

1. Add any SarabFX plugin to a clip in your host.
2. In the plugin's parameters, click Activate License. This launches the SarabFX Activator utility.
3. Enter your license key and confirm.
4. The activator contacts the SarabFX license server, binds a seat to this machine, and stores the activation locally.
5. Return to your host. The effect now renders fully unlocked. (You may need to re-render or nudge a parameter for the host to refresh the frame.)

One activation covers your license

A single activation unlocks the plugins your license covers on that machine — a single plugin, the plugins in your bundle, or the whole suite if you own the all-products license. You don't activate each plugin separately.

How seats work

• Each license includes a fixed number of machine seats.
• Activating on a machine consumes one seat for that machine.
• Re-activating on a machine that already holds a seat does not consume an additional seat.
• When all seats are in use, activate a new machine only after deactivating one you no longer use.

Deactivate a machine

To move your license to another computer, free the seat first. For security, every deactivation is confirmed by email — the seat is released only after the license owner clicks a one-time link, so nobody who merely has access to a machine can free your seats.

1. Start the deactivation from any of:
   • the SarabFX Activator (a plugin's Activate License → Deactivate),
   • your account dashboard on sarabfx.com, or
   • the SarabUninstaller app (during uninstall).
2. SarabFX emails a one-time confirmation link to the license owner's address.
3. Open the email and click the link. The seat is released and can be used on another machine.

Until you click the link

The seat stays in use — and the machine keeps working — until the emailed link is clicked. The link is single-use and valid for 1 hour; if it expires, just start the deactivation again. (Admin/support can release seats directly when needed — for example, for refunds.)

Staying activated & offline use

After activation, SarabFX stores a signed local license and checks in with the license server periodically in the background (about twice a day). These checks run off the render thread, so playback and rendering never wait on the network.

You can work offline for a few days, but the plugin needs to reach the license server at least once every ~3 days to keep rendering. If it can't check in within that window, the effect's output stops being usable until you reconnect. A revoked license takes effect immediately. See the Licensing FAQ for more.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
"Activation failed"	No network / firewall	Allow the activator to reach the license server, then retry
"No seats available"	All seats in use	Deactivate an unused machine, then re-activate
Output is empty/black	License not activated	Activate the license, then re-render or nudge a parameter
Output looks corrupted/garbled	License invalid, revoked, or offline too long	Reconnect so the license can refresh (or re-activate), then re-render
Activator won't launch	Plugins not fully installed	Reinstall the plugin package, then restart the host

Still stuck? Reach out via the Support page.