This page refers to key-based licenses — a legacy license type used in TestComplete until version 15.48. For information on the current, ID-based license type, see SmartBear ID-based Licenses.
The topic describes how to deactivate TestComplete licenses and how to move them to another computer.
Why Deactivation Is NeededWhy Deactivation Is Needed
License activation “binds” the license to a computer. You need to deactivate the license:
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To move the TestComplete license to another computer. You cannot activate the license on a new computer without deactivating it on your current computer.
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To upgrade your license, for instance, from Node-Locked to Floating User, or to replace one license with another.
Notes
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If you have several Floating User licenses activated on a computer, it will be impossible to deactivate a separate license. All the licenses on the computer will be deactivated. -
After deactivation is over, SmartBear generates a new license key. You can use it to activate TestComplete on another computer. You can find the key on the My SmartBear portal (https://my.smartbear.com).
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The deactivation can be performed in automatic or manual mode.
Automatic deactivation means that the wizard exchanges data with the SmartBear web site automatically. This mode is fast and recommended. It requires that the computer, where you deactivate the license, has a working Internet connection and that this computer has access to the SmartBear licensing web sites (https://ls1.smartbear.com or https://ls2.smartbear.com, port 443).
Manual deactivation implies that you exchange data with the SmartBear web site manually. Choose this mode if your License Manager computer is not connected to the Internet.
Automatic Deactivation
You can deactivate the license either by uninstalling the license management modules from your computer or by using the License Management wizard:
By Uninstalling Licensing Modules
When you start uninstalling TestComplete (or the License Manager utility), the uninstallation wizard searches for active licenses on your PC. If it finds an active license, it will display a dialog box asking for your permission to deactivate the license. If you agree, the wizard will deactivate the license and then continue uninstalling TestComplete or the utility.
Via the License Management Wizard
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Launch the License Management wizard:
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If you use the License Manager utility, click the operating system’s Start button (or the Windows button) and choose All Programs > SmartBear > License Manager > Activate or Deactivate License from the subsequent menu.
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If you have a TestComplete instance installed on your computer, choose Help > Activate or Deactivate License from the TestComplete main menu.
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On the first page of the wizard, choose Move or deactivate the selected license and select the license you want to deactivate. Click Next.
Note: To deactivate the license automatically, you need a working Internet connection to one of the SmartBear licensing web sites (https://ls1.smartbear.com or https://ls2.smartbear.com, port 443). -
If you use a proxy server, on the next page of the wizard, choose I use proxy that requires authentication and specify the user name and password for your proxy server.
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Click Deactivate. The wizard will deactivate the specified license.
If the deactivation succeeds, you will see the final page of the wizard informing you that the deactivation is over. Then, you can close the License Management wizard.
If the deactivation fails, the wizard will show an error message explaining the problem.
Manual Deactivation
1. Find an Intermediate Computer
Manual deactivation implies that you exchange data with the SmartBear web site manually. To do this, you need to find a computer that is connected to the Internet. This computer will be an intermediary between your computer and the SmartBear web site. You will pass files from your PC to the intermediate computer and then to the SmartBear web site. Then you will download files from the site to the intermediate computer and then to your PC.
The intermediate computer must have access to the My SmartBear page of our web site (https://my.smartbear.com). Please check that the firewalls and proxies working on your network allows access to this web site.
2. Deactivation Steps
You can manually deactivate licenses either in the My SmartBear section of our web site or in the License Management wizard:
On the Web Site
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Log in to the My SmartBear portal:
You can find the login credentials in the email message you got after purchasing your TestComplete license.
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Click the link in the Latest Version column next to the TestComplete version whose license you want to deactivate. This will open the license information page.
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Select Deactivate License from the right-side menu, and follow the instructions on the screen.
In the License Management Wizard (only for TestComplete 10.30 and later)
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Open the License Management wizard:
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In TestComplete, select Help > Activate or Deactivate License from the main menu.
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If you have the License Manager utility, click Start or Windows logo and select All Programs > SmartBear > License Manager > Activate or Deactivate License.
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On the first page of the wizard, choose Move or deactivate the selected license, select the desired license from the list and click Next.
If your computer is not connected to the Internet or does not have access to the SmartBear licensing web sites (https://ls1.smartbear.com or https://ls2.smartbear.com, port 443), the wizard will display an error message and will suggest using offline (manual) deactivation. Confirm using the offline (manual) activation.
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The wizard will generate a file with information about the SmartBear product licenses activated on your computer. You need to upload this file to the SmartBear web site. You can do this from some computer that has access to the Internet. Follow the instructions you see on the wizard’s pages.
As a result of your actions, the SmartBear web site will generate a file storing deactivation data. Download this file from the SmartBear web site, copy the deactivation file to your computer and then click Next in the wizard to continue.
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On the next page of the wizard, specify the deactivation file name and click Deactivate. The wizard will remove information about TestComplete license from your computer.
If the deactivation succeeds, you will see the next page of the wizard (see below). Else, the wizard will show an error message explaining the problem.
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After removing license data, the wizard will generate a new file with information about product licenses stored on your computer. You need to upload this file to the SmartBear web site to confirm the deactivation. After that, you will get a new license key for activating TestComplete on another computer.
The wizard displays the name of the generated confirmation file and instructions for uploading. Just follow these instructions to complete deactivation and get a new license key.
How to Activate a License After Deactivation
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Log in to the My SmartBear portal:
You can find the login credentials in the email message you got after purchasing your TestComplete license.
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Open the license details page of the TestComplete version, whose license you deactivated.
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Scroll down to the License Keys table and click Get new product key.
You can use the new key to activate the license again (see Activating Licenses).
When Deactivation Is Impossible
License deactivation requires that the TestComplete license management modules be installed on your License Manager PC. If these modules are not available, the deactivation is impossible. This may happen, for example, if the modules are corrupted, if the License Manager PC is damaged, if it is not able to start or if the operating system fails to log in.
If you encounter a hardware or software problem that blocks the automatic or manual deactivation, please contact the SmartBear Sales Team.