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License Deactivation & Transfer

Provide your users with the flexibility they expect. When they upgrade their hardware or switch machines, the Deactivation System allows them to securely release their license and move it to a new computer without your constant intervention.

Deactivation Methods

Section titled “Deactivation Methods”

VBA Padlock supports two ways to handle license transfers.

Zero Maintenance

Section titled “Zero Maintenance”

The most seamless experience. The application contacts your server to release the activation slot instantly.

  1. User clicks Deactivate in your application.
  2. The app sends a secure request to your Activation Server.
  3. The server frees the license slot in the database.
  4. The user activates on their new computer immediately.

Online Deactivation Dialog

The Deactivation Certificate

Section titled “The Deactivation Certificate”

Think of the Deactivation Certificate as a digital “receipt” that proves the user has actually deleted the license from their computer.

What's Inside?

The certificate is a signed block of text containing the deactivated key, the old Hardware ID, and a secure timestamp to prevent reuse.

Deactivation Certificate

How to Verify?

In VBA Padlock Studio, use the Test Certificate tool to verify the validity of a certificate received from a user before issuing a replacement.

Test Certificate UI

Implementation in VBA

Section titled “Implementation in VBA”

You can create a custom “Transfer License” button in your Excel/Word ribbon that invokes the built-in deactivation dialog.

VBA Bridge Command 

Public Sub DeactivateMyLicense()
    Dim result As Long
    ' This shows the combined Online/Manual dialog
    result = VBAPL_ShowDeactivation()


    If result = 0 Then
        MsgBox "Deactivation successful! You can now activate on another computer."
    Else
        MsgBox "Process cancelled or failed."
    End If
End Sub

Professional Workflow

Section titled “Professional Workflow”

A standard license transfer typically follows these steps:

  1. Old Computer: User performs deactivation (Online or Manual).
  2. License State: The activation count is restored (automated on server or manual in your records).
  3. New Computer: User installs your software and retrieves their new Hardware ID.
  4. Activation: User activates via the server (instant) or you send a new locked key (manual).

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”

Deactivation Settings

Enable deactivation and test your certificates. View reference →

Hardware Locking

Understand the “Machine ID” that licenses are tied to. Learn more →