Use this guide to move a local license from one computer to another. A local license is tied to a single PC, but you can transfer it under certain conditions — review your software's End-User License Agreement (EULA) for the licensing terms.
The transfer has two parts:
- Deactivate the license on the PC where it's currently active.
- Activate it on the new PC — see Activate with a local license.
Step 1: Deactivate the license on the old PC
Choose the option that matches the PC:
- Online — the PC has internet access.
- Offline — the PC has no internet access.
Deactivate online
Step 1: Open the License Wizard
- Launch the Materialise License Wizard on the PC.
- Click MANAGE LICENSES → Deactivate local license.
- Tick the checkbox next to the license, identified by Product name and Version.
Step 2: Confirm the deactivation
- Click DEACTIVATE.
- A confirmation message appears when the deactivation succeeds.
✅ Done — the license is released from this PC and can now be activated on another PC.
Deactivate offline
You'll move files between the offline PC and an internet-connected device, for example using a USB stick.
Step 1: Start deactivation in the License Wizard
- Launch the Materialise License Wizard on the offline PC.
- Click MANAGE LICENSES → Deactivate local license.
- Tick the checkbox next to the license, identified by Product name and Version, then click DEACTIVATE.
- When prompted, select No, generate it.
Step 2: Generate the deactivation request
- The wizard lists the modules linked to the license.
-
Select Generate to create a
DeactivationRequest.binfile. - Save the file, for example in Downloads.
- Transfer it to an internet-connected device, for example using a USB stick.
Step 3: Process the request in the End-User Portal
- On the internet-connected device, open the Materialise End-User Portal and select Offline License (De)activation.
- For Upload type, choose Generate license or confirm license reduction or return.
-
Select Choose File, select
DeactivationRequest.bin, and upload it. - When the upload succeeds, a green banner confirms the operation.
-
Select the link in the banner to download
CapabilityResponse.bin. - Transfer the file back to the offline PC.
Step 4: Complete deactivation in the License Wizard
- Return to the Materialise License Wizard on the offline PC.
- Click MANAGE LICENSES → Deactivate local license again and tick the same license.
- This time, select Yes when prompted.
-
Upload
CapabilityResponse.binby dragging and dropping the file or browsing to it. - Select Generate.
Step 5: Finish
-
A confirmation message states that a
DeactivationConfirmation.binfile has been created. - Save the file. If required, transfer it to an internet-connected device to complete any final steps.
✅ Done — the license is released from this PC and can now be activated on another PC.
PC no longer accessible?
If you can't deactivate the license using the License Wizard — for example, because the HostID has changed or the device is lost, stolen, or permanently broken — use the Return Device option in the Materialise End-User Portal.
⚠️ Returning a device is permanent and cannot be undone.
Only use this option when the device can no longer receive license files or communicate with Materialise licensing.
After returning a device, you can either move its licenses to a new device or return the licenses to your pool for later use.
Step 1: Open the Devices section
- Sign in to the Materialise End-User Portal.
- Go to Devices.
Step 2: Find the device
- Use the search bar or select the device from the list.
Step 3: Return the device
- Select Action, then Return Device.
- A message confirms that the action is irreversible.
- Select Confirm.
- A green banner confirms that the device was returned.
✅ Done — the device's licenses are released and can now be activated on another PC.
Step 2: Activate the license on the new PC
Once the license has been released, see Activate with a local license to activate it on the new PC.
Something not working?
-
Offline deactivation is stuck — confirm you're uploading the right file at each step (
DeactivationRequest.binto the portal,CapabilityResponse.binback to the wizard). - Still stuck — contact Materialise Support.