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    After years of managing your Steinberg software licenses, the eLicenser-based licensing service will be closing down early in 2025. Read more...

Transferring licenses from Soft-eLicenser to USB-eLicenser

This article refers to eLicenser-based license management.
If your software uses Steinberg Licensing introduced in January 2022,
the following information is not relevant for you.


Watch the tutorial video on YouTube or continue reading...

Many Steinberg programs store their license in the so called Soft-eLicenser, a virtual license container on the hard disk.
 
Transferring the license from the Soft-eLicenser to a USB-eLicenser (dongle, key) offers various advantages:

  • With your license on a USB-eLicenser you can install and use your Steinberg program on as many computers as you like. To authorise the installation you want to use just connect the USB-eLicenser.
  • Programs that are using the Soft-eLicenser can only be activated on computers with internet access. A USB-eLicenser enables activation of your Steinberg software on computers that are not connected to the internet. 
  • Licenses stored on the hard disk need to be reactivated online after reinstalling the operating system or switching to another computer. Using a USB-eLicenser makes online reactivation redundant.
  • Furthermore, the license transfer to the USB-eLicenser is a necessary condition to be able to upgrade to a higher program version that requires a USB-eLicenser. 

USB-eLicensers are available from any Steinberg dealer and, of course, at our online shop.

Important: A license transfer into the opposite direction - from USB-eLicenser to Soft-eLicenser - is not possible. As soon as a license has been transferred to a USB-eLicenser, there is no way back onto the hard disk. That means the USB-eLicenser holding the transferred license has to be connected when running the corresponding program. 

This is how it works: 

  • Install the latest eLicenser Control Center on the computer on which you've already activated your Steinberg program: http://www.steinberg.net/en/company/technologies/elicenser.html 
  • Open the eLicenser Control Center. On Windows computers you'll find it under Programs > eLicenser in the Start menu. On Macs in the "Applications" folder. 
  • Connect the USB-eLicenser. On Windows wait until the driver installation has finished. 
  • The eLicenser Control Center will now show you both Soft-eLicenser (hard disk symbol) and USB-eLicenser.
  • Click on the Soft-eLicenser to select it. 
  • In the list to the right, click on the Soft-eLicenser license you wish to transfer to grab it and drag it to the entry of the other USB-eLicenser license while holding down the mouse button.
  • As soon as you release the mouse button the license will be transferred. 

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