Articles in this section

See more

Passware Kit Activation Guide

Avatar
Nina Kozyreva
  • Updated
  • ~ minute read
Follow

Passware software delivery instructions include download links for the installation files and associated Product Key(s). Each Passware Kit Forensic and Ultimate Product Key allows the installation of two copies of the software, one on the primary machine and the other on a portable computer.

A single Passware Kit Mobile Product Key can be used to install the software on up to five workstations.

Passware products that require offline or online activation are as follows:

  • Passware Kit Ultimate: Passware Kit Forensic module
    The license validity period is limited to the license type (1/2/3/N-year license). This period is calculated from the date of purchase.
  • Passware Kit Forensic: If the license expires or the Product Key is not activated, Passware Kit continues working in Demo mode. It displays a yellow "Activate" warning on the upper right corner.
  • Passware Kit Mobile: Starting from version 2025.2, Passware Kit Mobile requires activation of at least one Product Key. Without activation, the software will work in Demo mode.
    To open existing projects or use extraction credits, you must activate the corresponding Product Key.

How to Activate a Passware Kit Forensic or Passware Kit Ultimate

To activate Passware Kit Forensic or Ultimate, click the yellow “Activate” warning on the upper right corner of the Passware Kit, or go to Tools | License Manager and click “Activate” next to the message: “Passware Kit will work in Demo Mode without Passware Kit Agents until the Product Key is activated.”

1.png

Passware Tip: Do not add more than one Product Key for Passware Kit Forensic or Ultimate to License Manager.

Choose one of the two options on the “Activate your copy of Passware Kit Forensic” window:

  • Online
    Recommended for machines with Internet access.
  • Manual
    Recommended for air-gapped environments.

Online Activation

You can use the online activation if your workstation is connected to the Internet. Fill out the fields and click “Activate.”
Once the activation process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “Thank you for activating your copy of Passware Kit!”

2.png

Manual (Offline) Activation

You can perform manual activation if your workstation is not connected to the Internet. Ensure you have an internet connection on a mobile device or another computer.

3.png

  1. Proceed as follows:
    • If You are Using a Mobile Device
      Scan the QR code. You will be forwarded to the https://passwa.re/activate page. The request code will be automatically filled out.
    • If You are Using Another Computer

      Copy the request code (the text on the blue background) and transfer it to a computer with an internet connection. Follow the https://passwa.re/activate link and enter the code

      NOTE: Do not close the Passware Kit activation window on your workstation during the process.
  2. Fill out the fields, including Product Key, Name, Last Name, Organization, Email and Country, and click "Activate Product."
    4.png
    Passware Tip: Copy the Product Key from Help | About in the Passware Kit.

  3. As soon as the activation process is completed, download the activation file passware_activation.txt and transfer it to your workstation.

    5.png
  4. Browse for the activation file in the Passware Kit Manual activation tab and click "Activate."
    6.png
  5. As soon as the activation process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “Thank you for activating your copy of Passware Kit!” The yellow “Activate” warning should disappear, and the license should work without any limitations.

Passware Tip: You can check the expiration date at Help | About.

How to Activate Passware Kit Mobile

To activate Passware Kit Mobile, click the yellow “Activate” warning on the upper right corner of the window, or go to Tools | License Manager and click “Activate” next to the message: “Activation required” below the corresponding Product Key.

7.png

Passware Tip: If you have multiple Product Keys, you need to activate each of them in order to work with a project or use extraction credits associated with the Product Key.

Choose one of the two options on the “Activate your copy of Passware Kit Mobile” window:

  • Online
     Recommended for machines with Internet access.
  • Manual
    Recommended for Passware Kit Mobile Ultimate – Air-Gapped Edition.

Online Activation

Ensure that workstation is connected to the Internet. Fill out the fields and click “Activate.”
Once the activation process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “Thank you for activating your copy of Passware Kit!”

8.png

Passware Tip: The entered data will stay filled for a more convenient future activation.

Passware Kit Mobile Ultimate – Air-Gapped Edition Activation

Manual (offline) activation is designed for air-gapped environment in which the main workstation is not connected to the Internet. Ensure you have an internet connection on a mobile device or another computer.

9.png

  1. Proceed as follows:
    If You are Using a Mobile Device
    Scan the QR code. You will be forwarded to the https://passwa.re/activate page. The request code will be automatically filled out.

    If You are Using Another Computer
    Copy the request code (the text on the blue background) and transfer it to a computer with an internet connection. Follow the https://passwa.re/activate link and enter the code

    NOTE: Do not close the Passware Kit activation window on your workstation during the process.
    Fill out the fields, including Product Key, Name, Last Name, Organization, Email and Country, and click "Activate Product." 

    Passware Tip: Copy the Product Key shown at the top if needed.

  2. Fill out the fields, including Product Key, Name, Last Name, Organization, Email, and Country, and click "Activate Product."10.png
  3. As soon as the activation process is completed, download the activation file passware_activation.txt and transfer it to your workstation. 11.png
  4. Browse for the activation file in the Passware Kit Manual activation tab and click "Activate."
  5. As soon as the activation process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “Thank you for activating your copy of Passware Kit!” The yellow “Activate” warning should disappear, and the license should work without any limitations.

 

How to Deactivate a Passware Kit Forensic or Passware Kit Ultimate

To install Passware Kit on a different computer or re-install it on the same machine after a clean install, please deactivate your Passware Product Key first.

To start the deactivation process, click the “Deactivate” link next to the message “Your copy of Passware Kit is activated” at Tools | License Manager.

Choose one of the two options:

  • Online
    Recommended for machines with Internet access
  • Manual
    Recommended for air-gapped environments

13.png

Online Deactivation

If the workstation is connected to the internet, click “Deactivate”. The message: “Your copy of Passware Kit has been deactivated” should appear. This indicates that the Product Key has been deactivated and can be re-activated on a different computer.

Manual (Offline) Deactivation

If the workstation is not connected to the internet, perform manual deactivation. Ensure you have a mobile device or another computer with internet access.

  1. Proceed as follows:
    • If You are Using a Mobile Device
      Scan the QR code. You will be forwarded to the https://passwa.re/deactivate page. Do not close the Passware Kit on your workstation.
    • If You are Using Another Computer

      Copy the request code (the text on the blue background) and transfer it to a computer with internet access. Follow the https://passwa.re/deactivate link and enter the code.

14.png

  1. Fill out the Product Key and the request code and click the “Deactivate Product” button. As soon as the process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “You can re-activate your product now.” Click the “Deactivate” button in the Passware Kit.

Passware Tip: Copy the Product Key from the Passware Kit Help | About.

15.png

How to Deactivate Passware Kit Mobile

To install Passware Kit Mobile on a different computer or re-install it on the same machine after a clean install, please deactivate your Passware Product Key first.

To start the deactivation process, click the “Deactivate” link next to the message “Activated” at

Tools | License Manager next to the corresponding Product key.

Choose one of the two options:

  • Online
    Recommended for machines with Internet access
  • Manual
    Recommended for Passware Kit Mobile Ultimate – Air-Gapped Edition.

16.png

Online Deactivation

If the workstation is connected to the internet, click “Deactivate.” The message: “Your copy of Passware Kit has been deactivated” should appear. This indicates that the Product Key has been deactivated and can be re-activated on a different computer.

 

Passware Kit Mobile Ultimate – Air-Gapped Edition Deactivation

If the workstation is not connected to the internet, perform manual (offline) deactivation. Ensure you have a mobile device or another computer with internet access.

  1. Proceed as follows:
    • If You are Using a Mobile Device
      Scan the QR code. You will be forwarded to the https://passwa.re/deactivate page. Do not close the Passware Kit on your workstation.
    • If You are Using Another Computer
      Copy the request code (the text on the blue background) and transfer it to a computer with internet access. Follow the https://passwa.re/deactivate link and enter the code.

17.png

  1. Fill out the Product Key and the request code and click the “Deactivate Product” button. As soon as the process is completed, Passware Kit displays the message: “You can re-activate your product now.” Click the “Deactivate” button in the Passware Kit.

18.png

Troubleshooting

Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License: Product Key Expired.”

Please log into your Passware account and verify the license expiration date. Make sure the Passware Kit version corresponds to the Product Key.


Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License.”

Make sure the workstation is connected to the Internet. Сontact Support with the activation code and Product Key if the error persists


Passware Kit Displays “Limit of Activations Reached.”

For Passware Kit Forensic or Ultimate, this message means that the Product Key (or one of the previous Product Keys of the same license) has already been activated on two workstations. Please deactivate it on one of the machines first.
For Passware Kit Mobile, this message means that the Product Key has already been activated on five workstations. Please deactivate it on one of the machines first.


Passware Kit Displays “Offline Activation/Deactivation: Error. We Were Unable to Process Your Request.”

The number of workstations allowed by EULA for one Product Key has been reached. Please deactivate it on the previous machines first.


Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License: The License is not yet Available.”

Your previous Product Key is still active, so please continue using it for now. The new Product Key will become valid in the future, but it is not active yet.

During the offline activation, Passware Kit displays the error: “Failed to Activate the License: Verification Failed.”

Make sure you are using the activation file that matches your Product Key or Activation ID. If not, repeat the steps to generate a new activation file.


Passware Kit Mobile Displays "The product key refers to the older version of Passware Kit Mobile and cannot be used to activate the current version."

The Product Key is for the PKM version older than 2025.x and the license has expired. Login to your Passware account to get a new Product Key or contact Sales to renew your license.

Related articles

Comments

0 comments

Article is closed for comments.