Passware Kit Activation Guide

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

Passware products that require additional 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.

NOTE: Passware Kit Mobile within the Passware Kit Ultimate bundle does not require activation.

• 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 in the upper right corner.

• How to Activate Passware License
  • Online Activation
  • Manual (Offline) Activation
• How to Deactivate Passware License
  • Online Deactivation
  • Manual (Offline) Deactivation

• Troubleshooting
  • Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License: Product Key Expired.”
  • Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License.”
  • Passware Kit Displays “Limit of Activations Reached.”
  • Passware Kit Displays “Offline Activation/Deactivation: Error. We Were Unable to Process Your Request.”
  • Passware Kit Displays “Failed to Activate the License: The License is not yet Available.”

How to Activate a Passware License

To activate the license, 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.”

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!”.

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.

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 a 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."
   
   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. 
   
4. Browse for the license 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 works without any limitations.

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

How to Deactivate a Passware License

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

Online Deactivation

If the workstation is connected to the internet, click “Deactivate”. The message: “Your copy of Passware Kit has been deactivated” should appear. It 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 a blue background) and transfer it to a computer with internet access. Follow the https://passwa.re/deactivate link and enter the code.

2. 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.

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.”

The message means that the License has already been activated on two workstations. Please deactivate it on one of the machines first. Note that old Product Keys for previous major versions of the same license are counted against the activation limit.

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

The License has been activated on two workstations. 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.