When the Trial Ends, and Moving Your License

Chapter 8 covers how the trial starts. This chapter covers what happens when it ends, what the device limit actually means, and how to move a license between computers.

What an expired trial blocks

When the seven days run out, the app is locked except for export. You can still get your data out: character export and conversation export keep working, which is the whole point of locking it that way rather than leaving you with a wall.

Your conversations and soul files are not deleted and not weakened. They stay encrypted on the computer, waiting for a license.

Buying a lifetime license unlocks the app again with everything intact.

If something goes wrong

If the app looks locked but you have already paid, check Settings → License. If the key is not there, paste it from your purchase email and activate. If it is there and still locked, read the next section.

Activation problems and what each message means

The app recognises three failures and tells you what to do about each.

What you see	What it means	What to do
That key wasn’t recognised	The key was mistyped, or it belongs to a different product	Copy it straight from the purchase email, the whole thing, with no extra spaces
This key is already active on 3 devices	The activation limit is reached	Deactivate one of the three in Settings → License on that computer, then redeem the key here. Or buy a second license
Couldn’t reach the license server	No network, or the licensing service is unreachable	Check the connection and try again. Your key is fine and nothing has been consumed

If something goes wrong

• A device you no longer have still holding a slot is the common case. Deactivation has to happen from that computer, or you contact support with the key and they clear the slot for you.
• If License revoked or License disabled appears, that is a state only the issuer can set. A refund is the usual reason. Contact support with your key.

Move a license to another computer

Goal

Keep one license and three device slots under control while changing computers.

Steps

1. On the old computer, open Settings → License.
2. Create a backup and export anything you want to keep. Do this before touching the license.
3. Select Deactivate this device. This frees the slot.
4. On the new computer, install Local Waifu and complete onboarding.
5. Open Settings → License, paste the key, and activate.
6. Move your data using the character export path in Chapter 31, or restore a full backup with support.

Expected result

The old computer no longer holds a slot and the new one is licensed. Both keep their own data.

If something goes wrong

• If the old computer is already gone, wiped, or sold, you cannot deactivate it. Contact support and they clear the slot.
• Do not buy a second license just to get past the limit unless you actually want a second one. Deactivating is free.

Before you sell or give away a computer

1. Deactivate the license in Settings → License.
2. Remove cloud provider keys and connected accounts.
3. Use Settings → Telegram → Forget token + pin.
4. Reset the app data, then delete the data directory. Chapter 33 has the exact steps and which folders a reset does and does not remove.
5. Uninstall.

If you do not do this, the next person can read everything in the app data directory, and your license slot stays occupied.

Questions people actually ask

Can I use one license on my desktop and my laptop? Yes. Three devices is the limit and they can be any three.

Do updates cost anything? No. A lifetime license includes updates, with no renewal and no expiry.

Does deactivating delete my data? No. It removes the licence binding. Your conversations and characters stay on that computer and still open in the same app.

What if I reinstall on the same computer? The data directory survives, so you come back to the same companion. You may need to activate again, which uses one slot.

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