{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "Using your licence on a new Mac",
  "slug": "moving-to-a-new-mac",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/moving-to-a-new-mac",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/moving-to-a-new-mac.md",
  "category": "Licensing & payments",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/licensing-and-payments/",
  "tags": [
    "licence",
    "new mac",
    "activation",
    "licence key"
  ],
  "summary": "A licence key locks to the first Mac it's activated on. To use it on a new Mac, ask support to release the lock (reply to your activation email), then activate on the new Mac with the same email and key. Your subscription carries on unchanged.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:17:54.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T12:54:25.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Step by step",
      "id": "step-by-step"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "If you see \"already activated on a different Mac\"",
      "id": "if-you-see-already-activated-on-a-different-mac"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "What \"Remove from this Mac\" does — and doesn't",
      "id": "what-remove-from-this-mac-does-and-doesn-t"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "After a fresh macOS install on the same Mac",
      "id": "after-a-fresh-macos-install-on-the-same-mac"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Your other storage on the new Mac",
      "id": "your-other-storage-on-the-new-mac"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "apple-silicon-and-intel",
      "label": "Apple silicon and Intel Macs",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/apple-silicon-and-intel"
    },
    {
      "slug": "activating-your-licence",
      "label": "Activating your licence",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/activating-your-licence"
    },
    {
      "slug": "how-recurring-payments-work",
      "label": "How recurring payments work",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-recurring-payments-work"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-recovery-kit",
      "label": "recovery kit",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-recovery-kit"
    },
    {
      "slug": "setting-up-my-drive",
      "label": "Setting up My Drive",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/setting-up-my-drive"
    },
    {
      "slug": "transfer-drive-and-backup-drive",
      "label": "Switching to a new drive",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/transfer-drive-and-backup-drive"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-license-pane",
      "label": "The License pane",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-license-pane"
    },
    {
      "slug": "when-your-licence-ends",
      "label": "When a trial or licence ends",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-your-licence-ends"
    },
    {
      "slug": "getting-help",
      "label": "Getting help",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "activating-your-licence",
      "title": "Activating your licence",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/activating-your-licence"
    },
    {
      "slug": "apple-silicon-and-intel",
      "title": "Apple silicon and Intel Macs",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/apple-silicon-and-intel"
    },
    {
      "slug": "buying-a-licence",
      "title": "Buying a licence",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/buying-a-licence"
    },
    {
      "slug": "your-settings-are-encrypted",
      "title": "How Storage Studio protects your settings on this Mac",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/your-settings-are-encrypted"
    },
    {
      "slug": "uninstalling-storage-studio",
      "title": "Uninstalling Storage Studio",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/uninstalling-storage-studio"
    },
    {
      "slug": "when-your-licence-ends",
      "title": "When a trial or licence ends",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-your-licence-ends"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "Moving a licence from one Mac to another",
      "outline": "- Licence active on the old Mac\n  - leads to Ask support to release the lock\n- Ask support to release the lock\n  - leads to Install Storage Studio on the new Mac\n- Install Storage Studio on the new Mac\n  - leads to Enter your email and licence key\n- Enter your email and licence key\n  - leads to Lock released?\n- Lock released?\n  - Yes: leads to The new Mac is activated\n  - No: leads to Already activated on a different Mac: contact support\n",
      "source": "%% caption: Moving a licence from one Mac to another\nflowchart TD\n  A[Licence active on the old Mac] --> B[Ask support to release the lock]\n  B --> C[Install Storage Studio on the new Mac]\n  C --> D[Enter your email and licence key]\n  D --> E{Lock released?}\n  E -->|Yes| F[The new Mac is activated]\n  E -->|No| G[Already activated on a different Mac: contact support]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Activate Storage Studio sheet with the Email and License Code fields filled in and the Activate button",
      "caption": "Activating on the new Mac"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [],
  "text": "A Storage Studio licence key locks to the Mac it's first activated on. To move your licence to a new Mac, ask us to release that lock, then activate on the new Mac with the same email and key. Nothing about your subscription changes along the way. Step by step Ask us to release the lock. Reply to the \"Storage Studio is activated on your Mac\" email you received when you first activated, or contact support from the email address you bought with. Once the lock is released, the next Mac to use your key takes it. Install Storage Studio on the new Mac. If it has Apple silicon, install the current version; an Intel Mac uses version 4.17.1 — see Apple silicon and Intel Macs . Activate. On the welcome screen choose I have a licence — or later, open Settings → License — then enter the email you bought with and your licence key, and choose Activate . Optionally, on the old Mac, choose Remove from this Mac in Settings → License so it no longer reads as activated. Can't find your key? Choose Can't find your licence key? Email it to me — see Activating your licence . Moving a licence from one Mac to another Flowchart outline: Moving a licence from one Mac to another Licence active on the old Mac leads to Ask support to release the lock Ask support to release the lock leads to Install Storage Studio on the new Mac Install Storage Studio on the new Mac leads to Enter your email and licence key Enter your email and licence key leads to Lock released? Lock released? Yes: leads to The new Mac is activated No: leads to Already activated on a different Mac: contact support If you see \"already activated on a different Mac\" The message This code is already activated on a different Mac. Contact support to release the lock. means the lock hasn't been released yet. Reply to your activation email or write to support, and try again once we've confirmed. What \"Remove from this Mac\" does — and doesn't Remove from this Mac clears the licence from that Mac only. It doesn't cancel or pause your subscription, and on its own it doesn't release the lock for a different Mac. To stop paying, cancel on your billing page ( Billing & invoices ) — see How recurring payments work . After a fresh macOS install on the same Mac A clean reinstall of macOS can make Storage Studio treat the Mac as new. If it asks you to activate again, enter your email and key. If the key reports it's already activated on a different Mac, contact support and we'll release it. Your other storage on the new Mac Delta Trust: reconnect to your vault with your recovery kit . My Drive: set it up again with the same registered email — see Setting up My Drive . Folders and apps on your external drive: see Switching to a new drive if the drive is changing too. See also: The License pane , When a trial or licence ends , Getting help .",
  "markdown": "A Storage Studio licence key locks to the Mac it's first activated on. To move your licence to a new Mac, ask us to release that lock, then activate on the new Mac with the same email and key. Nothing about your subscription changes along the way.\n\n## Step by step\n\n1. **Ask us to release the lock.** Reply to the \"Storage Studio is activated on your Mac\" email you received when you first activated, or contact support from the email address you bought with. Once the lock is released, the next Mac to use your key takes it.\n2. **Install Storage Studio on the new Mac.** If it has Apple silicon, install the current version; an Intel Mac uses version 4.17.1 — see [Apple silicon and Intel Macs](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/apple-silicon-and-intel).\n3. **Activate.** On the welcome screen choose **I have a licence** — or later, open **Settings → License** — then enter the email you bought with and your licence key, and choose **Activate**.\n4. Optionally, on the old Mac, choose **Remove from this Mac** in **Settings → License** so it no longer reads as activated.\n\nCan't find your key? Choose **Can't find your licence key? Email it to me** — see [Activating your licence](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/activating-your-licence).\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: Moving a licence from one Mac to another\nflowchart TD\n  A[Licence active on the old Mac] --> B[Ask support to release the lock]\n  B --> C[Install Storage Studio on the new Mac]\n  C --> D[Enter your email and licence key]\n  D --> E{Lock released?}\n  E -->|Yes| F[The new Mac is activated]\n  E -->|No| G[Already activated on a different Mac: contact support]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — Moving a licence from one Mac to another. Outline:*\n\n- Licence active on the old Mac\n  - leads to Ask support to release the lock\n- Ask support to release the lock\n  - leads to Install Storage Studio on the new Mac\n- Install Storage Studio on the new Mac\n  - leads to Enter your email and licence key\n- Enter your email and licence key\n  - leads to Lock released?\n- Lock released?\n  - Yes: leads to The new Mac is activated\n  - No: leads to Already activated on a different Mac: contact support\n\n## If you see \"already activated on a different Mac\"\n\nThe message **This code is already activated on a different Mac. Contact support to release the lock.** means the lock hasn't been released yet. Reply to your activation email or write to support, and try again once we've confirmed.\n\n## What \"Remove from this Mac\" does — and doesn't\n\n**Remove from this Mac** clears the licence from that Mac only. It doesn't cancel or pause your subscription, and on its own it doesn't release the lock for a different Mac. To stop paying, cancel on your billing page (**Billing & invoices**) — see [How recurring payments work](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-recurring-payments-work).\n\n## After a fresh macOS install on the same Mac\n\nA clean reinstall of macOS can make Storage Studio treat the Mac as new. If it asks you to activate again, enter your email and key. If the key reports it's already activated on a different Mac, contact support and we'll release it.\n\n## Your other storage on the new Mac\n\n- **Delta Trust:** reconnect to your vault with your [recovery kit](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-recovery-kit).\n- **My Drive:** set it up again with the same registered email — see [Setting up My Drive](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/setting-up-my-drive).\n- **Folders and apps on your external drive:** see [Switching to a new drive](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/transfer-drive-and-backup-drive) if the drive is changing too.\n\nSee also: [The License pane](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-license-pane), [When a trial or licence ends](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-your-licence-ends), [Getting help](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help).\n"
}