Authorization Questions

You may be typing the number incorrectly. Please be sure that you type the number zero and not the letter "o" in all instances.

Be sure you are using the correct serial number. Each major version of Live (8.x, 7.x, etc.) has a unique serial number.

Live uses a challenge/response copy protection and authorization process unique to each computer. Please see our authorize/unlock instructions here for more details.

Live 8: no Challenge Code is required.

Live 7 and earlier: the Challenge Code is presented in the Live Unlock dialog window after installation. You do not need the Challenge Code if your computer is connected to the Internet. Please see our authorize/unlock instructions here for more details.

Please be sure that you have all necessary software components and hardware connections to properly connect your computer to the Internet. You may want to launch your web browser and visit www.ableton.com to be sure the connection works and then try the "Unlock Online" button again.

The Challenge Code is the code that identifies your specific computer with your copy of Live. The Challenge Code for your computer is in the Unlock Offline dialog window. We recommend using Unlock Online whenever possible. Please see our Unlock instructions here.

You can authorize/unlock Live two times after you have registered. Ableton will give you more authorize/unlock codes if you send us a brief mail and an adequate explanation of the circumstances.

It is only possible for us to help in a situation such as this is if you have registered your serial number properly on our registration page.

You must first register your serial number properly on our registration page . Follow the installation procedure and authorize/unlock Live on your new machine. Remember that each computer has unique hardware, so Live will need to be authorized/unlocked again for this specific machine. Please also see our license FAQs.

Each computer requires its own unique authorization/unlock. You have to authorize/unlock Live again on your new computer.

In general, it is recommended that you format your drive and re-install the system software before you sell your computer.

Uninstall Live on the PC or delete the Live application folder on the Mac. You will also need to delete the Unlock.cfg file. The Unlock.cfg file is located in the following paths:

Windows (Live 4 and higher): C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Application Data\Ableton\Live x\Unlock

Note that on some Windows systems the application data folder is hidden by default. Here is how to make it visible:

1. Launch Explorer.
2. Select Tools/Folder Options/View.
3. Check "Show hidden files and folders."

Windows Vista: c:/users/username/appdata/roaming/ableton/Live x/Unlock

To make the appdata folder visible, a user has to do the following:

1. Launch the Windows Explorer.
2. Click on 'Organize' -> 'Folder and Search Options' -> 'View'.
3. Check 'Show hidden files and folders'.

Mac OS X: /User/Library/Application Support/Ableton/Unlock

You have already used all of your authorizations/unlocks. Contact authorize@ableton.com. with your serial number and an adequate explanation of why you have installed so many times, and they will consider allowing more authorizations/unlocks.

It is not possible to move a Live authorization/unlock to another computer. Each computer requires its own unique authorization/unlock. You must authorize/unlock Live again on your new computer.

The following procedure can only be performed by your computer's administrator.

• The administrator must install and unlock Live.

• Copy the folder and contents of

  /User/Library/Application Support/Ableton/[Live X]/Unlock

  to

  /Library/Application Support/Ableton/[Live X]

  where the X in "[Live X]" is your Live version number.

• Change Access rights of the folder "/Library/Application Support/Ableton" and all contained files for Group to "Read."

Note: You must repeat this procedure every time you update Live.

Your Live license allows you to install and authorize/unlock Live on two computers, with the understanding that you will only use it on one at a time. To install to a second computer, download the latest version of Live here.

Then install Live and authorize/unlock.

If you want to install on a third computer, you will first need to uninstall one of your other installations and request a new authorization/unlock from unlock@ableton.com. Please include an explanation of why you are requesting a third authorization/unlock.