> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/get-started/chapter-index/activate-the-product.md).

# Activate Captivate

Activate Captivate on this computer, or deactivate another computer so you can move your license. Each Captivate license allows one person to use Captivate on one computer at a time.

* [Activate online](#activate-online)
* [Activate offline](#activate-offline)
* [Move your license to another computer](#move-your-license-to-another-computer)

## Activate online

Use this when the computer running Captivate is connected to the internet.

1. Open the NewBlue Application Manager. Open it from Captivate’s **Help** menu, from the Windows Start menu, or from `/Applications` on macOS. If Captivate shows the **Activation Is Required** dialog, click **Launch Application Manager**.
2. Sign in with your NewBlue account. If you don’t have one, click **Create Account** and complete the form.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2e9d34a9ffcba859842a5bb727e62f1676ab6c16%2Fapplication-manager-products.jpg?alt=media" alt="The NewBlue Application Manager showing the product list after sign-in"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
3. If Captivate activates automatically, you’re done.
4. If Captivate does not activate automatically, click **Enter License** next to Captivate.
5. Enter your license and click **OK**.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1ed5d3c5c00a0c5c123a4205a4d537603dce90aa%2Fenter-license.jpg?alt=media" alt="The Enter License field with a license entered"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
6. Activated, up-to-date products are described as current in the Application Manager.

If you sign in with the account that purchased Captivate, activation may happen automatically. If Captivate was purchased under a different account, enter your license manually.

## Activate offline

Use this when the computer running Captivate is not connected to the internet. You’ll need a second computer with internet access and a USB stick (or another way to transfer text between them).

You’ll move two pieces of text between the offline computer and an online one: first an activation URL, then an activation response text.

1. **On the offline computer:** open the NewBlue Application Manager from Captivate’s **Help** menu, from the Start menu (Windows), or from `/Applications` (macOS).
2. Click **Enter License** next to Captivate.
3. Enter your license and click **OK**.
4. In the Manual Activation form, enter your **First Name**, **Last Name**, and **email** address. If you have a NewBlue account, use the email associated with it.

   A unique URL appears.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48742567a73432a1feb1bece7f07c3874c7f0e1f%2Fimage_2498.png?alt=media" alt="Manual Activation form with the URL displayed"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
5. Copy the URL onto a USB stick (or any other transfer method).
6. **On the online computer:** paste the URL into a browser and press **Enter**. The web page returns an activation text string.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-263a3777903f8184677186900e558a89a04d1cd2%2Fimage_6463.png?alt=media" alt="The activation text string returned by the web page"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

   **📌 NOTE**\
   If the email address isn’t associated with a NewBlue account, the page asks you to create one first.
7. Copy the activation text string back onto the USB stick.
8. **On the offline computer:** paste the activation text into the Manual Activation form.

   <div align="left"><figure><img src="https://352477438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFCWMxradHcVjURnrXSYX%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2b0c6522adeb44858035b76aefc7067959d2690a%2Fimage_3017.png?alt=media" alt="Activation text pasted into the Manual Activation form"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
9. Click **Activate**. Captivate is now activated.

## Move your license to another computer

To move your license, deactivate Captivate on the current computer, then activate it on the new one.

{% hint style="info" %}
Deactivating from the Application Manager deactivates all NewBlue products on this computer, not just Captivate. The products still launch, but their outputs are watermarked until you reactivate.
{% endhint %}

### Deactivate Captivate on the current computer

1. Open the NewBlue Application Manager on the computer where Captivate is currently active.
2. Click **Settings** and choose **Deactivate**.
3. Click **Deactivate** to confirm.
4. Close the Application Manager.

### Activate Captivate on the new computer

1. Install Captivate on the new computer if you haven’t already.
2. Open the NewBlue Application Manager.
3. Click **Settings** and choose **Activate**.
4. Sign in with the same email and password you used on the previous computer.

Captivate and all NewBlue products on this computer are automatically activated after you sign in.

## Related

* [About the NewBlue Application Manager](/get-started/chapter-index/application-manager.md) — what the Application Manager does and how to use it.
* [Activation flow reference](/reference/license-activation-flow.md) — what triggers each path, what the banner means, and how seat moves work.


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