Chapter 31
Licensing and activation
Free and Pro #
DonutStudio has two customer plans, Free and Pro. The public catalog identifies tools that are Free, Free + Pro or Pro. A Free + Pro tool retains its Free workflow while Pro adds authoring depth. One Pro license covers the advanced sections and specialist Pro systems. Add-ons are not separate purchases.
Use the Buy and Store pages for current availability. This draft has not verified checkout.
Check your plan #
Open Settings > About. The app displays License plan: Free or License plan: Pro alongside version and build information. Installing a payload or enabling a checkbox does not change that plan.
An activation succeeds only when the app accepts and stores a signed entitlement. A pending network request, an account login or a Store checkbox is not itself proof that the app has activated Pro. Check the resulting plan and any success or rejection message.
Activate in the app #
In Settings > About, choose Activate License.... The dialog asks for a beta invite code or a signed license key in Code or key. Enter the code or complete key you were issued, then choose Activate. Cancel leaves the current state alone.
The signed-key route validates the pasted key. The code route contacts the activation service. The app reports License activated. on success or a rejection/error message on failure. Do not edit preference files to change licensing. If activation fails, retain the exact error while keeping the code and key private.
Account and licenses #
The website account page provides Log in, Create account and Forgot password? controls. After sign-in, Account & licenses shows the account's paid licenses, license code and plan. Pro license cards include the licensed-machine list and a Deactivate action where applicable.
Deactivating a machine is an account change and the website asks for confirmation. That machine will need activation again. Subscription-management controls appear only for an applicable subscription. Use the account's displayed state rather than assuming every license has the same actions.
A website account and application activation are related but distinct steps. Use the app's current account/activation instructions and then check Settings > About. This manual has not performed an account sign-in, purchase, device deactivation or license activation to verify the complete live service workflow.
When activation needs help #
Report the app version, operating system, displayed plan, activation method and exact error. Do not include your full license key, invite code, password or client credential. A screenshot of an activation field can reveal the value even if the final error looks harmless.
For a missing Pro control, confirm both the active plan and add-on presence. For a missing model or helper, inspect runtime installation separately. These checks identify different causes and keep an installation failure from being mistaken for a purchase problem.