What is flexible licensing?

With flexible licensing, you can temporarily move a ProFile license from one computer to another. Now, you don't have to delete the license or buy another one.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about flexible licensing:

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General FAQs

What's a seat?

The number of seats limits the number of users who can be active with the product code and license key. You get one seat with a base license. Each additional license you purchase increases the number of seats available.

How does this change the licensing process?

ProFile uses a user-based license, so each license is for one user.

Activate all the seats available with your license. For example, if you bought five seats, you can activate five licenses at once. With flexible licensing, you can deactivate a seat to use on another computer without re-entering your product key and license code.

What's required for flexible licensing?

Flexible licensing requires:

• A tax year 2017 or later license
• ProFile version 2016.0.3 or later
• An internet connection during any activation or suspension of the flexible license

Can I still work offline?

Yes. Once you have activated your license, you can use ProFile without an internet connection. Features like Auto-fill my Return and EFILE will still require an internet connection to work.

What does flexible licensing cost?

There's no cost for flexible licensing. The feature is included as part of your license purchase.

How many machines can I install ProFile on?

ProFile is free to download with no limits. What you can do in the program depends on your license. You can add your licenses to multiple computers. Just make sure the number of active licenses doesn't exceed the number you paid for.

Is flexible licensing on by default?

No. The flexible licensing option must be activated manually. See How can I enable Flexible Licensing? in this guide for instructions to activate the feature.

Does this feature tell you who activated the license?

Not right now. Keep in mind that each license is for one person, who is responsible for turning it on or off.

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Activate and suspend flexible licensing

How do I enable flexible licensing?

Flexible licensing is enabled by entering the product code and license key either during product activation or after product activation.

During product activation you will be prompted to enter your product code and license key during activation. Follow these steps:

1. Enter your product and license key.
2. Click the Next - Set up Flexible Licensing button. The Configure Flexible Licensing window displays.
3. Choose the box that says Enable flexible licensing on this computer. Nest, select either the Manual or Automatic mode.
4. Manual mode displays the choice of two additional options:
   • Prompt me every time when I close ProFile Selecting this option results in ProFile prompting the user to suspend your license when closing the application.
   • Don't prompt me. I'll do it manually: Selecting this option requires the user to suspend their license manually themselves when closing the application
   • Automatic mode automatically suspends or activates your licenses when you close and open ProFile, respectively.
5. Select Save to save your preferences.

After product activation, follow these steps:

1. Select the Configure Flexible Licensing option from the Help dropdown menu. The Configure Flexible Licensing window displays.
2. Choose the box that says Enable flexible licensing on this computer. Next, select either the Manual or Automatic mode.
3. Manual mode displays the choice of two additional options:
   • Prompt me every time when I close ProFile: Selecting this option results in ProFile prompting the user to suspend your license when closing the application
   • Don't prompt me. I'll do it manually: Selecting this option requires the user to suspend their license manually themselves when closing the application
   • Automatic mode automatically suspends or activates your licenses when you close and open ProFile, respectively.
4. Select Save to save your preferences.

How can I enable flexible licensing on multiple machines?

Before enabling flexible licensing on another machine, suspend the current machine's license. Otherwise, you might get an error saying that all available licenses are active on other machines.

If I have multiple licenses, how does the activation and suspension process work?

Flexible licensing will activate and suspend all your active licenses. For instance, if you have a T1 and T2 license activated, suspending your license will suspend the active T1 and T2 licenses.

At this time, flexible Licensing only supports "all-or-nothing" activation and suspension.

How do I disable flexible licensing?

1. Select the Configure Flexible Licensing option from the Help drop-down menu in the top toolbar. The Configure Flexible Licensing window displays.
2. Deselect the option box in the Enable flexible licensing on this computer field.
3. Click the Save button. Flexible licensing has been disabled.

How do I suspend my license?

You can suspend the license through automatic or manual suspension.

Note: A working internet connection is required for you to successfully suspend your license.

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Troubleshooting

Why would my license fail to activate or suspend?

Common reasons can include:

• You are not connected to the internet
• License activation has reached the maximum seats available
• The license may be used on another machine that you forgot to suspend

How do I prevent license theft?

Your security is our top priority. We've masked your license key(s) to help prevent it from being seen by the wrong people. Masking replaces some numbers with asterisks to hide the full key information.

Keep your product code and license key information safe and accessible to only those who need it. Also, keep the product code and license key email receipt as secure as your product code and license key.

Why am I seeing a message that I have "no activateable units"?

Make sure you suspend a machine's license before you enable flexible licensing on another one. Otherwise, you might see an error message saying you have no activateable units—that's because all available licenses are active on other machines.

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