Frequently Asked Question
Family Historian 7 — Activation Troubleshooting
Common activation errors and how to resolve them.
Background: licence types and device limits
FH7 licences come in two relevant types:
| Licence type | Devices per licence |
|---|---|
| Full | 2 |
| Trial | 1 |
1. Activation code allocated to another account
Symptom: The activation code you’re trying to use is already tied to a different account, so activation fails.
Steps to resolve:
- On a computer where FH7 is already installed and working, open the application.
- Go to Help > About.
- Check which account (or licence details) the current activation is registered to.
- Compare this against the account/details you’re trying to activate with on the new device.
- If the code is allocated to the wrong account:
- Confirm which account or person should own the licence.
- Contact support if the code needs to be reassigned, or use the correct account/details to activate instead.
2. Invalid activation key
Symptom: Attempting to add a key returns an “invalid activation key” error.
Cause: This happens when the key is already active on the maximum number of devices its licence type allows:
- Full— allows 2 devices. This error appears when trying to activate a 3rd device.
- Trial — allows only 1 device. A trial key will not work on a second machine at all.
Steps to resolve (Full licences only):
- Identify the computers currently using the licence.
- Decide which installation you no longer need active.
- Select that computer from the list and press Deactivate. Once done you will not be able to use that computer again, without contacting support.
- The licence will be released for your new install.
If it’s a Trial licence: deactivation won’t help — trials are capped at one device by design. You’ll need to either use the device the trial was originally activated on, or purchase a Perpetual licence to install elsewhere.
Deactivating on the old machine releases the licence slot, allowing it to be reused elsewhere. Make sure you deactivate the correct machine before reallocating. This does not apply to Trial licences.
If you have a rebuilt computer you can select and deactivate the old name for that computer to allocated the licence back to it. Rebuilding sometimes resets the security system.
Quick Reference
| Error | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Code allocated to another account | Wrong account used, or code already claimed | Check Help > About on existing install; confirm correct account/details |
| Invalid activation key (Full) | Key already active on 2 devices | Deactivate one install to free the licence, then retry |
| Invalid activation key (Trial) | Trial limited to 1 device | No workaround — use original device or buy a Full licence |