Activation problems

A refusal and a fault are different things

When a plugin will not unlock, the message is telling you which of two things happened: the server gave a definite answer and it was no, or the check could not be completed at all. Those need different responses, so the plugin distinguishes them rather than showing one generic error.

"Activation limit reached"

A definite refusal. Both device slots on that license are in use.

Free a slot from the Licenses screen in the Hub — each license lists its devices with a DEACTIVATE control — then activate again. If the machine occupying the slot is one you no longer have, or is the same machine after a rebuild, deactivating it is still the right move — see the article on moving to a new machine.

"License not found"

A definite refusal. The key and the product do not match a record.

Check that you are entering the key for the right product — a SURGE key does not open PLUNGE. Check for a typo, particularly around the product prefix. If the key came from an email, copy and paste it rather than retyping.

If it still fails, check which email address you bought with; the key belongs to that account.

"License inactive"

A definite refusal. The license exists but is no longer active — revoked, or cancelled after a refund or a chargeback.

If you believe that is wrong, mail support@nolvra.com with your order number.

"This device's activation was removed"

A definite refusal. The license is fine, but this specific machine's activation is gone — usually because it was deactivated from the Hub, deliberately or while freeing slots.

Activate again. If both slots are now full, free one first.

Sign in to continue

Not an error, and not shown in the same colour as one. This means the product is looking for an All-Access membership and cannot find a signed-in Hub session to check it against.

Sign in to the Hub with the email your membership is on. The plugin picks it up without restarting your DAW.

"Too many requests"

A rate limit, not a licensing decision. Repeatedly pressing ACTIVATE, or repeatedly requesting sign-in codes, will trip it. Wait a minute and try once.

For sign-in codes specifically the limit is three in fifteen minutes; requesting more will not make one arrive faster.

The check could not be completed

Messages that describe a problem rather than a decision — the server is unreachable, the answer could not be read — are faults, not refusals. The plugin does not treat them as a no.

In that state it falls back on its stored local record and keeps working inside its offline window. There is nothing for you to do beyond reconnecting at some point. If the window has already run out, connect once and it resets.

Repeated lockouts on a working connection

If a plugin locks repeatedly on a machine that is online and inside its window, the local activation record is the likely suspect — a restored backup, a migrated user account or a clock that has been moved backwards can all invalidate it.

Reactivating from the plugin writes a fresh record and clears it. If it recurs, mail support@nolvra.com with the product, the message you see and your macOS version. Never include your full license key in an email or a screenshot.