Activate a Mac

How activation works

Each Mac is approved once, from your browser, while you’re signed in to your Brandreforge account. Your licence is then stored in the macOS Keychain and works offline.

Your plan sets how many Macs can be active at once: Essentials one Mac, Pro two Macs and Studio five Macs.

Activate from the panel

1. Open BrandreforgeIn Illustrator, choose Window › Extensions › Brandreforge.
2. Click Activate this MacThe panel shows an 8-character code, and your browser opens brandreforge.com/activate. Sign in if you’re asked.
3. Check the codeThe page shows a code like ABCD-EFGH and this Mac’s name. Make sure the code is exactly the one in the panel.
4. ApproveClick Approve. The panel notices by itself and unlocks within seconds.

If all your Macs are in use

When every Mac on your plan is already active, the approval page lets you replace one of them with this Mac. The Mac you replace stops working until you activate it again.

To keep them all, add an Extra Mac from Account › Billing for $3 a month or $30 a year. See Manage your Macs.

Only approve your own code

If the approval page shows a code or Mac name you don’t recognise, don’t approve it. Close the page and email support@brandreforge.com.

Use a one-time code instead

If the browser flow doesn’t work for you, activate with a code from your account:

1. Open Account › Macs and choose Get a one-time code.
2. In the panel, choose Have a code? Enter it.
3. Paste the code and choose Activate with code.

Each code works once and expires after a short time. If it has expired, get a new one.

If activation didn’t finish

If the panel says The code expired, Activation declined or Activation didn’t finish, choose Get a new code and approve again. More fixes are in Activation problems.