Uninstalling and Reinstalling InstallShield

InstallShield 2024

If you need to move your InstallShield license from one of your machines to another machine in your organization, or if you need to permanently transfer your license to a different user in your organization, you must first return your license to your account on the activation server. This process is sometimes referred to as deactivation. This typically occurs automatically if your machine is connected to the Internet when you uninstall InstallShield from the original machine. Returning the license makes it available again so that you can use your activation code for activation on your other machine.

In case of subscription, the license will be returned to the activation server only while uninstalling the last subscribed version installed on the original machine. This means, if the original machine is installed with two InstallShield versions under the same subscription, then the license will be returned while uninstalling the last subscribed version.

In some cases, it is not possible to automatically return a license during uninstallation. For example, if your machine is not connected to the Internet when you uninstall InstallShield, your license cannot be returned. Therefore, if you want to return your license to make it available for activation on a different machine, the recommended method is to first return the license, as described in Returning a License to Your Account on the Activation Server, and then uninstall InstallShield.

Important:Note that there is a limit to the number of times that you can return your license and then activate on another machine. InstallShield allows you to return the license back to the activation server four times per year. If you want to move the license beyond four times per year, contact your InstallShield sales or support representative.