How to Activate a Trial Version in dbForge Products

How to Activate a Trial Version in dbForge Products

Starting with version 2025.1, the trial version and Express Edition of all paid dbForge products work differently. This article explains how to activate your trial or Express Edition step by step.

What changed in version 2025.1

To activate a dbForge trial or Express Edition in version 2025.1 or later, you need to do one of the following:

1. Sign in to your Devart account.
   
2. Activate the product manually with the license key generated for you.

This links your trial to your Devart user account.

Note: The trial period officially starts on the day you first enter the trial activation key.

Step-by-step activation guide

Step 1. Sign in to your Devart account

Go to the Devart Customer Portal and sign in. If you don't have an account yet, create one.

Step 2. Download the dbForge product

While signed in, download the dbForge product you need from the Devart website.

Step 3. Install the product

Run the installer and complete the installation on your computer.

Important: If you download the product while signed in to your Devart account, a trial activation key is generated automatically and added to your account in the Devart Customer Portal. This may not happen if you have used this product before and it's already listed in your account.

Step 4. Activate the product

When you start the product, the Get Started window opens. Choose one of the three activation methods:

For details on each method, see the documentation for your product on Devart Documentation.

Additional information

If you already use dbForge:

When you upgrade from an earlier version of dbForge to version 2025.1 or later, the product may switch to the highest available trial edition if it hasn't been activated. To use the trial period, activate the product with a key.

The application shows a link that asks you to sign in or register. When you click it:

1. You're redirected to the sign-in or registration page.
2. A trial license for your current product is generated automatically.
   

When the trial period ends, dbForge gives you two options:

1. Activate the product with a purchased license.
2. Continue with Express Edition, which has limited functionality.

If you have any issues during activation, contact Devart Technical Support for help.