Activation

Last modified: June 12, 2025

After installing dbForge Source Control, you need to activate the product—even for the trial version. You can activate Source Control in SSMS online or offline using a license file.

Activate online

This activation method requires an active internet connection.

To activate Source Control online:

1. In Object Explorer in SSMS, right-click a database and select Source Control > Help > Activate Product.

2. Enter the activation key.

Tip

You can find the activation key in the email from Devart or on the Customer Portal.

Use the activation key (a long alphanumeric string), not the license ID (formatted as XXXX-XXXX-XXX).

3. Click Activate.

Activate offline

If online activation fails (for example, if there’s no internet connection), you can manually activate Source Control offline using a license file downloaded from the Devart website.

To activate Source Control offline:

1. After the online activation fails, click manual activation in the Product Activation dialog.

2. Choose how to get the activation request text:

• Copy to Clipboard – Copies the request text.
• Save to File – Saves the request as a .txt file.

3. Go to the Manual Product Activation page, paste the request text into the form, then click Download License.

The .lic license file is downloaded.

4. In the Product Activation dialog, click Load License.

5. Select the .lic file, then click Open.