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License activation and expired license troubleshooting

Michaela Greene
  • Updated

Overview

DEFT requires an active license to run. This guide explains how licenses work, what to do if your license expires, how to receive activation codes, and how to get a temporary code if you’re waiting for a new one.

The most common issue is: payment has been taken, but the new activation code hasn’t been received. This article covers that scenario.

Understanding DEFT licenses

How DEFT licenses work

Your DEFT license is tied to: - Your organisation name - Your company registration number (if applicable) - An activation code provided by Bright Software - An expiration date

When you purchase or renew DEFT, Bright Software provides an activation code. You enter this code into DEFT, and the software activates for your organisation until the expiration date.

License types

  • Annual license: Valid for 12 months from the activation date
  • Multi-year license: Valid for multiple years; you receive a new activation code each year
  • Perpetual license (rarely offered): Lifetime use, no expiration

What happens when a license expires

When your license expires: - DEFT will display a warning message on opening - You can continue to use DEFT for a grace period (usually 7–14 days) - After the grace period, DEFT will not open - No data is lost—you can access it again once you renew

Before you begin

You’ll need: - Your company name and registration number (as they appear on your DEFT license) - Confirmation that payment has been processed - Your email address for receiving the activation code - Access to the DEFT License Manager or activation screen

Checking your current license status

To see your license expiration date:

  1. Open DEFT
  2. Go to Help > License Information (or Help > About DEFT)
  3. Look for:
    • Organization Name – Your registered company
    • License Expiration Date – When your license expires
    • Status – Active, Expired, or Grace Period

If your license is showing as Expired but you’ve paid for renewal, follow the steps below.

[Insert screenshot showing License Information dialog with expiration date highlighted]

My license has expired but I’ve paid—what now?

This is the most common scenario. Payment has been processed, but you haven’t received the new activation code yet.

This is normal. Activation codes are processed within 2–5 business days of payment. If you need to use DEFT immediately, contact Bright Support for a temporary code.

Step 1: Check your email

  1. Check your inbox for an email from Bright Software with your activation code
  2. Check your spam/junk folder—activation emails sometimes get caught there
  3. Look for subject lines like:
    • “DEFT License Activation Code”
    • “Your DEFT License Renewal”
    • “License Code – [Your Company Name]”

If you find it, go to “Entering your activation code” below.

Step 2: Verify payment was processed

  1. Check your bank statement to confirm payment was taken
  2. Look for:
    • A transaction from “Bright Software Group” or similar
    • The correct amount charged
    • Recent date (within the last 5 business days)

If payment is showing: - Yes: Your activation code should be issued within 5 business days. Check your email again tomorrow, or contact Bright Support (see Step 3). - No: The payment may have failed. Contact your bank or payment provider to confirm why.

Step 3: Contact Bright Support for a temporary code

If you need to use DEFT immediately and your activation code hasn’t arrived:

  1. Gather this information:
    • Your company name (as registered with DEFT)
    • Your company registration number
    • Your email address
    • Confirmation of payment (bank statement screenshot, invoice number, or receipt)
  2. Contact Bright Support:
    • Email: support@brightsoftware.com (or your usual support contact)
    • Phone: [Support phone number]
    • Reference in subject line: “DEFT License – Temporary Code Request”
  3. In your message, include:
    • “My license has expired. Payment has been taken, but I haven’t received the activation code.”
    • Attach your bank statement showing the payment
    • Ask for a temporary code to use DEFT while your permanent code is being processed
  4. Bright Support will:
    • Verify payment in their system
    • Issue you a temporary activation code (valid for 7–14 days)
    • Track down your permanent code
    • Resend your permanent code to your email address

Entering your activation code

Once you have your activation code:

  1. Open DEFT
  2. You’ll see a License Activation dialog (or go to Help > Activate License)
  3. Enter the activation code exactly as provided (case-sensitive; include hyphens if present)
  4. Click Activate or OK
  5. DEFT will connect to Bright’s servers to validate the code
  6. If valid, you’ll see a confirmation message
  7. DEFT is now active for the new license period

[Insert screenshot showing License Activation dialog with code entry field]

Payment not processed—what to do

If you’ve requested a renewal but payment has not been charged:

Step 1: Confirm renewal was requested

  1. Check your email for a renewal invoice or quote from Bright Software
  2. If you don’t have one, you may not have submitted a renewal request yet
  3. Contact Bright Support to request a renewal quote

Step 2: Submit payment

  1. Bright Software will send you an invoice or payment request
  2. Review the amount—compare it to your previous year’s payment
  3. Submit payment via:
    • Bank transfer (BACS)
    • Credit/debit card
    • Direct debit (if set up)
  4. Keep the payment receipt or transaction reference

Step 3: Wait for your activation code

Once payment is processed: - 2–5 business days: You’ll receive your activation code by email - Check your email (including spam folder) - Once received, follow “Entering your activation code” above

License expired and you can’t access DEFT

If you’re past the grace period and DEFT won’t open:

Option 1: Enter your activation code (if you have one)

Some versions of DEFT allow you to enter an activation code even after expiration:

  1. When DEFT displays the license expired message, look for an Activate License or Enter Code button
  2. Click it
  3. Enter your new activation code
  4. DEFT should reactivate

Option 2: Contact Bright Support for immediate access

If you can’t enter a code:

  1. Contact Bright Support with:
    • Your company name
    • Your company registration number
    • Proof of renewal payment
  2. Bright Support can:
    • Issue a temporary code immediately
    • Provide access while processing your permanent code
  3. Once you receive your permanent code, enter it as above

 

Frequently asked questions

Q: How much notice do I get before my license expires? A: DEFT displays a warning message 30 days before expiration. Check Help > License Information to see your exact expiration date.

Q: If I don’t renew, can I still access my data? A: No. DEFT won’t open after the grace period expires. However, your data is still intact in your DEFT database files. Once you renew and reactivate DEFT, you can access it again. Data is never lost just because a license expired.

Q: Can I use DEFT on multiple computers with one license? A: No. One license = one installation. If you need DEFT on multiple machines, you need multiple licenses or a site license. Contact Bright Software to discuss your options.

Q: How long is the grace period after expiration? A: Usually 7–14 days. After that, DEFT will not open. Don’t wait—renew before the grace period ends.

Q: Can I get a refund if I overpaid? A: Contact Bright Software’s accounts team. Refund policies vary depending on your contract and circumstances.

Q: What if I want to cancel my DEFT license? A: Contact Bright Software. Most licenses have a cancellation clause in the terms. Give proper notice (usually 30–90 days) to avoid being charged for renewal.

Q: How do I check if my payment went through? A: Check your bank statement for a transaction to Bright Software. The payment should appear within 1–2 business days of submission. If you don’t see it, contact your bank or payment provider.

Q: What if I enter the wrong activation code? A: DEFT will display an error. You can try again. If you get repeated errors, contact Bright Support—the code may have been entered incorrectly, or there may be a data mismatch.

Q: Can I transfer my license to a different company? A: No. Licenses are tied to your company name and registration number. If your company name changes, you may need to update your license with Bright Software. Contact them to discuss.

Q: What happens during the grace period? A: DEFT will display a warning message on opening, but you can continue to use the software normally. No data is lost or restricted. Renew before the grace period ends.

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