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If you’ve ever installed paid plug-ins – music, graphics, or even some 3D tools – you’ve probably encountered authorization issues. And that’s where iLok License Manager comes in.
Not that anyone would dream of it. But when it comes to running a purchased plug-in, you can’t go anywhere without it.
It’s a licensing system. Not the program itself, but rather a bridge between the producer and the user. You buy a plugin, you are given a license, and it is linked to your iLok account. And then there are three options:
Bind the license to your iLok USB dongle,
Upload it to iLok Cloud,
Or leave it on your computer (rare, but it happens).
This is the program through which you manage these licenses.
Want to transfer a license from iLok USB to Cloud? This way.
Want to check which plugins are activated? Also here.
Want to understand why a plugin won’t launch? Chances are, the problem is here.
Let’s say you bought a plug-in from Slate Digital.
You install it. You run it. And it says, “License not found.”
You open iLok License Manager and see that the license is in iLok Cloud, but you are not authorized.
One click and everything works.
Without this program, you would be sitting wondering whether the plugin is bad or whether you installed something bad.
Firstly, because many heavy audio tools simply don’t work without authorization via iLok. Especially such tools as Pro Tools, Waves, FabFilter and the like.
Secondly, because iLok License Activation is a capricious thing. Sometimes all it takes is a change of Wi-Fi and the license is “lost”. And sometimes iLok License Manager won’t open, and you have to find a place to download it again.
This is a simple list of the things you can do:
Download/transfer licenses – between USB, cloud and comp.
Activate new licenses – after purchase or demo.
Check statuses – if the license is active, where it is now.
Synchronize – if something is glitchy, helps to “refresh” everything.
Restore licenses – if USB is dead or lost.
Especially helpful if you have an iLok subscription and switch between devices frequently.
The interface is not the friendliest.
It’s not immediately clear where to click. Especially if you don’t use it every day.
Cloud-mode is unstable.
It seems convenient – you don’t need to connect anything. But sometimes it crashes with a bad connection, and then licenses are “lost” until the next reboot.
The iLok USB can get lost.
Or die. And it can have anything on it. And while iLok license recovery is available, it’s not instantaneous.
You have a lot of plugins from brands that use this system.
You change computers frequently (for example, you work both in the studio and at home).
You have a VST license that needs to be migrated.
All you want to know is the location of your plugin activations so you are not desperate searching where they are during the night before you are supposed to get a submission ready.
Always synchronize before important projects.
Sometimes iLok License Manager does not see the license until you do a “Refresh”.
Keep your iLok account data in a safe place.
Without them, it will be difficult to restore everything.
That’s right – people over the age of 20 who work in audio, video, visualization, 3D and related fields.
Creative, but busy. Who don’t want to understand licenses, but have to.
iLok License Manager is not one of these things you thought about each day. It is just like a light switch you do not think until you are in darkness.
Yes, he has his quirks. But if you’ve ever tried to run a plugin without the right license – you know how much this program can bail you out.
It’s not perfect. But not without it.
Yes, iLok License Manager is free to download and use. You can get the official installer from our website. It allows you to manage, activate, and transfer your iLok licenses — whether you’re using iLok Cloud or a physical iLok USB dongle.
To activate a plugin, open iLok License Manager, log into your iLok account, and use the Redeem Activation Code option. Once the license appears, you can transfer it to your iLok USB, cloud, or local machine, depending on the plugin developer’s terms.
Yes, you can transfer iLok licenses between computers using the iLok Cloud or by using an iLok USB key. Just make sure to deactivate the license from the old device first, then log into your account on the new one via iLok License Manager.
If iLok License Manager doesn’t detect your license, try clicking “Synchronize” or “Refresh Subscriptions” inside the app. This often resolves sync issues with plugin authorization. Also make sure you’re signed into the correct iLok account.
Not necessarily. Many plugins now support iLok Cloud, which lets you authorize plugins without a USB key. However, for offline use or multiple workstations, the iLok USB dongle can still be useful — especially with software like Pro Tools, Waves, or Slate Digital.
