# Licensing

COM Agent needs a valid licence to **capture live measurements** from an instrument. [Demo mode](rhopoint-com-agent-demo-mode.md) always works without a licence, so you can explore the application and test your output and keyboard setup at any time.

Your licence status is always visible in the top-right of the window:

- A green **Active licences: N** badge means live capture is unlocked.
- A red **No active licences** badge means only demo mode is available.

<!-- docshot: licence-manager crop=.modal -->
![](../_images/com-agent-licence-manager.png)

## How licences work

A COM Agent licence can be bound in one of two ways:

- **To this computer (Host ID)** — unlocks live capture on this PC, for any connected instrument.
- **To a device serial number** — unlocks only the measurements coming from that specific instrument, on any PC. Use this when a licence should follow an instrument rather than a computer.

## Requesting a licence

1. Click the licence badge (or **Add licence**) in the top-right to open the **Licence Manager**.
2. Copy your **Host ID** with the copy button next to it. For a device-bound licence, note your instrument's serial number instead.
3. Send the Host ID (or serial number) to Rhopoint Instruments to obtain your licence file.

> [!info] The Host ID identifies this specific computer. A host-bound licence only unlocks live capture on the machine whose Host ID it was issued for.

## Importing a licence

1. Open the **Licence Manager** and click **Import Licence…**.
2. Select the licence file you received (`.lic`, `.txt` or `.json`). You can select several files at once.
3. The licence appears in the list and the badge turns green — live capture is now unlocked.

## Managing licences

The Licence Manager lists every installed licence with:

- **What it is bound to** — *This machine*, *Device serial: …*, or *Any machine*.
- **Its status and expiry** — for example *Valid · Expires 2027-01-31*.

Use the **trash** icon next to a licence to remove it.

> [!info] A licence bound to a device serial only processes measurements whose Device ID matches it. Other instruments connected to the same PC are ignored unless they are licensed too.

> [!warning] If you press **Start** for live capture without a valid licence, COM Agent shows a message and does not start. Either import a licence, or switch **Mode** to **Demo**.

[Next: settings and language](rhopoint-com-agent-settings-and-language.md)