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For people who use your software

Verify your license with your email address

Enter your email address in the software, verify yourself with the code you receive, and start using the software.

What you need

This guide is for you if your software provider asked you to verify your license with your email address. A verification code sent to the email address you enter in the software confirms that it's really you.

  • The email address your provider hasThe address you gave your software provider. Codes aren't sent to other addresses.
  • Access to that inboxThe verification code works for 10 minutes only.
  • The installed softwareBe ready to open its activation (license entry) screen.
  • A passkey or an authenticator app (only if you were told so)If your provider asked you to use two-factor authentication, have your registered passkey (your computer's or phone's fingerprint, face, or PIN, or a security key) or the authenticator app on your phone ready too.

Enter your email address

  1. Step 1Enter your email address on the activation screen

    On the software's activation screen, choose to verify with your email address and enter the address your provider has. If it also asks for a license key, enter the key your provider gave you. The wording and layout depend on the software.

    The software shows the same message even if the address isn't registered (so the screen doesn't reveal which addresses are). If no email arrives within a few minutes, see Troubleshooting.

Enter the verification code

  1. Step 2Find the verification code in the email

    You receive an email from Usakey with a 6-digit verification code. The code works for 10 minutes and can only be used once. Don't share it with anyone.

    The verification code email from Usakey, with the 6-digit code, when it expires, and what to do if you didn't request it.

  2. Step 3Enter the code in the software

    Enter the verification code in the software. If you use two-factor authentication, the software then asks for an “authenticator app code or recovery code”. With an authenticator app, enter its 6-digit code. With a passkey, enter the approval code from the next step. Once you're verified, you can use the software on that computer, and you don't need to enter a code each time you start it.

  3. Step 4Approve with your passkey (if you registered one)

    Open the Approve with a passkey link in the verification code email. The page shows the product, the provider, and when the check started. Make sure you started this check, then choose Approve with a passkey and confirm with your device's fingerprint, face, or PIN.

    The verification code email for someone with a passkey. Under the 6-digit code (masked in this image) are the steps to approve with the passkey and a link to the approval page.
    The Approve with passkey page, showing the product, the provider, and when the check started, a note not to approve a check you did not start, and a button to approve with the passkey.

    When the Approval code appears (for example, ABCD-EFGH), enter it in the software's “authenticator app code or recovery code” field. The approval code works for that check only, for 10 minutes, once. Don't approve a check you didn't start.

    The approval code page, showing the 8-character approval code (masked in this image), a note that it works once within 10 minutes, and a reminder not to share it.

Register a passkey (only if you were asked)

If your provider set you up for passkeys, you receive an email from Usakey with the subject [Usakey] Set up a passkey.

  1. Step 5Register a passkey from the email link

    Choose Set up a passkey in the email, make sure the account shown is yours, and choose Add passkey. Your computer's or phone's fingerprint, face, or PIN, or a security key, creates the passkey. The link works once, within 24 hours.

    The Set up a passkey page, showing the email address of the account, a field for the passkey name, and a button to set up the passkey.

  2. Step 6Save the recovery codes

    After you register, recovery codes are shown once. If you lose the device with your passkey, you can enter one in the software instead of an approval code. Keep them somewhere only you can see, such as a password manager.

    The passkey registered page, showing 10 recovery codes (masked in this image) and how to use them when you verify.

Troubleshooting

The verification email doesn't arrive
Check your spam folder. If it still doesn't arrive, ask your software provider to check the email address they have for you and that a license is assigned to you.
The software says the code can't be used
The code may have expired (after 10 minutes), or you may have tried more than 5 times. Start over in the software to get a new code (the previous code stops working).
It asks for an authenticator code I don't have
If you registered a passkey, approve the check with it from the link in the verification code email and enter the approval code shown. If you lost the device with your passkey, you can enter a saved recovery code. Your software provider manages two-factor authentication for you, so contact them if you're unsure.
The passkey registration link doesn't work
The link works once, within 24 hours, and a newer link replaces it. Ask your provider to send it again.
I want to move to a new computer
Your software provider deactivates the old computer. Ask your provider to do it.

Screenshots were taken in a test environment with sample data. IDs such as product IDs, license keys, and activation tokens are masked. Some details may change as we improve the screens.