How to activate HoldSay and manage device seats

Activate one Mac or Windows PC per device seat.

A HoldSay seat activates one Mac or Windows PC.

You can mix platforms across a multi seat purchase, and support can help when a seat needs to move to a replacement computer.

One key, one seat per computer — and a seat can move when your hardware does.

Activate a new computer

You may be setting up HoldSay after buying a license, reinstalling the app, or preparing a new Mac or Windows PC for dictation. Activation connects that specific computer to one available device seat. Before entering your key, install and open HoldSay on the computer you intend to use. HoldSay is a local desktop app for Mac and Windows, so activation happens on the computer where you will create and keep your notes.

When HoldSay opens for the first time, allow the required local models to finish downloading. Wait for that download to complete before continuing with activation or testing dictation. Then choose the license activation option and enter the license key exactly as it was provided. A key with a missing character or an added space may not verify correctly.

Enter the license key from the purchase receipt on the computer you want to activate.

1. Install and open HoldSay on the Mac or Windows PC that will use the seat.
2. Let the required local models finish downloading.
3. Choose the license activation option and enter your license key exactly as provided.
4. Wait for the success message confirming that activation is complete.
5. Run a short dictation to confirm that HoldSay is ready to use on this computer.

For the test, use the floating card to dictate briefly with the held key, then release the key and check the resulting note. The default dictation shortcut is Right Option on Mac and Right Ctrl on Windows. You can also use the floating card for REC recording. A completed note is available in History, where the available view can include Raw, Speakers, Polish, or Summary depending on the source.

• The required local model download has finished.
• A success message appeared after you entered the key.
• Your short test dictation created a completed note in History.

Understand a device seat

A device seat is the unit that determines how many computers can be active with your HoldSay purchase. One seat means one active computer. That computer can be either a Mac or a Windows PC. If you need HoldSay active on more than one computer at the same time, each active computer needs its own seat.

One device seat activates one Mac or Windows PC.

Seats are not tied to one operating system for the whole purchase. For example, a three seat purchase can cover three Macs, three Windows PCs, or a supported mix such as two Macs and one Windows PC. The important limit is the number of active computers, not whether those computers use the same platform.

A seat also is not a cloud user account. HoldSay keeps recordings and notes in the local library on each activated device. This matters when you use more than one computer: activating a second seat does not make the first computer's local notes appear on the second computer. Each device has its own local library unless you separately restore or move that library.

Use this distinction when planning access for a household, team, or personal setup. Count the computers that must remain active, then compare that number with the seats in your purchase. If every purchased seat is already active, a new computer cannot use another seat until support makes a seat available for transfer.

• One seat covers one active Mac or Windows PC.
• Multi seat purchases can mix supported Mac and Windows PCs.
• Notes and recordings remain in the local library on each activated device.

Move a seat to another computer

Move a seat when you replace a computer and no longer need HoldSay active on the old one. Treat the license seat and the local library as separate parts of the move. The seat gives the replacement computer access to HoldSay. Your recordings and notes remain on the old computer until you back up, restore, or move the library separately.

Start while you can still access the old computer whenever possible. Back up the HoldSay library there before making changes to your setup. This protects the local notes and recordings you may want on the replacement computer. Then install HoldSay on the replacement Mac or Windows PC, but wait to activate it until support confirms that the seat is available.

Activate the replacement computer once its seat is freed from the old computer.

1. Back up the HoldSay library on the old computer.
2. Install HoldSay on the replacement computer and allow the required local models to finish downloading.
3. Contact support@holdsay.com with your license key and the reason you need the transfer.
4. Wait for support to confirm that the seat is available.
5. Activate HoldSay on the replacement computer, then restore or move the library separately if needed.

In your support message, make the transfer reason clear, such as replacing a computer or moving to a different supported platform. Include the license key only in your direct communication with support. After activation succeeds on the replacement computer, verify access with a short dictation and check History for the new completed note. If you restored or moved a library, verify the local notes you expected are present as a separate check.

Fix a license problem

If activation does not complete, first check the information and conditions required for verification. Review the license key character by character for missing characters or extra spaces. Use the key exactly as provided. Also confirm that the computer has an internet connection, because HoldSay needs that connection for license verification.

Check the key and connection before retrying activation.

Next, consider your seat count. One seat can be active on one computer at a time. If all of the seats in your purchase are already active, the issue may be that no seat is available for the computer you are trying to activate. In that case, do not keep trying different keys or repeat activation attempts. Contact support to discuss a transfer if you are replacing an existing device.

1. Check the license key for missing characters and extra spaces.
2. Confirm that the computer has an internet connection for verification.
3. Check whether all purchased seats are already active.
4. If the issue continues, send support the exact error message, your platform, and your HoldSay version.

The exact error message helps support identify whether the problem relates to the entered key, internet verification, or available seats. State whether you are using Mac or Windows and include the HoldSay version shown in your app. If the activation concerns a replacement computer, include that reason as well.

Once support resolves the issue or confirms that a seat is available, return to the license activation option, enter the key again, and wait for the success message. Finish with a short dictation so you can confirm both activation and normal note creation on that computer.

Common questions

How many computers can one HoldSay seat activate?

One seat activates one Mac or Windows PC at a time. Buy additional seats for additional active computers.

Can a HoldSay multi seat purchase mix Mac and Windows?

Yes. Each seat can activate one supported Mac or Windows PC, so the seats in one purchase can be used across both platforms.

How do I transfer HoldSay to a new computer?

Back up the old local library, install HoldSay on the replacement computer, and contact support@holdsay.com to make the device seat available for transfer.

If a label on this page does not match the app, email support@holdsay.com. Include Mac or Windows and the HoldSay version shown in Settings.