Reset license
When activation gets stuck — corrupt cache, mismatched account, or a license that refuses to refresh — the cleanest fix is to wipe the local activation and re-authenticate.
What does "reset license" mean?
It clears the activation data stored locally on this computer. It does not:
- Delete your account.
- Cancel your subscription.
- Touch your projects, notes, or share links.
After a reset, the next time you launch the app it'll behave like a fresh install — showing the Sign In screen and waiting for you to connect.
How do I reset the license?
Option 1 — From inside the app
- Open Preferences → Account.
- Click Deactivate Machine.
- The app returns to the Sign In screen.
- Click Connect your account and authenticate normally.
This is the right starting point for most cases.
Option 2 — From the web
If the app can't reach Preferences (e.g. it's stuck on Sign In):
- Go to storyfolder.com/account → Machines.
- Deactivate this machine from the web.
- Restart the desktop app and click Connect your account.
Option 3 — Manual cache wipe (advanced)
If neither of the above work, you can manually clear the activation cache.
Stop the app first
Make sure StoryFolder is fully quit before editing its data folder.
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/StoryFolder/activation.jsonWindows
%APPDATA%\StoryFolder\activation.json- Quit StoryFolder completely.
- Open the path above in Finder / File Explorer.
- Delete
activation.json. - Relaunch StoryFolder.
- Click Connect your account.
This is a last-resort method. Don't delete other files in the folder — your projects live there.
What if I get the same error after the reset?
Two more things to try:
- Sign in to the web at storyfolder.com/signin and make sure your account is actually accessible. If you see "subscription expired" or "no plan", that's a billing issue, not an activation issue.
- Try a sign-in link instead of email/password. See Sign-in link.
After resetting — will I have to re-download my projects?
No. Your projects are tied to your account, and the local thumbnail cache stays put. After you re-activate, everything reappears.
Still stuck?
Send us your logs and we'll figure it out: