Getting Started

License Activation

How to activate your TradingForge license key on first launch.

TradingForge requires a valid license key to unlock the application. Your license key is emailed to you after purchasing at tradingforge.net. Activation only needs to happen once per machine.

Licenses are activated online and require a one-time internet connection to verify your key against the TradingForge license server. After successful activation, TradingForge can be used offline for most features — though live trading still requires an active internet connection to reach exchange APIs.

Activation Steps

Launch TradingForge and open your browser

Start TradingForge from the desktop shortcut or Start menu, then navigate to http://localhost:3000 in your browser. On first launch, you will be automatically redirected to the license activation screen.

Locate the license activation screen

The activation screen will be the first thing you see before any login prompt. It contains a single text field asking for your license key.

Paste your license key

Copy the license key from the email you received after purchase. The key is typically in the format XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. Paste it into the license key field. Take care not to include any leading or trailing spaces when pasting.

Click "Activate License"

Click the Activate License button. TradingForge will contact the license server to validate your key. This typically takes just a second or two.

Activation confirmed — redirected to login

If the key is valid, you will see a success confirmation and be automatically redirected to the login page. Your license is now permanently tied to this machine and you will not need to activate again unless you transfer to a new machine.

If Activation Fails

If the activation fails, try the following steps before contacting support:

›Check your internet connection. Activation requires an outbound connection to the TradingForge license server. Ensure you are connected to the internet and that no firewall or proxy is blocking the connection.
›Check the key was copied correctly. Even a single incorrect character will cause activation to fail. Try selecting all text in the key field, deleting it, and re-pasting directly from the original email.
›Check for leading or trailing spaces. Some email clients add whitespace when copying. Manually trim any spaces before or after the key text.
›Check if the machine was previously activated. Each license key activates one machine. If this machine was previously activated with a different key or if the key has already been used on another machine, activation will be refused.

Activation Error Messages

Common error messages and what they mean:

›"Invalid license key" — The key does not exist in the license database. Double-check that you are using the correct key from your purchase email.
›"License already activated on another machine" — The key has been used on a different computer. See the license transfer section below.
›"Unable to connect to license server" — A network issue is preventing TradingForge from reaching the activation server. Check your internet connection and firewall settings.

License Transfer

Each TradingForge license is tied to one machine at a time. If you need to move your license to a new computer — for example, if you are upgrading to a new PC — contact support to request a license transfer.

Reach out at tfcontact@tradingforge.net with your order details and the reason for the transfer. License transfers are handled manually and are typically processed within one business day.

Keep your original purchase confirmation email in a safe place. It contains your license key and order reference number, which are needed for any support requests or license transfers.

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