Up and running, and staying safe.
How activation works offline, where your data actually lives, and how to never lose it.
Getting started & offline activation
- 1
Install and open
Grab the edition that fits from Download — desktop, single-file, or team server — and open it. Everything works before any license: the beta and the 30-day trial are full-featured.
- 2
Copy your Machine ID
Open the License screen in the app. It shows this machine's hardware IDs with a copy button — send the Machine ID with your order (or your beta invite reply).
- 3
Paste your key
Your license key comes back by email, same-day. Paste it into the License screen once — it validates offline with public-key cryptography, so there's no activation server and no phone-home.
One license covers two machines (say, work and home). New PC? Email us for a free, same-day reissue.
Your data, your backups
Local-first means your projects are yours to protect — and that's easy, because they're just files on infrastructure you control.
Desktop edition
Your projects live in the app's local database on your machine. Use the built-in exports for snapshots, and include the app's data folder in your regular machine backup.
Single-file edition
Your whole workspace is one .db file, wherever you saved it. Backing up = copying that file. Keep a copy on a second drive or stick — done.
Team server
Projects live in the PostgreSQL database you host. Your standard database backup routine applies — it's your infrastructure, on purpose.
In every edition you can also export everything — Excel, CSV, MS Project XML, lossless JSON — so a portable snapshot of your work is always one click away.
Getting help
There's no support tier and no ticket queue — you're emailing the person who builds GanttPulse.