# Activations & Device Transfers

Activations denote the process of binding a device to a license. There are a few fields that allow you to control the node-locking properties of your software license: `Max Activations`, `Times activated`, `Transfer count`, and `Allow offline activation`.

![activation diagram](/files/98f5ce1b10cf5ae086b5c9bb4135b260897d4ee3)

## Max Activations

`Max Activations` refers to the maximum number of distinct devices that can be activated against a license.

## Allow Offline Activation

By default every license can be activated using online, offline or airgap activation process.

If you want to limit your licenses to be activated only online, you can toggle the Allow offline activation checkbox on a license.

When set to `False`, the License API will not allow the license to be activated offline or airgap (airgap being a variation of offline licensing).

## Times Activated

When issued, a license always starts with a `Times activated` of `0`. Each time a license is activated (bound to a device), the value for total activations increments by `1`. When a device is deactivated from a license, the `Times activated` field will decrement by `1`. Total activations must always be less than or equal to `Max Activations`.

## Transfer Count

When a license is deactivated on a device and then activated on a different device, the `Transfer count` will increment by `1`.

{% hint style="info" %}
You can set rules around transferring licenses across devices. For example, you can **prevent device transfers**, or only allow a **license transfer a limited number of times.**
{% endhint %}

![transfer rules](/files/85b3e990d137c0b21948b9391d745c69d8327340)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Prevent Device Transfers**\
When this option is checked, the license becomes permanently bound to the first machine where it is activated. This is also known as a **Node-Locked license**. It means the license cannot be moved or re-activated on any other device, even if it is later deactivated. Checking this box enforces a permanent binding of the license to a single machine.

**Has Device Transfer Limit**\
When this option is enabled, you can define the maximum number of times a license may be transferred between machines. A transfer occurs when the license is deactivated on one device and then reactivated on another. For example, if the limit is set to **3**, the license can be moved up to three times in total. If this option is left unchecked, transfers are unlimited (as long as the license is properly deactivated before reactivation).
{% endhint %}

![Device Transfer Limit](/files/7d2afbb9cb93c995d2fdb5979852968422e0103e)


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