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Hi, I have a v3.x license. At first I got the complimentary license upgrade, but somehow the app became Unlicensed, maybe I clicked something? I try to use my v3.x license code. Which should work as I would assume the license upgrade would apply per computer or per user, and this it the same MacBook I have always run BetterDisplay on. However, when I try to use the key to access my complimentary upgrade, it says "Outdated License" and the status remains as "Unlicensed, Trial Expired" without any Pro features unlocked. In short -- I am locked out of Pro features despite having a valid key. |
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Hi, if you have a v3.x license, it should work on the v4.x app version just fine. I can check the particular license but I'd need the license/purchase details for that. You should reach out to me directly - see the contact info at the bottom of the GitHub main project page: https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay#contact--discord-community-server Thank you! |
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Hi, I'll stick to v3.5.6b and I've disabled checking for updates but seems that update check took place already and I get the relevant notification icon. How to get rid of it ? Simply restarting the app doesn't help |
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@gbil - valid question. You should try clicking on the "Install App Update" notification, then hit "Skip This Version" to get rid of the notification. |
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👎 for update to new major version without clear mention of the license being "outdated" before update, and no prorated discount for close-to-july-2024 licenses, and scary misleading message about "outdated" license. So you get me hooked on v4 and if I have to reinstall now I am forced to get a new license. Paying for the license is fair but the way it was done isn't great. Edit to add that I appreciate all of your work @waydabber and I will be renewing my license soon. |
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Hi @bdrewery – I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I did try to make it clear in the release notes (shown on in-app upgrades and linked to the FAQ) that this was a major version update and who qualifies for a free upgrade (the release notes is non-skippable and appears to every user who upgrades the app): https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay/releases/tag/v4.0.4 The “outdated license” message isn’t meant to be scary or misleading – it’s just meant to clarify that the license is outdated and once the app is deactivated, this license can’t be used again for activation with the new app version. The action button clearly starts with a "Deactivate…", so I don't think there is any ambiguity. The update doesn’t force a deactivation though: the app continues to work normally, and the notice can be closed or ignored if you’d prefer to delay getting a new license. I really iterated a lot on how this works and improved upon the feedback received over the 6 weeks long public pre-release testing. With the v2→v3 transition I didn’t add any license messaging at all (except noting in the release notes and license terms that the update is a paid one), and as a result almost everyone ignored that it was a paid upgrade. This time I aimed for a clearer message. Again, thanks for the feedback and I will try to make the experience even better next time! |
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I'll suggest a minor refinement: 
Replace the copy of the |
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Hi @AldoMX - indeed, that would help clarifying things - but from a technical perspective sadly this can't be implemented as the older app version (from which an user upgrades) is already out there and the Install Update button can't be changed retroactively (an other technical issue is that the "Install Update" button is actually provided by the popular third party app update framework, Sparkle - but I plan to change how this works in a future update anyway to streamline updates). Additionally, users with a v3.x license holders and free users can upgrade without any payment and even v1.x and v2.x license holders can upgrade, the app won't get deactivated - they can decide to get a new license when they are ready, so the payment is not actually required upon update in a strict sense but when they acknowledge the outdated license issue and ready to get a new license. But I am learning from all the useful feedbacks (also on the similar forum channel at the app discord server) and next time around I will incorporate these suggestions. :) |
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I also updated the release notes a bit (as that part is dynamically pulled from GitHub) so all the relevant information fits better: 
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BetterDisplay 4 adds full compatibility with macOS Tahoe 26 and includes various improvements.
FAQ TL;DR:
Q: Which macOS versions can run the v4.x app versions?
v4.x is compatible with macOS Tahoe 26, as well as the same versions supported by v3.x: macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, and macOS Ventura.
Q: Is the v4.x upgrade free for Pro users?
If you bought Pro for the v3.x app (any purchase after July 15, 2024), you get the v4.x upgrade for free.
If you have a Pro license from v1.x or v2.x, your license is considered outdated for v4.x. We kindly ask you to purchase a new Pro license for v4.x after upgrading to support ongoing development.
Q: Is the v4.x upgrade free for non-Pro users?
Of course.
Q: Is there a cheaper upgrade license or upgrade discount?
Unfortunately, no. Every outdated license already received one major version upgrade for free, and in all cases the purchase was made more than a year ago.
Q: I am still running an earlier app version — if I purchase Pro now with an in-app purchase from the older app version, will my license count as v4.x?
Any purchase (using any app version in case of an in-app purchase) is now considered a v4.x purchase.
Q: I am running an old macOS version so I need to have an old app version installed. Can I still buy a license and activate my older app version with a newly purchased v4.x license key?
Newly purchased licenses activate any older app versions as well as the new v4.x version.
Q: I have an old (v1.x or v2.x) Pro license. Will the app be deactivated immediately after I upgrade to v4.x because of the outdated license?
No, the app will not be deactivated when you update. You’ll see a warning about the outdated license in the app menu and under
Settings > Pro, but all Pro features remain fully accessible. You can safely buy a new license after upgrading the app.Q: I purchased the app very close to the July 15, 2024 cut-off date. Can't you make an exception with me?
No — but as explained above, the app does not get deactivated on upgrade just because you have an outdated license. If you feel you had bad luck buying the app on July 14, 2024, feel free to compensate a bit by using the v4.x version with the outdated license for a while, then get a new license.
Q: I don’t want to buy a new license because I don’t believe in paying for upgrades / I have financial issues / I prefer to keep my wallet on a strict diet. What can I do?
No worries, as long as you don't deactivate the app after upgrading your activated v3.x installation to v4.x, you can technically continue to use Pro with the notification about the outdated license.
Q: I have a clean installation of the v4.x app version (instead of upgrading the app using the updater). Or my installation got deactivated for any reason. Now the app does not accept my old (v1.x or v2.x) license key for activation. What should I do?
Outdated (v1.x and v2.x) keys will not activate Pro for the v4.x app version. You either need to buy a new license key — or you can install v3.x and activate the app with the old key.
Q: I upgraded the app to v4.x, have an outdated license, don't want to get a new one and hate the notification in the app menu about the outdated license! Is there a solution?
The preferred way to get rid of the outdated license warning is to get a new license.
But if you really can't (or don't want to) do that, go Settings > Menu > Additional menu options and enable
Hide warnings in the menu baroption. You can also click thexicon in the top-right corner of the warning message underSettings > Proto make the license warning message less pronounced there. This way you can continue to use the app with the old license with fewer warnings for the time being. Make sure you don't deactivate the app because then you won't be able to activate the v4.x installation again with the outdated key.Q: But... but I still don't feel it's fair to ask money for a new version! Why shouldn't I feel cheated?
BetterDisplay licenses are lifetime licenses for each main version. We’ve also always given one free upgrade: v1.x users got v2.x for free, v2.x users got v3.x, and now v3.x users get v4.x.
On top of that, v3.x will still happily activate with a v1.x key (even though technically outside license terms). So if you have a v1.x or v2.x license, you can keep using v3.x indefinitely — it’s still a very capable version, and it hasn’t lost any value just because v4.x exists.
Q: Ok, but I want to run Tahoe, because I have a very capable, expensive Mac, but at the same time I don't want to pay for a v4.x Pro upgrade, even after getting the previous upgrade for free. The v3.x version has this issue with auto-brightness enabled on Apple Silicon with Tahoe — so I feel cornered into buying a new license. How is this fair?
We don't believe in cornering people into paying for an app upgrade due to a macOS version change. This is why a retrofitted version of the latest stable v3.x is available for download (BetterDisplay v3.5.6b) with updated Tahoe compatibility.
Q: What if I buy v4.x and v5.x comes out?
Rest assured, if you buy the app and there will be a major upgrade in a year or so, you are covered - just like v3.x users got v4.x for free.
Q: Is it okay to run the v4.x app version with an outdated license warning in the long run?
Officially not, as it goes against the license terms — so if you can afford an upgrade, please support development by getting one. But if you are not a business user and don't have the means to get a new license right away but still want to use the v4.x version instead of being satisfied with the (still perfectly good) previous v3.x version, you have some flexibility.
Q: Can you show me where it is in the earliest version of the License Terms that an upgrade may require additional payment?
Of course. Please go to the license terms page, click on the "edited" button (top-right corner), where you can check out all revisions of the license terms and understand what changed when. Search for the following in the earliest revision: 'Licenses are valid for the current major version of the app(…)'
Q: I am an early backer (from the time when the app was called BetterDummy with some initial features). Can I get a free license?
Absolutely. If your name is on the Early Backers List, you have lifetime upgrades for free. Please contact me for an appropriate coupon code with the original receipt of your contribution.
Please feel free to give your opinion (thumbs up or down…) or comment!
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