Activation ties your license key to this site and turns on automatic updates for Manifyst. The plugin runs either way — activation is about keeping it current, not about unlocking features.
With an active license, Manifyst appears in Dashboard → Updates and in the Plugins list whenever a new version is released, and updates install like any other plugin. Without one, you would have to download and install each release by hand.
Activate from Manifyst → Settings → Licenses by clicking "Manage License" and entering your key — see Where do I add my license key?.
If activation fails, check that:
- the key is pasted with no extra spaces,
- the license has not already been activated on the maximum number of sites for your tier,
- the license has not expired (the row shows its expiration date),
- and your server can reach artifexrouting.com — a firewall blocking outbound requests will make activation appear to fail for no reason.
An expired license does not switch Manifyst off. Your events, signups, and settings keep working exactly as before; you simply stop receiving updates until you renew.
