License Deactivation & Transfer

Whether you're moving to a new domain, migrating hosting providers, or simply need to free up a license slot, understanding how to deactivate and transfer your Link Whisper license is essential. This comprehensive guide covers everything from standard deactivation to handling complex scenarios.

Understanding License Deactivation

License deactivation is the process of removing Link Whisper's activation from a specific WordPress site URL, which frees up a slot in your license allocation.

What Deactivation Does:

✅ Frees Up a Slot: Makes that activation available for use on another site

✅ Disconnects License: The WordPress site can no longer receive updates or use premium features

✅ Cloud-Based: Managed through your Link Whisper account dashboard, not WordPress

What Deactivation Does NOT Do:

❌ Delete Internal Links: All links you've created remain permanently on the WordPress site

❌ Uninstall the Plugin: Link Whisper stays installed in WordPress (you'd need to manually remove it)

❌ Delete Your License: Your license key remains valid and can be used elsewhere

❌ Affect Other Sites: Only the specific deactivated URL is affected

Common Reasons to Deactivate:

🔄 Domain Change: Moving from oldsite.com to newsite.com

📦 Staging to Production: Transitioning from staging.site.com to site.com

🏛️ Hosting Migration: Changing hosts but keeping the same domain

🗑️ Site Shutdown: Client project ended or personal site no longer maintained

🔧 License Limit Reached: Need to free up a slot for a new project

♻️ Troubleshooting: Reactivating to fix licensing issues

How to Deactivate a License (Standard Method)

The most reliable way to deactivate is through the Link Whisper user portal, which controls the "Master List" of your activations.

Step-by-Step Deactivation:

Step 1: Log Into Your Account

Navigate to LinkWhisper.com/my-account in your web browser and log in with your credentials.

Step 2: Access License Keys

Click on the License Keys tab in the navigation menu.

Step 3: Manage Sites

Locate your active license key in the list and click "Manage Sites" next to it.

This opens a list showing all WordPress sites currently using this license.

Step 4: Identify the Site to Deactivate

Find the URL you wish to remove in the list.

Examples of URLs you might see:

• https://staging.yoursite.com

• https://oldexample.com

• http://127.0.0.1/wordpress (local development)

• https://temporary-client-site.com

Step 5: Click Deactivate

Next to the URL you want to remove, click the "Deactivate" button.

Confirmation: You may be asked to confirm the deactivation. Click "Yes" or "Confirm."

Step 6: Verify Deactivation

Immediate Effect: The site is removed from your license instantly

Updated Count: Your activation count updates (e.g., from 3/3 to 2/3 activations)

Slot Available: You can now activate the license on a new site immediately

Important Notes:

⚠️ This Only Disconnects the License: Deactivation disconnects the license for future updates and premium features. It does not delete the internal links you have already built on that site - those remain in your WordPress database permanently.

✅ No Waiting Period: Deactivation is instant - no need to wait hours or days

✅ Self-Service: No need to contact support for standard deactivations

✅ Unlimited Deactivations: You can deactivate and reactivate as many times as needed

After Deactivation - What Happens on the WordPress Site:

On the deactivated WordPress site, users will see:

❌ Premium Features Locked: Link suggestions, reports, and one-click linking become unavailable

❌ Prompts to Activate: Messages asking to enter a valid license key

❌ No Updates: The plugin won't receive new versions or security patches

✅ Links Stay Active: All existing internal links remain functioning

✅ Plugin Still Installed: Link Whisper remains in the WordPress plugins directory

Transferring License After Hosting Migration

If you've moved your site to a new host or changed your domain name, you need to update the license connection.

Common Migration Scenarios:

🏛️ Hosting Change: Moved from Bluehost to SiteGround (same domain)

🎲 Domain Change: Renamed from oldsite.com to brandnewsite.com

📦 Staging to Live: Pushed from staging.site.com to www.site.com

🔒 HTTP to HTTPS: Changed from http://example.com to https://example.com

Step-by-Step Transfer Process:

Step 1: Deactivate the Old URL

Follow the standard deactivation steps above to remove:

• The old domain (e.g., oldsite.com)

• The staging URL (e.g., staging.site.com)

• The old host's temporary URL

This frees up the license slot.

Step 2: Ensure Plugin is Installed on New Site

Make sure Link Whisper is installed and activated on the new WordPress site:

1. Go to Plugins → Add New in WordPress

2. Upload the Link Whisper .zip file

3. Click Install Now then Activate

Note: If you migrated the site (rather than setting up fresh), Link Whisper should already be installed.

Step 3: Activate on New Site

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard on the new live site

2. Navigate to Link Whisper → Settings → Licensing

3. Paste your license key in the License Key field

4. Click "Activate License"

Result: The new site URL is now associated with your license.

Step 4: Verify Activation

Check that:

• License status shows "Active"

• The new URL appears in the licensing section

• Premium features are fully functional

Special Case: HTTP to HTTPS Migration

If you've added an SSL certificate and changed from:

http://example.com → https://example.com

Important: These count as two different URLs in Link Whisper's system.

Solution:

1. Deactivate http://example.com from your account

2. Activate https://example.com on the WordPress site

What to Do If You Can't Access the Old Site

A common issue occurs when users delete a WordPress installation or lose access to the admin panel before deactivating the plugin.

Scenarios Where This Happens:

🗑️ Site Deleted: Hosting account cancelled, WordPress files removed

🔒 Login Lost: Forgot password, email changed, can't reset

💔 Crashed Site: WordPress is broken and won't load the admin panel

👥 Client Ended Contract: No longer have access to client's WordPress

⌨️ Development Environment Gone: Deleted localhost or staging environment

The Good News:

You do NOT need access to the old website to remove the license.

Because license management is cloud-based (controlled from your Link Whisper account, not from WordPress), you can remotely deactivate.

Step-by-Step: Remote Deactivation

Step 1: Log Into Your Account

Go to LinkWhisper.com/my-account and log in.

Step 2: Navigate to Manage Sites

Click License Keys → Manage Sites next to your license.

Step 3: Locate the "Dead" Site

Find the URL of the site you can no longer access.

It will still appear in the list even though the actual WordPress site is gone.

Step 4: Click Deactivate

Click "Deactivate" next to that URL.

Result: This immediately frees up your activation slot without needing to access the WordPress site itself.

Step 5: Activate on New Site

You can now use that slot for a new WordPress installation.

Why This Works:

Link Whisper's licensing system is server-based:

• Your license registrations are stored on Link Whisper's servers

• WordPress only checks if the license is valid when activated

• Deactivation happens on Link Whisper's end, not in WordPress

• The WordPress site doesn't "know" you deactivated remotely - it just stops working when it checks next

License Reset Request Process

Occasionally, you may encounter a situation where your license shows "No Activations Left" but your "Manage Sites" list appears empty or incorrect.

When This Happens:

👻 Ghost Activations: Old sites still registered but don't show in the list

♻️ Cache Issue: Server cache hasn't updated to reflect deactivations

⚙️ Database Sync Error: Rare server-side issue causing miscount

How to Identify This Issue:

Symptoms:

• Error message: "No Activations Left" when trying to activate

• Your Manage Sites list shows fewer sites than your activation count

• Activation count says "3/3" but you only see 1 or 2 sites in the list

• You've deactivated sites but the count hasn't decreased

Step-by-Step: Request a License Reset

Step 1: Check "Manage Sites" First

Before contacting support, verify that you haven't simply forgotten to deactivate a staging site or old development environment.

Look for:

• staging.yoursite.com

• dev.yoursite.com

• 127.0.0.1 or localhost

• Old domains you've moved away from

Deactivate any you find.

Step 2: Confirm the Issue

If the list is empty (or shows fewer than expected) but the key still says "Full" or "No Activations Left," you have a sync issue.

Step 3: Contact Support

Email: support@linkwhisper.com

Subject: "License Key Reset Needed - [Your License Key]"

In Your Email, Include:

1. Your License Key: The full alphanumeric key

2. Description of Issue: "My license shows X/Y activations but the Manage Sites list only shows Z sites"

3. Screenshot (Optional): Capture of your Manage Sites page showing the discrepancy

Example Email:

Subject: License Key Reset Needed - ABC123DEF456

Hi Support,

My license key (ABC123DEF456) shows "3/3 Activations" and won't let me activate on a new site, but when I go to "Manage Sites," the list is completely empty.

I believe there are ghost activations. Could you please reset my license key?

Thank you!
[Your Name]

Step 4: Support Clears Ghost Activations

The Link Whisper support team will:

1. Verify your account and license details

2. Check server-side activation records

3. Clear "ghost" activations from the server

4. Confirm that your license is reset

Response Time: Typically within 24 hours

Step 5: Reactivate Immediately

Once support confirms the reset:

1. Your license will show "0/3 Activations" (or whatever your tier is)

2. You can immediately activate on your WordPress sites

3. The issue should be resolved permanently

Transferring License Between Different Accounts

Important Limitation: Link Whisper licenses are non-transferable between user accounts.

What This Means:

❌ Can't Transfer to Client: You can't transfer a license from your account to a client's account

❌ Can't Transfer Between Team Members: Can't move a license from one employee's account to another

❌ Can't Sell/Gift License: Licenses are tied to the purchasing account

What You CAN Do:

✅ Deactivate and Reactivate on Different Sites: Move the license between different WordPress sites under the same account

✅ Manage Client Sites: Keep client sites activated under your license (you maintain control)

✅ Purchase Additional Licenses: Buy separate licenses for other users/accounts

Alternative Solutions:

For Agencies Managing Client Sites:

Purchase a 10-Site or 50-Site license and manage all client sites under your account. When a client leaves, deactivate their site and use that slot for a new client.

For Transferring Ownership:

If a client truly needs their own license:

1. Deactivate your license from their site

2. Have the client purchase their own Link Whisper license

3. Client activates their new license on their site

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many times can I deactivate and reactivate?

A: Unlimited. There's no restriction on how many times you can deactivate and reactivate your license.

Q: Will deactivating delete my internal links?

A: No! All internal links you've created remain permanently in your WordPress database. Deactivation only affects the license connection and premium features.

Q: Do I need to deactivate before migrating my WordPress site?

A: It's recommended but not required. If you migrate the site (copying everything including database), the license key will migrate with it. However, you should deactivate the old URL if it differs from the new one.

Q: What if I deactivate the wrong site by accident?

A: Simply reactivate it immediately by going to that WordPress site and entering your license key again.

Q: Can I deactivate from within WordPress instead of the account dashboard?

A: The account dashboard is the official method and ensures proper deactivation. Some WordPress plugins allow in-dashboard deactivation, but using the cloud-based dashboard is more reliable.

Q: How long does deactivation take?

A: Instant. Deactivations are processed immediately with no waiting period.

Q: Will the plugin stop working immediately after deactivation?

A: Premium features will be disabled the next time WordPress checks the license (usually within minutes to hours). Existing links continue working indefinitely.

Need Help with License Management?

If you're experiencing issues with deactivation or license transfers:

Email: support@linkwhisper.com

Common Support Requests:

• License reset for ghost activations

• Help deactivating an inaccessible site

• Questions about moving between hosts

• Assistance with complex migration scenarios

Response Time: Usually within 24 hours

Include in Your Email:

• Your license key

• URLs of sites involved (old and new)

• Description of what you're trying to accomplish