> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.draftable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Verifying Draftable Legal licence activation across user machines

> Draftable Legal stores a tiny piece of licence data locally the first time a user activates the product.

Because no per-user telemetry is sent to Draftable, and a centralised administrator portal for license and usage monitoring does not exist for Draftable, the Windows Registry is the most reliable way for administrators to confirm whether **this** workstation (and account/user) is already activated.

This article explains:

* **Where to look** in the Registry for both per-user and machine-wide installs.
* **What each value means** (activated vs not-yet-activated).
* A ready-to-run **PowerShell script** that can audit one PC, or many PCs by reading those keys remotely.

### How Draftable decides which key to read

When Draftable starts, it first checks the current user hive (**HKCU**).\
If the required value is **not** present, it falls back to the machine-wide hive (**HKLM)**.

<Info>
  **Machine-wide note:** all system-scope keys live under\
  `HKLM\Software\Policies\Draftable` rather than `HKLM\Software\Draftable`.
</Info>

### Registry locations and meanings

| Installer scope              | Hive & path                                | Value name                    | Meaning                                                                    |
| :--------------------------- | :----------------------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Per-user (Default EXE / MSI) | `HKCU\Software\Draftable\Compare`          | `ActivatedProductKey`         | Present ⇒ this profile **is activated**                                    |
| Per-user (Default EXE / MSI) | `HKCU\Software\Draftable\Compare`          | `ProductKey`                  | Present but **ActivatedProductKey missing** ⇒ user *has not activated yet* |
| Machine-wide MSI             | `HKLM\Software\Policies\Draftable\Compare` | Same two value names as above | Same meaning, but applies to **all** users on the device                   |

**Example screenshot of a user who has Draftable activated**

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/draftable/B2kzCCfUvVdHgQCw/images/draftable-legal/image-215.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=B2kzCCfUvVdHgQCw&q=85&s=697979517da68d500a589483e2b777bc" alt="" width="948" height="520" data-path="images/draftable-legal/image-215.png" />
</Frame>

The `ProductKey` entry is also where administrators can pre-set a licence before first launch.

### Manual, one-off check

<Steps>
  <Step>
    **Win + R →** `regedit`
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Browse to the relevant path from the table above.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Look for `ActivatedProductKey` (activated) or only `ProductKey` (not yet activated).
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Automated audit with PowerShell

Save this as `Check-DraftableActivation.ps1` and run it in an elevated PowerShell window.\
It defaults to the local machine; add `-ComputerName` to scan remote PCs (requires the **Remote Registry** service).

```powershell expandable theme={null}
<#
  Check-DraftableActivation.ps1
  Purpose: List Draftable licence status for one or more computers.
  Usage:
      .\Check-DraftableActivation.ps1               # local machine
      .\Check-DraftableActivation.ps1 -ComputerName PC01,PC02
#>

param(
    [string[]]$ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
)

function Get-DraftableStatus {
    param($Computer)

    # Open HKU (per-user hives) on the target
    $reg = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]::OpenRemoteBaseKey(
               [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryHive]::Users, $Computer)

    foreach ($sid in $reg.GetSubKeyNames()) {
        $sub = $reg.OpenSubKey("$sid\Software\Draftable\Compare")
        if (-not $sub) { continue }

        $activated = $sub.GetValue('ActivatedProductKey',$null)
        $pending   = $sub.GetValue('ProductKey',$null)

        [pscustomobject]@{
            Computer   = $Computer
            UserSID    = $sid
            Activated  = [bool]$activated
            ProductKey = $activated ?? $pending
        }
    }
}

$results = $ComputerName | ForEach-Object { Get-DraftableStatus $_ }
$results | Format-Table -AutoSize
```

**What the script does**

* Enumerates each profile under **HKU**.
* Reports `Activated = True` if `ActivatedProductKey` exists; otherwise `False`.
* Works locally or remotely (requires network connectivity and permissions).
* Pipe the last line to `Export-Csv` for a spreadsheet-friendly report:

```powershell theme={null}
$results | Export-Csv .\DraftableActivationAudit.csv -NoTypeInformation
```

### Troubleshooting

| Symptom                             | Likely cause                                             | Fix                                                       |
| :---------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------- |
| No keys found for a user            | Draftable has never been launched under that profile     | Ask user to open Draftable once, or pre-seed a ProductKey |
| Neither HKCU nor HKLM keys exist    | App installed but never run, or incorrect installer path | Verify correct installer (per-user vs machine-wide)       |
| Remote script returns access errors | Remote Registry service disabled or insufficient rights  | Start the service or run with elevated domain credentials |

### Next steps or further questions?

* Use the PowerShell script to audit your users' activation status, and make changes to the code for easier automation where required.
* Pair this check with Draftable’s [Group Policy templates](/hc/en-us/articles/28666057117721-Draftable-Legal-Group-Policy-Template-Files) to automate licence rollout and other settings.
* Still have questions? Contact **[support@draftable.com](mailto:support@draftable.com)** — centralised usage telemetry is on our roadmap and feedback is welcome.