Do you want to test a program for a little longer, but it has reached its expiration date? Certain Mac applications, such as Adobe, Final Cut Pro, etc., come pre-installed but with trial versions. Users using the software often encounter a message saying the application’s trial period has expired. It can become frustrating if you haven’t had the chance to explore the application’s features fully. Don’t know how to reset trial period on Mac? You can do so by using Terminal, Instruments app, and others. Click to learn more in detail!
Thankfully, a few methods can help reset the trial period. It allows more time to assess the application and its features before purchasing. In this article, we will show you how to reset the trial period on Mac by using the Terminal app or comparing directories on Mac. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
What Does Trial Period Means on Mac?
A trial period on a Mac is a specified time offered to users to evaluate software or applications before purchasing them. It is common for software developers to allow users to try their software and assess whether it meets their requirements. Users have full access to the software’s functions throughout the trial period, like the completed version, but for a limited time.
The trial duration might vary from a few days to weeks or months, depending on the software developer. Upon the trial period’s expiration, software often stops working entirely or restricts specific features. This makes it difficult or impossible to use the program. Mac users must then decide whether to buy the program or uninstall it from their Mac. But hang on a minute. There are a few ways to reset the trial period on Mac.
Top 5 Methods On How To Reset Trial Period on Mac
You can reset the trial period by deleting the config file, comparing /Tmp Files, using Instruments.app, and with Terminal. The simple login and logout method will also help to some extent.
Let’s go through different methods of resetting the trial period on Mac:
Method #1 – Login, Logout, and Log Back In
It is one of the simplest methods but not the most effective. Here’s how it works:
- Open the software by logging in as a guest.
- Next, log out of the software and login again.
- Relaunch the software and check if the trial period has been reset.
Method #2 – Delete Config Files
If your trial period has not been reset after logging in and logging out, follow the steps below:
- Sign in as a guest.
- Go to Finder and press Shift + Command + G.
- Type /Library/Application Support in the search bar.
- Find the software folder and delete all its config files.
- Also, delete the license file if it is present. It keeps track of the software’s trial period.
- Lastly, relaunch the software and see if the trial period has been successfully reset.
Method #3 – Compare /Tmp Files
After logging in as a guest, follow the steps below:
- Launch Terminal and make a backup of all the files at Tar Cvf /Tmp/Fresh.Tar /Users/Guest using the cp command.
- Next, launch the software and start your free trial.
- Exit the software.
- Now, go to Tar Cvf /Tmp/After_run.Tar /Users/Guest from the Terminal and back up everything from here with the cp command.
- Log out from the guest access and log in with the proper credentials.
- After that, copy all the /Tmp files and paste them into two separate directories.
- Use FileMerge and open both directories. Compare the /TMP files by identifying unusual and irrelevant files. If you find any of them, simply delete them.
- Finally, relaunch the software and check if you have reset the trial period on Mac.
Method #4 – Using the Instruments
This method also starts the same with logging in as a guest. After that, here’s how to use the Instruments:
- Go to App Store and type Xcode in the search bar.
- Download the application and wait for it to install.
- Once downloaded, start the app and click Xcode from the top menu bar.
- Go to Open Developer Tool and choose Instruments from the drop-down menu.
- Open File Activity from the list.
- Click the Launch Executable button to expand its menu and select the titular option Launch Executable.
- Click Select, and pick the software that is on a trial period.
- Tap Record, and wait for Instruments to launch the software.
- When the software runs, press the Click on Try button.
- You will now be redirected to a list of files by Instruments. Every software has a different set of files with distinguished names. But you need to look for files that are relevant to Trial Period. Commonly, you will find such content in the Library/Preferences File.
- Delete any related files to trial periods and exit the Instruments.
- Go to the software and check whether this method for a resetting trial period has worked.
Method #5 – Using Terminal
This step requires you to log in as a guest before using the Terminal. Once logged in, follow the steps below:
- Launch the Terminal app.
- Type the command Fs_usage in the Terminal and press Enter to run it.
- Launch the desired software and start your free trial.
- Exit the software and get back to the Terminal.
- While Fs_usage is running, press Cmnd + C to stop the process instantly.
- Go through every file the Terminal has found. Copy and paste this data into a text file.
- After that, search for data relevant to Trial Period. When found, delete it.
- Next, relaunch the software and see if it has reset the trial period on Mac.
Why Can’t I Reset the Trial Period of The Software?
Even after trying all the methods, some users might fail to reset the trial period of the software. The trial period won’t reset because of the following two reasons.
The first and foremost thing to know is that every software is developed differently. Thus, using the same methods might not allow resetting the trial period on MacBook. Unfortunately, there is no solution if the software restricts the reset process.
Another reason could be a mistake on your side. If you do not follow the process correctly, you might delete or modify another file, and that can cause software malfunction and prevent a trial reset. Hence, it is recommended to follow the steps carefully to avoid any inconveniences.
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How to Reset Trial Software Registry Mac?
The Mac does not have a built-in registry editor. However, you can manually delete the .plist files to reset the trial period of the software. Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure the software is not open for which you want to reset the trial period on Mac.
- Then, launch a Finder window and press Cmnd + Shift + G.
- Now, you will can see a new window. Here, delete /Library/Application Support and type the following path: ~/Library/Preferences/
- Find a folder with the software name.
- Open the folder and look for .plist files. Ensure you find files relevant to your desired software. You can take the help of the search bar at the top to find specific files.
- Once you see the required files, select all files, press right-click, and select Move to Bin. As a result, you will delete all software-related .plist files.
Note: You might still see the deleted files in the folder. If so, there’s nothing to worry about. As a precautionary step, you can also delete these files from the Bin.
- Next, close the Finder and restart your Mac.
- Launch the software to see if this process has worked.
Since .plist files are the alternative to the registry editor, deleting them will erase all the preferences. You must log in to the software again after your Mac restarts.
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FAQs
How to Use Trial Software Forever Without Expiration Mac?
You can use the trial software past its expiration date by uninstalling and reinstalling it. Another way is to access the registry editor after installing the software and store that information somewhere in a text file. After reinstalling the software, replace the default registry values with the saved ones.
How to Reset the Adobe Trial on Mac?
The only way to reset the Adobe Trial is by rebooting your Mac. Before that, make sure to sign out of the Adobe Creative Cloud. Also, delete all Adobe installed on your device. Proceed to reboot your Mac and log in as a guest to reset the trial period on your Mac.
How to Reset the Final Cut Pro Trial On Mac?
Log out of your Final Cut Pro account and uninstall it. Now, reboot your Mac and install the software again. Sign in with a new account to see if you have reset the trial period on Mac. You can also try the guest login for Final Cut Pro.
How to Uninstall Trial Software on Mac?
Exit the software and access it in the Applications Folder in Finder. Next, choose the software and press Cmnd + Delete key. Press Cmnd + Shift + G, type ~/Library, and hit the Return (Enter) key. When the library opens, delete all the files and folders relevant to the software. It will help you permanently remove everything related to the program from your Mac.
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Conclusion
Resetting the trial period on Mac can be challenging at first, especially for newbies. But there are several methods to try out. You can always move on to the next one if one doesn’t work. You can try deleting the config file, using the Terminal, working with the Instruments, or comparing the /Tmp files.
First, make sure to check whether the software allows you to reset the trial period on Mac or not. It will help you save time, as some programs will not work after their expiration date. So, trying any method on such software will only waste your time. You can research which programs’ trial period can be extended by searching on the internet.
Rebooting your Mac is the last resort if none of those above methods work. So, uninstall the software and reboot your Mac. Then, log in again to see if the trial period resets.
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