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Using TheBrain Offline

This document describes how to use TheBrain without an internet connection, including how to bypass the login screen and activate a license offline.

Skipping Login

When you launch TheBrain without an internet connection (or if the server is unavailable), the login screen will display a "Continue without an account" link after a few seconds.

  1. Launch TheBrain
  2. Wait a few seconds for the server availability check to complete
  3. Click Continue without an account below the login form
  4. You will be taken to the brains list

Note: Since you are not logged in, only brains that are not associated with an account will be displayed. You can import a brain archive or create a new brain from this screen.

Enabling/Disabling Offline Access in Settings

You can also enable or disable offline access from the Settings dialog:

  1. Open TheBrain and go to Settings (gear icon in the toolbar, or Account menu > Settings)
  2. Navigate to Device > Network
  3. Check or uncheck Allow offline access

When enabled, the "Continue without an account" option will always be available on the login screen.

Activating a License Offline

If you have a TheBrain Pro license and need to activate it without an internet connection, you can use the offline activation feature.

Overview

Offline activation requires briefly using a second (online) machine to exchange an activation URL and license key:

  1. On the offline machine, generate an Offline Activation URL from TheBrain.
  2. On an online machine, log into your TheBrain account and convert that URL into an offline license key.
  3. Back on the offline machine, enter the license key to complete activation.
Step 1: Prepare TheBrain on the online machine (optional)

If you have not yet installed TheBrain installer on the offline machine:

Step 2: Generate the Offline Activation URL on the offline machine
  1. Install and open TheBrain on the offline machine.
  2. Go to Help > Offline License Activation.
  3. In the dialog that appears, copy the Activation URL by clicking the Copy button, or carefully write it down.
Step 3: Convert the URL to a license key on the online machine
  1. On an online machine, go to https://app.thebrain.com and log in with your TheBrain account.
  2. Click your initials in the upper-right corner and choose Account Info and Tools.
  3. In the popup dialog, select Offline Activation.
  4. Paste the URL from the offline machine into the Offline Activation Key field and click OK.
  5. A new license key will be generated and displayed. It will look similar to this (example only):
Ad2501F9X1Db7fF3eyJMVmVyIjoxMzAsIkxWVW50aWwiOiI5OTk5LTxyLTMxVDIzOjU5OjU5Ljk5OTk5OTkiLCJMSENo3WNrIjoiZDZkM2I2YzAxMTQ0M2FmNTRkMDcwNWM5MG3iZjVjNGM5MzYwOTQzZWI5OGM1N2FmOTYxNzQ2NjI1MzUyNmNhxyIsIkFjY291bnRUeXBlSW50IjoyfQ8xA8Ef71A3EfAe70
  1. Copy this license key or write it down to transfer back to the offline machine.
Step 4: Enter the license key on the offline machine
  1. Return to the offline machine and open TheBrain.
  2. If needed, bypass the login screen again (click X or Continue without an account).
  3. Go to Help > Offline License Activation.
  4. Paste or type the license key you obtained from the online machine into the License Key field.
  5. Click Activate.
  6. Restart TheBrain so it can recognize the key and enable Pro features.

After restart, your license will be active on that standalone, offline installation. You are not required to log in to the desktop app; this means cloud sync will remain disabled, but all Pro features will be available locally.

If activation succeeds, you will see a notification confirming your license is now active. If you encounter any issues, verify that: