# Deactivate & reactivate PRIMER

If you need to move PRIMER 8 to a new machine, switch to a different licence key, or switch to a new subscription plan, you'll first need to deactivate your current installation. Deactivating frees up a seat on your licence, allowing you to activate PRIMER on a new machine or under a new licence or subscription plan.

- If you want to deactivate and reactivate on the same machine, see the section entitled '[Deactivate and reactivate](#bkmrk-deactivate-and-react)'.
- If you want to move PRIMER to another machine, see the section entitled '[Uninstall and reinstall](#bkmrk-uninstall-and-reinst)'.
- If you need more detailed help, see the section entitled '[In-depth walkthroughs](#bkmrk-in-depth-walkthrough)'.

#### Deactivate and reactivate

This process applies if you want to deactivate and reactivate on the same machine. For example, if there has been a change to your subscription plan, you may need to re-authenticate the software for the change to take effect.

1. Open **PRIMER 8** and click **Help** > **Manage Licence...** > **Remove Authentication**.
    
    [![remove-authentication-2.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/remove-authentication-2.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/remove-authentication-2.png)<br><br>
    
2. Copy and paste your licence key into the text box labelled '**Licence Key**'.<br><br>

3. Click '**Authenticate**'.

    [![authenticate-primer-licence-2.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/authenticate-primer-licence-2.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/authenticate-primer-licence-2.png)

#### Uninstall and reinstall 

This process is necessary if you're moving PRIMER from one machine to another.

1. Open the '**Control Panel**' on your computer (e.g., click the Start menu or press the Windows key and type 'Control Panel')<br><br>

2. Select '**PRIMER 8**' from the list of programs.<br><br>

3. Click '**Uninstall**'.<br><br>
    [![uninstall-primer.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/uninstall-primer.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/uninstall-primer.png)<br><br>

4. Follow the prompts to uninstall. In response to the question: 'Do you want to deactivate this instance of PRIMER to allow you to activate your licence elsewhere?', click '**Yes**'.
   [![uninstall-deactivate-message.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/uninstall-deactivate-message.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/uninstall-deactivate-message.png)<br><br>

5. [Download](https://www.primer-e.com/download) and run the PRIMER 8 installer ('<ins>PRIMER8Setup.exe</ins>') on your new machine.<br><br>

6. Open **PRIMER**. In the 'Welcome to PRIMER 8' dialog, click on '**Authenticate Licence**'.

    [![day-one-evaluation-period.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-03/scaled-1680-/day-one-evaluation-period.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-03/day-one-evaluation-period.png)<br><br>

7. Enter your licence key into the box labelled '**Licence Key**'.<br><br>

8. Click '**Authenticate**'.

    [![authenticate-primer-licence-2.png](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/authenticate-primer-licence-2.png)](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/authenticate-primer-licence-2.png)

#### In-depth walkthroughs

For more information on these processes, see the guides below:

- [Install PRIMER](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/link/1108)
- [Uninstall PRIMER](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/link/1118)
- [Activate PRIMER](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/link/1109)
- [Deactivate PRIMER](https://learninghub.primer-e.com/link/1111)