MakeMKV asking for registration and not accepting the demo license

[youlk1234]

Hi there,
My MakeMKV (on Tiny11) started asking today for a license. Since i didn't pay for one (i don't have the means) and the software is still in beta, i used this license: T-BSaJ6gwgMx4eIggWkVYXiVP_6zehm7WAO9dEydvzOHFHoZ6YQ82BL5cGpYDxvyRWnS which is the one provided free until end of June 2026. But it calls it invalid. Any ideas on how to fix it?

[Woodstock]

How did you enter the key? Did you use Copy/Paste?

If so, windows users (especially) have to be careful that Microsoft did not "grab" too many characters.

Copy the key from the web page. Paste it into (say) notepad. THEN copy and paste the result into MakeMKV. This breaks Windows "helping" with the C/P operation.

[MannyDanny]

This key itself is valid. But not untill the end of june, but was even valid till the end of july:

Code: Select all

# curl -s 'https://keygen-makemkv.hotmann.de/api/v1/val' --json '{"key":"T-BSaJ6gwgMx4eIggWkVYXiVP_6zehm7WAO9dEydvzOHFHoZ6YQ82BL5cGpYDxvyRWnS"}' | jq -r '.response'
{
  "type": "time-limited",
  "expire": "2026.07.31 00.00.00 UTC",
  "valid": true
}

So maybe (if you use windows) you used another key? Check your registry, what is stored at

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MakeMKV\app_Key

?

[LuceaAnna]

This key itself is valid. But not untill the end of june, but was even valid till the end of july:

Code: Select all

# curl -s 'https://keygen-makemkv.hotmann.de/api/v1/val' --json '{"key":"T-BSaJ6gwgMx4eIggWkVYXiVP_6zehm7WAO9dEydvzOHFHoZ6YQ82BL5cGpYDxvyRWnS"}' | jq -r '.response'
{
  "type": "time-limited",
  "expire": "2026.07.31 00.00.00 UTC",
  "valid": true
}

So maybe (if you use windows) you used another key? Check your registry, what is stored at

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MakeMKV\app_Key

?

Why is there a discrepancy between the expiration date stated (end of June) and the actual expiration date (end of July) for the same key? Could there be another reason why the key isn't functioning even though it is still valid?

[MannyDanny]

Why is there a discrepancy between the expiration date stated (end of June) and the actual expiration date (end of July) for the same key? Could there be another reason why the key isn't functioning even though it is still valid?

I guess they misswrote when posting it, or they refreshed the key already and did not mention it.
Like currently there are TWO Keys available:

Key1: T-KSAboUofQcJk2yOi_I9WTJO@RcmpXEwRQcxatxr5sdCCRoJrx8oQStVvIohy8ELF7I (source: https://www.makemkv.com/buy/)
Key2: T-1UCm55i41FKgyrNBV5PvcL_YZH4I0IXPBfgR076QqUu_fn9i3rvUjV8F3QZzPHWiWR (source: viewtopic.php?t=1053)

Both are valid till the same date:

Key1:

Code: Select all

# curl -s 'https://keygen-makemkv.hotmann.de/api/v1/val' --json '{"key":"T-KSAboUofQcJk2yOi_I9WTJO@RcmpXEwRQcxatxr5sdCCRoJrx8oQStVvIohy8ELF7I"}' | jq -r '.response'
{
  "type": "time-limited",
  "expire": "2026.11.30 00.00.00 UTC",
  "valid": true
}

Key2:

Code: Select all

# curl -s 'https://keygen-makemkv.hotmann.de/api/v1/val' --json '{"key":"T-1UCm55i41FKgyrNBV5PvcL_YZH4I0IXPBfgR076QqUu_fn9i3rvUjV8F3QZzPHWiWR"}' | jq -r '.response'
{
  "type": "time-limited",
  "expire": "2026.11.30 00.00.00 UTC",
  "valid": true
}

Two different keys both with the same expiration date. I dont know why they do this..

Keep in mind, the Key you spoke about (valid till end of July) is not valid anymore. Check the other two sources I mentioned, they will be updated from time to time.

[gwhitcombe71]

I guess they misswrote when posting it, or they refreshed the key already and did not mention it.

MannyDanny, mine went a bit differently... i had the same "invalid key" thing on an old laptop a while back and the key was fine, i checked it and everything. didnt touch the registry at all in the end, it was just that my MakeMKV was a few versions behind (it had that "version too old" message buried in the popup, which i missed the first time, bloody annoying). updated it, pasted the key from the forum thread in and it took it first go. so for me it wasnt the key at all, just the install being out of date

[MannyDanny]

so for me it wasnt the key at all, just the install being out of date

This makes sense. While in beta I guess you can not be too outdated, otherwise it will not accept beta keys.
But this, as you mentioned, has nothing to do with the beta-license-keys themself.

[gwhitcombe71]

gwhitcombe71 wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2026 8:58 pm so for me it wasnt the key at all, just the install being out of date This makes sense.

fair enough on that, MannyDanny, but i reckon its not always version-related... had another go on this same laptop a few months back where it WAS the key gone stale, nothing to do with the app being old at all, so i think its a bit of both depending on the day. worth checking both before you tear your hair out tbh