Echo is a one-time purchase. Once you complete checkout you receive a licence key, and entering that key in Echo is all it takes to unlock the full app on your Mac. There is no account to create and no subscription to manage.
How Do You Activate Echo After Buying?
The process is short:
- Complete your Echo purchase. Your licence key arrives in the confirmation email from the payment processor.
- Open Echo from your menu bar. If it is your first launch you will see an activation prompt straight away; otherwise look for a 'Licence' or 'Activate' option in the app.
- Paste your licence key into the field exactly as it appears in your email.
- Confirm or submit. Echo will verify the key over the internet and, once accepted, activation is complete.
Licence keys are long strings of letters and numbers. Typing them by hand invites errors. Select the whole key in your email, copy it with ⌘C, then paste it with ⌘V to avoid any transcription mistakes.
What Should You Check If the Key Is Not Working?
Activation failures nearly always come down to one of three things.
1. The Key Was Not Copied in Full
Email clients sometimes wrap long lines or add a trailing space when you select text. If your key is being rejected, clear the field completely, go back to the original email, select the key again carefully from the very first character to the last, and paste fresh. A single extra space or missing character will cause the check to fail.
2. No Internet Connection
Echo needs to reach the activation server the first time you enter a key. If you are on a restricted network, behind a VPN, or temporarily offline, the verification cannot complete. Connect to a standard internet connection and try again. Once a key is activated on a Mac, Echo does not require a constant connection to keep working.
3. All 3 Device Activations Are Already Used
One Echo licence covers up to 3 Macs at the same time. If you have already activated on 3 machines, any further attempt will fail until you free up a slot. To do this, deactivate Echo on a Mac you no longer use, for example an old laptop you have replaced. See the related guide on moving Echo to a new Mac for the exact steps.
Echo does not use an Apple account or iCloud. Your licence key is the only credential. Keep a copy of your confirmation email somewhere safe so you always have it to hand when setting up a new Mac.
What If None of These Steps Fixes It?
If you have checked all three points above and the key is still not being accepted, it is worth reading the guide on what to do when Echo licence validation fails for more specific scenarios. You can also contact support directly at support@theodorehq.com with your order confirmation and a brief description of what you are seeing. Response times are typically within one business day.
Is Echo Compatible With Your Version of macOS?
Echo runs on macOS and requires a recent version of the operating system. If you are on a very old release and activation is failing in an unexpected way, check that your Mac meets the minimum system requirement listed on the Echo product page. Keeping macOS up to date also ensures the best experience overall.
Does Activating on a New Mac Cost Extra?
No. Your single purchase covers up to 3 Macs, and all future Echo updates are included free. You will never be asked to pay again to use a newer version of the app on a machine within your 3-device allowance.
Frequently asked
Where do I find my Echo licence key after buying?
Can I use one Echo licence on more than one Mac?
Do I need an internet connection to use Echo after activation?
Will I have to pay again when Echo is updated?
Get Echo for Your Mac
One purchase, up to 3 Macs, and every future update included for $9.99.
One-time purchase, yours forever.