Run Light Lane without internet. Activate, refresh, and deactivate from an air-gapped machine.
School labs, factory floors, and secure workshops often have machines with no internet access. Light Lane handles that. The offline licensing system covers the entire lifecycle: activation, lease refresh, and deactivation, all through a code-and-paste exchange with a connected computer. The laser machine never needs to go online.
- Air-gapped activation: generate a Device Setup Code, get an Activation Package from the portal, paste it back.
- Offline lease refresh: same copy-paste exchange to extend your license without internet.
- Offline deactivation: release your device slot from a code generated on the air-gapped machine.
What offline licensing covers
- Air-gapped activation: no internet on the laser machine. Only needs a connected computer for the portal exchange.
- Air-gapped lease refresh: extend your license using the same code-and-paste method.
- Air-gapped deactivation: release the device slot so you can move the license to another machine.
- Ed25519-signed codes for tamper-proof exchanges between the app and portal.
- License state persisted locally. Lease token stored in the OS keyring (macOS Keychain or Windows Credential Manager).
- Standard online activation also available: log in, select entitlement, activate. One-click when internet is present.
- Automatic updates with SHA-256 checksum verification (requires internet; skip on air-gapped machines).
How to activate Light Lane on an air-gapped machine
- Step 1
Generate the Device Setup Code
Open Light Lane on the air-gapped machine. Go to Settings, then Licensing. Click Generate Device Setup Code. The app creates a base64 code containing your device identity and public key. Copy it to a USB drive or write it down.
Why it matters: This code identifies your machine without exposing any private keys. The private key never leaves the device.
- Step 2
Paste the code into the Light Lane portal
On a connected computer, go to the Light Lane customer portal. Log in, find the offline activation page, and paste your Device Setup Code. The portal generates an Activation Package.
Why it matters: The portal binds your device to your entitlement and issues a signed license token.
- Step 3
Copy the Activation Package back to the air-gapped machine
Copy the Activation Package (another base64 code) to a USB drive. On the air-gapped machine, paste it into the Licensing section in Settings. Light Lane verifies the signatures and activates.
Why it matters: The app checks the signing chain: issuer, device ID, and public key hash. If anything was tampered with, activation is rejected.
- Step 4
Refresh the lease when it approaches expiry
Before your lease expires, Light Lane shows a reminder. Generate a Lease Refresh Request from the Licensing panel, carry it to the portal, get a Lease Refresh Response, and paste it back. Same pattern as activation.
Why it matters: The lease keeps your license valid. Refreshing it extends the period without needing permanent internet.
Connected vs. air-gapped licensing actions
| Action | Connected (internet available) | Air-gapped (no internet on laser machine) |
|---|---|---|
| Activate | Log in, select entitlement, click Activate. Automatic. | Generate Device Setup Code. Paste into portal on a connected machine. Copy Activation Package back. |
| Refresh lease | Automatic background refresh at 75% of lease duration. | Generate Lease Refresh Request. Exchange via portal. Paste response back. |
| Deactivate | Click Deactivate in Settings. Device slot released instantly. | Generate Deactivation Code. Paste into portal to release the device slot. |
| Updates | Automatic with SHA-256 checksum verification. Stable and beta channels. | Download the installer on a connected machine. Transfer via USB. Install manually. |
Licensing controls in Light Lane
The Licensing panel in Settings shows your activation status, lease expiry, and provides the code generation and paste fields for air-gapped exchanges.
- Air-gapped activation and refresh controls.
- Update channels with checksum verification.
Offline licensing questions
Can Light Lane run permanently without internet?
Yes, for engraving and cutting. The app itself is a desktop application, not a web app. Once activated, all features except the AI assistant work offline. You only need periodic internet access (on any computer, not the laser machine) to refresh the license lease.
How often do I need to refresh the lease?
Lease duration depends on your subscription. When the lease reaches 75% of its period, Light Lane reminds you to refresh. On a connected machine this happens automatically in the background. On an air-gapped machine you run the code exchange.
What if my lease expires before I refresh?
The app locks until you refresh. Run the air-gapped Lease Refresh exchange to get a new lease token and the app unlocks. No data is lost.
Can I move the license to a different machine?
Yes. Deactivate on the current machine (online or air-gapped), then activate on the new one. Each entitlement binds to one device at a time.
Does the 14-day free trial work offline?
The trial starts online (you need to create an account on the portal). After activation you can use the air-gapped method for the rest of the trial period, though the 14-day clock is server-enforced and cannot be extended.
Test Light Lane in your air-gapped environment
14-day free trial with full Pro access. Activate online, then run completely offline for the rest of the trial.
Next steps
Validate one real workflow in Light Lane, then move to the most relevant guide or feature page.
Last updated February 20, 2026