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How do I migrate my Mac App Store purchase?

  • Updated

If you purchased the Flume Pro in-app purchase or Flume 1.x via the Mac App Store, you can convert your purchase into a standalone licence that can be used to activate Flume Pro via our direct version. You do not need to re-purchase Flume Pro!

 

Introduction

Why do I need to do this?

When you buy apps from the App Store, none of your information is ever provided to developers. They don't know your name, your email address, where you are from, how much you paid, when, whether you asked Apple for a refund, whether they issued you the refund, and so on. Everything is stored in your Apple ID, including your past purchases, and developers never have access to this information. As a result, Flume includes a simple-to-follow tool and process that does a few clever things to ask Apple for your purchase history (securely). However, this information and data (your "digital receipt") is embedded inside the App Store version of Flume's app, which is why you need to temporarily have the App Store version installed and Flume Pro activated.

Why can't I just send you a screenshot / email of my purchase?

For a few reasons: it's time-consuming to answer hundreds/thousands of emails, you would have to wait hours to days for a reply and manual verification, and for data privacy reasons. The process below allows you to migrate the licence yourself within a few minutes. Please do not send emails of your address / payment information. The only way to securely and accurately verify your Flume Pro purchase, is to follow the process below.

 

Migration Steps (Text)

  1. Ensure that you still have the Mac App Store version of Flume (2.4.2) in your /Applications folder. If you don't have it anymore, you can still download it - click here to find out how to re-download and restore your in-app purchase before moving to Step 2.

    If you did not upgrade to Flume Pro via the App Store, but instead just purchased Flume 1.x when it was a paid app, go directly to Step 2 and ignore any steps to restore your in-app purchase.

    Important! If Flume 2.4.2 crashes on launch, click here to follow the crash workaround below.
  2. Once you have confirmed Flume Pro is enabled in Flume 2.4.2, download the latest version of Flume from flume.app and launch it from your Downloads folder. Do not overwrite your copy in the /Applications folder just yet! If you accidentally overwrite your App Store version with the direct version of Flume, return to Step 1.
  3. The Flume Licence Migrator will guide you through the process of creating a licence code (if it detects you purchased Flume Pro from the Mac App Store), or alternatively, it will offer you a unique discount code to purchase Flume Pro directly. If you don't see this window, you will need to manually open it. Click here to see how to begin the Licence Migrator manually.
  4. After you complete the Flume Licence Migrator process successfully and have received your Flume Pro licence code email, you can now delete Flume 2.4.2 as you do not require it any longer. It is strongly recommended that you now move the direct and latest version of Flume into your /Applications folder.
  5. Follow the instructions inside your Flume Pro licence code email to activate your new licence code.
  6. If you forgot to delete the App Store version of Flume 2.4.2 in Step 4, make sure to delete it now.
  7. You're all set!

Migration Steps (Pictures)

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Troubleshooting

You may need to delete your App Store version (2.4.2) of Flume, as the activation link in your licence code email may actually activate a hidden feature that exists in Flume 2.4.2 (App Store). Alternatively, you can use the manual licence activation instructions.

 

I deleted / overwrote my Mac App Store version

If you no longer have the Mac App Store version of Flume installed, you will need to download it from the Mac App Store again, and then "Restore Purchases" before performing the steps above. See Apple's Support article to learn how to re-download Flume from the Mac App Store, and also learn how to restore your in-app purchase of Flume Pro (if applicable).

 

I can't restore Flume Pro because I see an endless spinning / loading indicator

If you can't restore Flume Pro because you get an endless spinning/loading indicator, please see this solution to this Mac App Store bug. Alternatively, click the Upgrade to Pro button. You will not be charged twice if you are logged in with the same Apple ID you originally purchased Flume Pro with.

 

I cancelled the Flume first-launch automatic migration alert

If you accidentally cancelled the automatic migration alert on first-launch or you never saw it, you can manually launch the Licence Migrator Tool from the PRO menu bar item. Please visit the help documentation to learn more.

 

I can't restore Flume Pro because Flume 2.4.2 crashes on launch

If you need to restore Flume Pro in the App Store version of Flume, but cannot due so because of a launch crash, perform the following:

  1. Quit Flume 2.4.2 (App Store)
  2. Open Terminal (from the Applications > Utilities folder on your Mac)
  3. Copy and paste the exact lines below and press ENTER/RETURN:

    rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.rafifyalda.flume-mac/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Flume/; rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.rafifyalda.flume-mac/Data/Library/Preferences/com.rafifyalda.flume-mac.plist;

  4. Open Flume 2.4.2 (App Store)
  5. Do not log-in again. Open Preferences > Flume Pro (via the macOS Menu Bar), and confirm your Flume Pro status is enabled. If it isn't, click Restore Purchases to re-enable it.
  6. Run through the migration steps above.

Important: If you use Flume in "menu bar only" mode, you will not see the Flume menu bar menu. To access Preferences, you will need to right-click the Flume menu bar icon.