Set up Stem Checker on shared lab or studio Macs using a single activation code. Students and staff do not need Stem Checker accounts on licensed machines.
Open the DMG and drag Stem Checker into Applications.
If macOS blocks the first launch, right-click the app and choose Open.
Activate a lab machine
Each activation uses one seat from your institution's licence.
Launch Stem Checker.
On the welcome screen, click Institution licence (below the sign-in form).
Paste your activation code and click Activate.
The app opens immediately — no email, password, or subscription required. To view licence details later, open Settings (⌘,) → Licence.
Deploying to many machines
Use the same activation code on each Mac until your seat limit is reached. Install the app via your usual MDM or imaging workflow, then run the activation step once per machine on first use.
If activation fails because all seats are in use, deactivate an old machine or contact your Stem Checker administrator to free a seat.
Internet and offline use
First activation requires internet.
The app re-validates about every 7 days when online.
Offline use is supported for up to 60 days after the last successful validation.
All stem checking runs locally — audio files are not uploaded to our servers.
Free a seat
When replacing or decommissioning a Mac:
On the Mac: Settings (⌘,) → Licence → Deactivate licence on this machine.
Administrator: your Stem Checker contact can revoke a machine from the admin dashboard.
What works without sign-in
Feature
Institution licence
Load and check stems
Yes
Sign-in
Optional
Dropbox cloud import
Requires individual sign-in
Personal Pro subscription
Not required
Troubleshooting
Invalid activation code — check for typos; ask your administrator for a new code if it was regenerated.
All seats in use — deactivate or revoke an old machine.
Licence expired — contact Stem Checker to renew.
Must connect to re-validate — connect to the internet and relaunch the app.
Wrong app version — use the build from /download, not the Mac App Store.
Support
Institution and billing questions: contact whoever supplied your activation code. Technical support: info@stemchecker.io