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Official Glyph binaries include a 48-hour free trial that starts automatically on first launch.

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How the Trial Works

When you launch an official Glyph binary for the first time:
1

Trial starts automatically

Glyph detects it’s the first launch and starts a 48-hour timer.
2

Full access during trial

You have complete access to all features during the trial period.
3

Trial banner appears

A banner at the top shows your remaining trial time with options to enter a license key or purchase.
4

Trial expires after 48 hours

When the trial ends, Glyph shows a lock screen requiring license activation.

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Trial Duration

The trial is exactly 48 hours (2 days) from the moment you first launch an official build.
  • Start time: Recorded on first launch
  • Expiry time: Exactly 48 hours later
  • Clock: Based on your system time
Changing your system clock will not extend the trial. Trial timestamps are recorded and compared against current time.

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Trial Banner

During the trial, you’ll see a banner at the top of the app: 
🟡 Trial | Your Glyph trial is active
         | [Remaining time]
         | [Enter License Key] [Buy on Gumroad]
The banner displays:
  • Trial badge indicating you’re in trial mode
  • Remaining time in days, hours, and minutes
  • Enter License Key button to activate immediately
  • Buy on Gumroad button to purchase a license

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What Happens When Trial Expires

After 48 hours, the trial expires and:
  1. Lock screen appears - Glyph shows a full-screen activation view
  2. App shell is blocked - You cannot access notes or features
  3. Settings remain accessible - You can enter a license key to activate
  4. Purchase option available - Direct link to buy on Gumroad

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Lock Screen

The lock screen displays: 
Official Release

Glyph requires a license key

This official build includes a 48-hour free trial. After that,
a lifetime Gumroad license unlocks Glyph forever on all of your devices.

🔴 Trial Ended | Trial expired [time ago]

[License Key input field]

[Activate License] [Buy on Gumroad]

[Retry Status Check] [Get Support]

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Activating During Trial

You don’t have to wait for the trial to expire. You can activate anytime during the trial:
  1. Click Enter License Key in the trial banner
  2. Or go to Settings → General → License
  3. Enter your license key from Gumroad
  4. Click Activate
Activating during the trial immediately removes the trial banner and unlocks Glyph permanently.

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Trial State Storage

Trial information is stored locally in: 
app_config_dir()/license.json
The file contains: 
{
  "version": 1,
  "trial_started_at": "2026-03-01T08:00:00Z",
  "trial_expires_at": "2026-03-03T08:00:00Z",
  "licensed": false
}
Deleting or modifying this file may reset your trial state, but you won’t get an additional 48 hours. The trial period is tied to the original start time.

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Community Builds vs Official Builds

Only official binaries from GitHub Releases enforce the trial:
Build TypeTrialLicense Required
Official ReleaseYes (48 hours)Yes, after trial
Community BuildNoNo
Development BuildNoNo
Self-BuiltNoNo
Official builds are identified by the GLYPH_OFFICIAL_BUILD=1 flag set during the release build process.

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Checking Trial Status

You can check your trial status anytime:
  1. Open Settings → General → License
  2. Look for the status badge:
    • 🟡 Trial Active - Trial is running
    • 🔴 Trial Expired - Trial has ended
    • 🟢 Licensed - Activated with license key
    • 🔵 Community Build - No licensing enforced

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Trial + Offline Use

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First Launch Offline

If you first launch Glyph while offline:
  • Trial starts normally based on system time
  • No internet connection required to start trial
  • Trial countdown continues based on local time

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Trial Expiry Offline

If your trial expires while offline:
  • Lock screen appears as normal
  • You must connect to internet to activate with Gumroad
  • Once activated, you can use Glyph offline forever

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Reinstalling Glyph

If you reinstall Glyph or move to a new device:
  • First install: New 48-hour trial starts
  • With license key: Activate immediately to skip trial
  • Multiple devices: Each device gets its own trial, but one license key works everywhere
Your license key has no device limits. Purchase once and activate on unlimited devices.

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Next Steps