Beyond Compare 4 License Key Has Been Revoked top -

The "license key has been revoked" error in Beyond Compare 4

typically indicates that the software's security system has flagged the key as invalid or blacklisted Beyond Compare Primary Reasons for Key Revocation Key Leaking/Piracy

: The most common cause is that a registered key has been leaked to the internet. Scooter Software flags keys found on public forums or "crack" sites to prevent unauthorized use. Accidental Use of Shared Keys

: If you are using a key from an unofficial source or if your purchased key was somehow compromised, it may be disabled. Version Mismatch (False Revocation)

: Sometimes an old key might not be applicable to a specific newer major version update, though major version 4 keys are generally valid for all 4.x minor updates. Malware Harvest

: In some cases, "mod malware" can harvest valid keys, leading to them being shared and eventually revoked by the developer. Beyond Compare How to Resolve the Issue beyond compare 4 license key has been revoked

If you have a legitimate, purchased license that has been revoked, follow these steps: Locate Your Original Order

: Gather your 8-digit serial number, the email address used for the purchase, or the original order confirmation. Contact Support Directly support@scootersoftware.com

. The support team can search their database to verify your purchase and provide a new, valid key if yours was compromised. Clean Up Old License Files

: Before entering a new key, you may need to remove the existing revoked key file to ensure a clean registration: BC4Key.txt %appdata%\scooter software\beyond compare 4\ or the program's installation folder. : Locate the BC4Key.txt (often in the Application Support folder) and remove it. Re-register the Software : Open Beyond Compare, go to Help > Enter Key , and paste the block of text from your license email, including the Beyond Compare For additional help, you can use the Scooter Software Lost Key Finder to retrieve all keys associated with your email address. Beyond Compare manually remove

specific registry entries that might be holding onto a revoked key? Old key not applicable for newer version? - Scooter Forums The "license key has been revoked" error in

I have written it from the perspective of Scooter Software (the developer) and also included a section for end users who might be seeing this error.

Official Statement from Scooter Software

At Scooter Software, we are committed to protecting the integrity of our software and supporting honest users who purchase legitimate licenses. Recently, we have identified a significant number of fraudulent or leaked license keys circulating on cracking websites, forums, and peer-to-peer networks.

Effective immediately, all unauthorized, cracked, or leaked license keys for Beyond Compare 4 have been remotely revoked.

If you are using a key obtained from a third-party source (e.g., a keygen, a pastebin link, or a "giveaway" not officially hosted on Scooter Software’s website), your license will no longer function.

Part 1: What Does "License Key Has Been Revoked" Actually Mean?

In the software world, "revocation" is a severe action. Unlike an expired key (which simply stops working on a set date), a revoked key is actively blacklisted by the software's licensing server. Check within Beyond Compare:

When you enter a license key into Beyond Compare 4, the software periodically phones home (or checks a local cache) to validate the key against Scooter Software’s database. If the server reports that the key is revoked, Beyond Compare immediately disables advanced features and reverts to a trial mode, typically showing the revocation message.

How to verify revocation

Check within Beyond Compare:
- Open Help → About or License dialog — the app often reports activation/validation status.
Attempt activation:
- Try reactivating or moving license to another machine; failure with “revoked” message confirms status.
Contact vendor verification:
- Reach out to Scooter Software support with your purchase details (order number, email, serial) for authoritative status.

The 99% Case: Why You Are Seeing This Message

If you are an individual user who did not buy the license directly from Scooter Software—perhaps you found a "free license key" on a blog, YouTube video description, or a cracked software forum—the reason is simple:

The key you are using has been reported as pirated and subsequently blacklisted.

Scooter Software actively hunts for illegally shared keys. They run automated scripts that scan public websites and pastebins. Once a key is found and verified as not belonging to a legitimate paying customer, it is added to the revocation list.

Step 5: Contact Scooter Software Support (The Definitive Solution)

If none of the above works, go directly to the source. Scooter Software is known for excellent customer support.

Go to: https://www.scootersoftware.com/support
Provide them with your name, email used for purchase, and the license key.
Outcome A: They confirm the key is legitimate and push a remote reset. You are back in business.
Outcome B: They inform you that your key was purchased fraudulently (e.g., from a reseller on eBay). In this case, you will need to request a refund from that reseller and buy a new key directly.