How to Handle License Expiry in Your Desktop App

License expiry is easy to implement technically but easy to get wrong from a UX perspective. Show the wrong error at the wrong time and you'll get angry support emails from users who just had a payment processing delay.

Here's the complete implementation pattern.

The Three Expiry States

1. Active — valid, full access
2. Near-expiry — 14 days left, show a non-blocking reminder
3. Expired — past expiry, show a blocking screen with a renewal CTA

const result = await validateLicense(key);

if (result.valid) {
  const expiresAt = result.expires ? new Date(result.expires) : null;
  const daysLeft  = expiresAt
    ? Math.ceil((expiresAt.getTime() - Date.now()) / 86_400_000)
    : null;

  if (daysLeft !== null && daysLeft <= 14) {
    showRenewalReminder(daysLeft); // non-blocking banner
  }

  launchApp();
} else if (result.status === 'expired') {
  showExpiredScreen();
} else {
  showBlockedScreen(result.status);
}

Near-Expiry Reminder Copy

Show this as a dismissible banner, not a modal. Don't block the user — they're doing real work. The message is factual and calm, not threatening.

Expired Screen

When truly expired, block access with a clear screen that:

• States that the license has expired (not "invalid key" or cryptic errors)
• Shows the exact expiry date
• Provides a direct renewal link
• Optionally: a "Retry" button for users whose payment just went through

Offline Grace Period

Never hard-block users who can't reach the internet. Always implement a grace period:

const GRACE_DAYS = 7;
const CACHE_KEY = 'kp_license_cache';

async function validateWithGrace(key: string): Promise<ValidationResult> {
  try {
    const result = await callValidateAPI(key);

    if (result.valid) {
      localStorage.setItem(CACHE_KEY, JSON.stringify({
        ...result, cachedAt: Date.now()
      }));
    }
    return result;

  } catch {
    const cached = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(CACHE_KEY) || 'null');
    if (!cached) return { valid: false, status: 'network_error' };

    const ageDays = (Date.now() - cached.cachedAt) / 86_400_000;
    if (ageDays <= GRACE_DAYS) return { ...cached, offline: true };
    
    return { valid: false, status: 'offline_grace_exceeded' };
  }
}

Status → UI Mapping

Testing Expiry Flows

In KeyPort, manually set an expiry date to a past date on a test license. Use this to verify your expired and near-expiry UI before shipping. Expiry UX bugs discovered when a real customer's license expires are the worst possible time to find them.