# DTTG 4 (Using Legacy 3 Licence) Family Sharing Not Recognized on Other DTTG 4 Device

**URL:** <https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583>\
**Category:** DEVONthink To Go\
**Created:** [September 6, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583 "2026-09-06T19:32:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/1 "2026-09-06T19:32:01Z")

</div>

Hello. I upgraded my app recently to v4 and saw that my license carried over from v3, but my partner’s device shows family sharing for this app, but it’s not recognizing the license for her v4.

Thanks for the advice.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cgrunenberg](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/cgrunenberg/32/7172_2.png) [@cgrunenberg](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/cgrunenberg)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/2 "2026-09-07T18:42:08Z")

</div>

Which edition of DEVONthink 4 do you use?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/3 "2026-09-07T18:48:45Z")

</div>

Hello. I’m using the latest version just downloaded from the app store on my iPad. I was using 3 until just this weekend. My partner has v4 on her ipad.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cgrunenberg](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/cgrunenberg/32/7172_2.png) [@cgrunenberg](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/cgrunenberg)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/4 "2026-09-07T19:02:03Z")

</div>

> [@romebot](#):
>
> I’m using the latest version just downloaded from the app store on my iPad.

But which edition of DEVONthink 4 for the Mac - Standard, Pro or Server? The Pro & Server editions include 5/25 seats for DEVONthink To Go 4 as long as the license is eligible for updates and therefore you could use this license of DEVONthink Pro/Server to register your partner’s device.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/5 "2026-09-07T19:15:26Z")

</div>

I see. I’m using 3.9.18, pro edition, but my partner has Devonthink 4.32 Pro. Can she register her own then? I think I’m paying a separate yearly fee for DTTG. (do I not need to do that if I have desktop pro?) I’m a little confused, sorry. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/6 "2026-09-07T19:42:53Z")

</div>

If you own the license, **you** administer things in your DEVONtech account.

If you have a subscription for DEVONthink To Go _(and I hope you’re running version 4 on mobile (and ideally should be on the Mac too))_, you can cancel it now but the subscription period will remain active until it expires. Are you family sharing the subscription with your partner? If so, you both need to wait to use the desktop license and your license must be in good standing when the time comes to use it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/7 "2026-09-07T20:02:47Z")

</div>

thanks @BLUEFROG , but I’m afraid that went over my head 🥹 Can you explain again? I’m using v3 on my mac, but she’s using v4. Do I need to buy a different license to upgrade to 4 on my computer? (currently I have 3 desktop and 4 on ipad with a legacy 3 license). My partner has v4 desktop and ipad and I’m family sharing with her, but are you saying neither of us need to be paying for DTTG if we both have pro on our desktop? appreciate your help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/8 "2026-09-07T20:08:16Z")

</div>

You’re welcome.

Does your partner have her own license?

> are you saying neither of us need to be paying for DTTG if we both have pro on our desktop?

If you are both running DEVONthink **4** Pro on the desktop, then yes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/9 "2026-09-07T20:52:44Z")

</div>

yes, she has her own license, so just to be sure I understand.

- she can use her Devonthink v4 license for her DTTG v4
- I can quit my DTTG subscription and use my Devonthink v3 license for my DTTG v4
- how do we activate our licenses on our respective ipads?

Sorry if some of these questions are obvious, but I’ve been out of the loop for a while now (hence being on v3) 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/10 "2026-09-07T21:07:57Z")

</div>

> - she can use her Devonthink v4 license for her DTTG v4

- If it’s DEVONthink 4 Pro or Server, she has five mobile seats available.
- If either of you have a subscription, it needs to be canceled and you need to wait until the subscription period expires before you can change the licensing.

> - I can quit my DTTG subscription and use my Devonthink v3 license for my DTTG v4

Incorrect. Mobile seats are only available from the Pro or Server editions of version 4 on the Mac.

> - how do we activate our licenses on our respective ipads?

Here is a small, illustrated document, noting the screen captures are a little out of date but the settings are the same: [licensing-dttg4.pdf.zip](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/uploads/short-url/8putHZSrAeMqpJHDWZFJiUKrLFp.zip) (3.5 MB)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/romebot/32/19844_2.png) [@romebot](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/romebot)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/11 "2026-09-07T21:33:40Z")

</div>

great, thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-4-using-legacy-3-licence-family-sharing-not-recognized-on-other-dttg-4-device/87583/12 "2026-09-08T00:57:52Z")

</div>

You’re welcome.