CueSync Dropped to Read-Only

What Read-Only Means

In read-only mode you can open shows, explore every screen, and change configuration — but live output is disabled. It's the same mode a fresh unlicensed install starts in. If a Mac that was fully licensed drops back to it, one of a small number of things happened.

The Usual Causes

1. Offline too long. A paid license runs fully offline for up to 7 days between successful license checks. Past that, CueSync cannot distinguish an extended offline deployment from a cancelled subscription, and falls back to read-only until it can reach the license server once. If your show machine deliberately stays offline, connect it briefly (a phone hotspot is sufficient) at least once a week.

2. A billing lapse. A failed renewal enters a 7-day grace period with automatic payment retries — covered in detail in Subscription Grace Period. If the grace period ran out, the license lapses and the desktop drops to read-only at its next license check.

3. A device change. Your license allows one active Mac. If the key was activated on another machine (or force-deactivated from the dashboard), this one loses its activation — see Managing Devices.

Diagnosing It

Open Diagnostics and check the License card: it shows the edition CueSync is actually enforcing, any offline grace remaining, and the most recent validation failure reason — that reason string identifies the cause in almost every case.

Getting Back to Live Output

1. Get the Mac online — CueSync revalidates against the license server and restores your edition on success. Restarting the app forces an immediate check.
2. Check your subscription in the account dashboard — if it shows past-due or cancelled, fix billing first; the license revives on the next check after payment succeeds.
3. Re-activate if needed — if the device was deactivated, paste your key again under CueSync → Preferences → License.
4. Still read-only with an active subscription and a connected Mac? Contact support with the validation failure reason from the Diagnostics License card — that string pinpoints the problem.

Before a Tour

Two habits prevent nearly all mid-tour interruptions: confirm the Diagnostics License card shows your edition with healthy validation before departure, and ensure the show Mac gets online at least weekly. Your shows, venue profiles, and settings are never affected by license state — read-only locks output, not data.