explaingit

windowsaddict/idm-activation-script

7,438BatchfileAudience · generalComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

TLDR

An archived Windows batch script that freezes the Internet Download Manager 30-day trial by locking the registry keys IDM uses to track remaining trial days, so the countdown never reaches zero.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((idm-activation-script))
    What it does
      Freezes IDM trial
      Locks registry keys
      Resets trial period
    How it works
      Triggers IDM downloads
      Identifies trial keys
      Locks countdown state
    Setup options
      PowerShell one-liner
      Manual batch file run
      Windows 7 or newer
    Status
      Archived project
      No further updates
Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Freeze the IDM 30-day trial period on Windows 7 or newer so it stops counting down without reinstalling

USE CASE 2

Reset an expired IDM trial period back to active using the included batch file

Tech stack

BatchPowerShellWindows Registry

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Project is archived and no longer maintained, freeze-trial option is recommended as the activation option does not work for all users.

In plain English

This is a Windows batch script tool for Internet Download Manager (IDM), a paid download management application for Windows. The script offers three options: freezing the 30-day trial so it never expires, activating the software without purchasing a license, and resetting the trial period. The project is archived and no longer maintained, as the author has switched to a different application. The freeze trial option is the one the author recommends, as the activation option is noted as not currently working for all users. The freeze method locks the registry keys that IDM uses to track the remaining trial days, preventing them from counting down. Once frozen, IDM updates can be installed without needing to reapply the fix. The tool works by interacting with the Windows registry. IDM stores its trial and activation state across multiple registry keys, some of which it locks to protect from changes. The script triggers a few downloads to generate those keys, identifies them, and then locks them in a state that prevents IDM from reading or modifying them, which stops the software from displaying license warnings. Running the tool requires Windows 7 or newer. There are two ways to use it: a one-line PowerShell command that downloads and runs the script automatically, or a manual method where you download and extract the repository and run the included batch file directly. Command-line flags are available for running the options without interactive menus. The project is open source and the batch script code is readable. The last release was version 1.2 in February 2024. Because the project is archived, no further updates or fixes are planned.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Using windowsaddict/idm-activation-script, walk me through the freeze-trial option via the PowerShell one-liner on Windows 10. What does it do to my registry?
Prompt 2
What registry keys does idm-activation-script lock to prevent IDM from counting down the trial, and how does it prevent IDM from modifying them?
Prompt 3
How do I run idm-activation-script manually by downloading and extracting the repo and running the batch file directly, without using the PowerShell command?
Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

← windowsaddict on gitmyhub — every repo by this author, as a profile.

Verify against the repo before relying on details.