aText Frequently Asked Questions

How to register or activate license or replace an expired license with a new license

Open aText's main window → click "Purchase aText" or "Get aText Premium" in the sidebar → click "Activate license" button.

Enter license's email and serial number → Select "Activate".

If you are using the Microsoft Store version, uninstall aText and download aText at https://www.trankynam.com/atext/.

Serial number is invalid

Please carefully copy and paste your license information directly from the license email. The email is case sensitive.
Provided license information is ALWAYS correct.
Please save your time by double checking email and serial number.
Please note that aText version 3 for macOS does not accept license of aText version 2 for macOS.

Forget your serial number

Please search your mail boxes for "aText" phrase to find your license email.
If it was lost, please contact Fastspring support

Most of license related questions have the same answere: No.

I purchased a license for aText version 2 for macOS. Can I use this license for aText version 3 for macOS?

No.

Is there a discount for upgrading license from aText version 2 for macOS to aText version 3 for macOS?

No.

I purchased a license for aText for Windows (from Microsoft Store or aText's store). Can I use this license for aText for macOS?

No.

I purchased a license for aText for macOS. Can I use this license for aText for Windows?

No.

If I purchase a license for aText version 3 for macOS, Can I use the license for aText version 4 for macOS in the future?

No, unless it is a small update like other similar softwares's pay-to-upgrade every couple years.

When will aText version 4 for macOS be released?

Nobody knows. No plan. Nothing, even in the imagination.

aText does not work

You hear no click sound when typing abbreviation, maybe aText is disabled. Click aText's notification icon and select "Enabled".

Click aText's notification icon and select "Troubleshoot".

aText does not expand correctly

Click aText's notification icon and select "Troubleshoot".

aText sometime does not expand consecutively

Check group's setting "If abbreviation is placed after:", set it to "Any Character" or suitable option.

[macOS] - Message "aText can not create event tap"

Follow these steps:
1. Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Accessibility
2. If aText is not in the list, drag aText from Applications folder to the list.
3. If aText is already in the list and checked, remove aText from the list, then drag aText from Applications folder to the list.

[macOS] Secure Input

Secure Input is not bug of aText.
Secure Input is enabled by many apps for password field input or security features.
When Secure Input is enabled, macOS prevents aText from working until Secure Input is disabled.
If Secure Input hangs, please quit running apps to find which app does not release Secure Input, and/or restart the computer.

[macOS] How to insert snippet when secure input is enabled

• Way 1 - Use aText icon in the menu bar to select snippet.
• Way 2 - Set a key combination for "Search snippets" hotkey in Preferences \ Hotkeys. Then press that hotkey and search for snippet.

aText inserts long text incorrectly in web browser apps

Try turn on "Automatically use Clipboard for long text" in aText Preferences → Advanced.

aText inserts clipboard's content instead of snippet's content

Try turn off "Automatically restore Clipboard" in aText Preferences → Advanced, or increase delay.

Particular key does not work when aText is running

Open aText Preferences → Hotkeys, remove hotkeys with that key.

How to expand only after hitting Space or Enter key

In group‘s setting, set "Expand abbreviation" to "After typing abbreviation and delimiter".

How to change Date/Time format

In snippet editor, double-clicking on a Data/Time variable to access editing data/time format.

[macOS] aText window shows at login

aText is duplicated in Login Items. Or try turn off "Start at login" option in aText Preferences.

[macOS] How to make aText work with Parallels virtual machine

1. Disable Parallels‘s Coherence mode.
2. Does not use Full-screen mode.

[macOS] How to insert snippet in password field

• Way 1 - Use aText icon in the menu bar to select snippet.
• Way 2 - Set a key combination for "Search snippets" hotkey in Preferences \ Hotkeys. Then press that hotkey in password field and search for snippet.

How to transfer aText data

• Step 1 - Export aText data to ".atext" file, by selecting File menu → Save....
• Step 2 - Import ".atext" file on other computers, by selecting File menu \ Open....

How to import data from other similar apps

• Step 1 - Export data from other apps to a CSV file.
• Step 2 - In aText, select File menu → Open... and select previous exported file. CSV format is commonly supported by apps.

How to sync aText data

Set up Sync in aText Preferences → Sync.

How to retrieve lost data

By default, aText automatically backup data daily.
Find backups in aText Preferences → Backup → Backup location.
Default backup directory of aText for macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/com.trankynam.aText/Backup
Default backup directory of aText for Windows: %localappdata%\com.trankynam.aText\Backup

Before contacting us, please make sure to read above to save your time.
Most (99%) of questions are already answered above.
If you have license related questions, please read the License section above.
And please update to the latest version from aText's website

In your email, please indicate which version of aText you are using, macOS or Windows.