These instructions cover the current Houdini 22 installer on Windows. Individual tools, bundles and projects use the same shared qatools package.
Log in and open Purchased products. Download your tool, bundle or project, then extract the complete ZIP. For projects, extract the ZIP inside the project folder into a separate working folder, preserving its structure. Inside you will find qatools.json and a qatools folder.
Save your work and close Houdini. Open your Houdini preferences packages folder, usually Documents\houdini22.0\packages. Create the packages folder if it does not exist. Copy qatools.json and the complete qatools folder into it. When updating, merge the folders and replace matching files while keeping your other tools. Installing only the HDA does not install the shared licensing files.
Restart Houdini and place one of your owned tools. In your website account, open License, reveal your activation key and copy it. In the tool's License tab, click License key activation, paste the key and click Activate. Keep your key private.
Check that State is active in the tool's License tab. One account activation covers your owned tools, including tools in bundles. Newly placed owned tools use the same shared license. After acquiring another tool, connect to the internet and click Refresh to update your access.
Your account allows one active computer. If you change computers, ask support to release the previous assignment before activating the new one. Clear local license removes the cached license on that computer; it does not release the account's machine assignment.
After activation, tools can work offline using the cached license. Connect and click Refresh when renewal is needed. If a tool does not appear, check that the full package is in your Houdini packages folder and restart Houdini. For a connection error, check your internet connection and use the latest downloaded installer.