COTW CensusCall of the WildSolo-Developed Tools
Product Guide

Install, Start, and License a Device

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Install, Start, and License a Device

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This chapter is part of our “the hunter call of the wild cheats” guide. The tool provides read-only save analysis and does not offer cheats or modify game data.

Goals

Complete the following tasks:

  • Start the Windows Portable desktop app;
  • Bind a license key for the first time;
  • View the license validity period and offline lease;
  • Validate online immediately or deactivate the device;
  • Handle the mandatory update screen.

1. Prepare the Desktop App File

You need the single-file portable build:

COTW-Save-Analyzer-<version>-Portable.exe

Place the file in a normal directory where you have write permission, for example:

D:\Tools\COTW Save Analyzer\

Do not run it directly from inside an archive, split the EXE, or rename it as a script file.

System requirements

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11;
  • A 64-bit system;
  • Access to the licensing service during initial activation;
  • Access to the public GitHub Release when checking the production version.

The desktop app already includes Electron and the native parsing core. You do not need to install Node.js, Rust, or npm dependencies.

2. Start the App for the First Time

  1. Double-click the Portable EXE.
  2. Wait while the app extracts its runtime files to the system temporary directory.
  3. If Windows displays a security prompt, verify the file's source and publisher before deciding whether to run it.
  4. When the app window appears, wait for the version and license status checks to finish.

The single-file build may pause briefly on its first launch or when the disk is slow. This is normal for a self-extracting app.

3. Activate the Device for the First Time

An unlicensed production build displays the Activate This Device page.

Steps

  1. Make sure the device is online and that the system date, time, and time zone are correct.
  2. Enter the complete license key in the License Key field.
  3. Click Activate Device.
  4. Wait for the server to validate the key and generate device credentials.
  5. When the interface confirms successful licensing, click Enter Analyzer.

Activation result

After successful activation, encrypted device credentials are stored locally. Subsequent validation uses the device signature and rotating credentials, so you do not need to re-enter the license key every time.

The licensing service processes only the license key, device validation information, and lease. It does not receive game saves.

4. Understand License Validity

The licensing screen may display two expiration periods:

ItemMeaning
License validityThe total period during which the license key permits use
Offline leaseThe shorter period during which the app can continue to work offline after the most recent online validation

Reconnect and validate before the offline lease expires. The app will renew the lease as long as the license remains valid.

5. View the Current License Status

  1. Open the main interface.
  2. Click the three-dot button at the top right to open More Options.
  3. Find the License status badge.
  4. Click the license badge to reopen license details.

The details show the license expiration, offline lease, and current device status.

6. Validate Online Immediately

If the lease is about to expire, the network has just been restored, or the license status looks incorrect:

  1. Open the license details.
  2. Click Validate Online Now.
  3. Wait for the one-time challenge, device signature, and lease renewal to finish.
  4. After successful validation, click Enter Analyzer.

Checks before validation

  • The computer can access the internet;
  • The system time is not significantly incorrect;
  • A firewall or proxy is not blocking the app's access to the licensing service;
  • The license key is still valid;
  • An administrator has not deactivated the current device.

7. Deactivate the Current Device

Before replacing the computer, transferring the license, or discontinuing use on the current device:

  1. Open More Options → License.
  2. Click Deactivate This Device.
  3. Read the confirmation and complete deactivation.
  4. After deactivation, the local device credentials can no longer be used to enter the analyzer.

Make sure the network is available before deactivation. Do not treat deletion of the EXE or local app data as a substitute for server-side deactivation; the device may otherwise continue to occupy an activation slot.

8. Handle “Desktop App Update Required”

At startup, the app checks the public release repository for the latest production version. If the installed version is older than the production version reported by the server, the app opens a mandatory update screen and stops reading saves or providing analysis features.

Steps

  1. Note the Current Version and Latest Version shown in the interface.
  2. Click Go to GitHub to Download the Latest Version.
  3. Download the Portable EXE for the latest version.
  4. Close the old app window.
  5. Start the new EXE.
  6. Confirm that the version number has changed before entering the analyzer.

After an old version detects a required update, it may remain update-locked even if the device later goes offline. This prevents continued use of known outdated data formats and licensing logic.

9. Confirm That Startup Is Complete

Startup is complete when all of the following are true:

  • The app is not stopped on the mandatory update page;
  • The licensing page shows that the device is valid, or the main interface is already open;
  • The Map / Profile / Harvests page entries are visible at the top;
  • The save path or “Save not found” appears at the top left;
  • The desktop version number appears under More Options at the top right.

Next, read Select a Save and Refresh Data.

Install, Start, and License a Device - theHunter: Call of the Wild Tools