# 2. Mac - License not Found

<span dir="ltr">The “License not found” will appear if the file **mph.license** and/or **hardware.id** files are missing from the [<u>/MP/Host folder</u><u dir="ltr">.</u>](https://kb.mpmidi.com/books/mp-controller-documentation/page/4-show-preset-folder-go-to-the-mphost-properties-folder)</span>

Or if using a Mac OS older than MacOS Mojave.

**<span dir="ltr">You can use the </span>License Manager application (recommended) to create a new license. Download it from the user portal.**

<p class="callout info">If the license manager fails on the mac because of a permissions error such as "need permission to write files" you can paste the following in a terminal and enter your password, and press enter:  
*mkdir -p ~/Library/Application\\ Support/MP/Host*  
*sudo chown $(whoami) ~/Library/Application\\ Support/MP/Host*  
*sudo chmod -R 777 ~/Library/Application\\ Support/MP/Host*</p>

Alternatively, log on to the user portal and download the latest version of the MP Host plugin.   
Follow [this guide ](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ID_cl5MIJIUqI522IW3qHU8w367s-BVqvCPpSYQ2-Q4/edit)to generate a license.

> <span dir="ltr">The **hardware.id** file is generated automatically when you run the MP Host plugin. This is the hardware id of your computer.  
> The **mph.license** file should be downloaded from the user portal.   
> Details on how to log in to the user portal have been emailed to you.</span>

<span dir="ltr">First, ensure you have both files in the MP Host folder as shown here:</span>

<span dir="ltr">![](https://kb.mpmidi.com/storage/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/1745653912-n0oC77iDboiiVOid.jpg)</span>

<p class="callout danger"><span dir="ltr">Do not rename the hardware.id and mph.license files. </span>  
<span dir="ltr">If the filenames are not exactly as shown above, you will get the error "License not found"</span></p>

<p class="callout info"><span dir="ltr">**Hardware.id file is not being copied to the Mac's Desktop**   
If you are using the MP Controller for the first time on a Mac and the **hardware.id** file is **not** being copied to your Desktop when you click on the STEP 1 button in the license registration, click on the *Open the MP Host Folder* button on the Licence Management window. It will open the folder in your Mac's Finder.  
  
</span>[![image.png](https://kb.mpmidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/rWt3JLSn1og8Usc8-image.png)](https://kb.mpmidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/rWt3JLSn1og8Usc8-image.png)  
  
Close the DAW.  
<span dir="ltr"> *<span style="background-color: rgb(191, 237, 210);">Alternatively you can open the following folder in Finder. On the top menu of the Finder on your Mac, choose Go &gt; Go to Folder and paste this path: </span>*<span style="background-color: rgb(191, 237, 210);">*~/Library/Application\\ Support/MP/Host*</span>  
  
Once the folder is open, check if the hardware.id file present in the MP Host folder.   
If it is not present,</span><span dir="ltr"> strict permissions by MacOS may be the issue.   
Paste the following in a terminal:  
</span>**sudo chmod 777 ~/Library/Application\\ Support/MP/Host** <span dir="ltr">It will ask for your password and then enter.  
  
</span>*The terminal should not produce any output. If it produces a message then there may something wrong with the command provided. Take a screenshot of the message and send it to us via email.* Then open you DAW and load the MPH Single plugin and follow the steps to complete the license generation/verification process by clicking on Step 1 button.  
  
Additionally, it is a good practice to add the DAW in System Settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Full Disk Access.  
  
[![image.png](https://kb.mpmidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/77QqRMEC7fnAAsjy-image.png)](https://kb.mpmidi.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/77QqRMEC7fnAAsjy-image.png)  
  
Note that without the mph.license file the MP Host plugin will not allow the hardware controller to be connected to the MP Host software and the encoders will not work.</p>