FAQ¶

Quick answers to the questions we get most often. If your question isn't here, try Troubleshooting or email support@tec.design.

Because every TEC app is tied to your TEC ID — one account that holds all your licenses, downloads, and invoices in one place. Signing in once on the web is how you prove the account is yours. After that, your installed apps run on their own and don't need you to sign in to the web again until you want to manage something.

It also means if you ever change computers, lose a license key, or want to release a seat, everything's right there waiting for you instead of buried in a year-old email thread.

Do I need a password?¶

No. We use magic links: you type your email, we send a one-time sign-in link, you click it, you're in. There's nothing to remember or reset.

The best thing you can do to keep your TEC ID secure is to use a strong password on your email account and turn on two-factor authentication there.

What if I lose access to my email?¶

Email support@tec.design from any other email, with as much detail as you can give us (old email, name, license key if you've got it, approximate purchase date). We'll verify it's you and move your TEC ID to a new address. Takes 1–2 business days because we're cautious. See Troubleshooting → I lost access to my email.

Can I use the same license on multiple computers?¶

Each license has a number of seats, and each seat is one active computer. Most of our perpetual licenses ship with one seat — so one computer at a time. You can move that seat between computers any time from the dashboard (see Devices & activations).

If you genuinely need to run the app on more than one computer at once — say a laptop and a desktop — contact support@tec.design about adding seats. We sell additional seats at a discount.

Owlette is different: each seat is one machine, and you pay per machine per month. Add or remove machines yourself from the dashboard.

Can I get a refund?¶

Perpetual licenses (Moonshine, Starlight): yes, 14 days, no questions asked. Email us with your order number. See Billing → refunds.

Subscriptions (Owlette): you can cancel any time, and you'll keep working through the end of the period you've already paid for. We don't refund the current period. If you just bought yesterday and haven't opened the app, email us and we'll make it right.

Will my license expire?¶

Perpetual licenses don't expire — you own that version of the app forever. After your first year, new updates require a small renewal fee, but your existing install keeps working.

Subscription licenses are active as long as you keep paying. If you cancel or your payment fails for a week or so, the subscription ends and the app stops working until you reactivate.

What's the difference between Core and Pro for Owlette?¶

Owlette Core ($10/month per machine) is the everyday assistant — quick prompts, your local files, your notes, basic automations.

Owlette Pro ($50/month per machine, minimum 3 machines) adds:

Roost — the team server that lets Owlette across multiple machines share context and coordinate.
Cortex integration — connect your own LLM keys for higher-tier models (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.). Bring your own key, your bill.
Priority support.

Full breakdown on the Owlette app page.

Can I install on a new computer if my old one died?¶

Yes — and you don't need access to the old computer to do it. Sign in to id.tec.design, open the license card, find the old device in the Devices list, and click Release seat. Then activate the app on the new computer.

If the seat appears stuck or you can't find the dead device, contact support and we'll release it manually.

What if I sell my computer?¶

Two options:

Keep the license — release the seat from your dashboard before you ship the computer, then activate your new one.
Transfer the license to the buyer — both of you email us and we'll move the license to the new owner's TEC ID. See Transferring a license.

Do I need an internet connection to use the apps?¶

You need internet for first activation and then for occasional check-ins (typically once a day). Between check-ins, the app runs entirely offline.

If you go offline for an extended period (about a week, varies by app), the next launch will require you to be online. Connect, launch, and it'll silently re-verify. Specifics on each app's page: Moonshine, Starlight, Owlette.

What does the charge on my credit card look like?¶

The charge appears as LEMONSQUEEZY*TEC or similar — Lemon Squeezy is our payment processor and the merchant of record. The exact wording depends on your card issuer, but the word "lemonsqueezy" will be in there. If you see a charge you don't recognize on a card you've used for a TEC purchase, that's the one. More in Billing.

I'm buying as a business — can I get a VAT/GST-compliant invoice?¶

Yes. At checkout, choose "I'm buying as a business" and enter your VAT/GST number. The invoice you receive will be tax-compliant and include both Lemon Squeezy's details (as merchant of record) and your business details. Forgot to enter it? Contact us within 30 days and we'll usually be able to reissue.

A single license is for a single person. If your team needs to run the app on multiple machines, you need multiple seats. Contact support@tec.design for team and studio pricing — we offer per-seat discounts on bulk orders.

(Subscriptions like Owlette already work per-machine, so just add the seats you need.)

Is my data safe? Does the app phone home with my work?¶

The apps send TEC ID a small amount of activation data — basically "this license is active on this computer, here's a fingerprint so you can recognize me next time". We do not send your files, your network, what you're working on, or anything else. See Devices → how activation works.

What if I disagree with something on my invoice?¶

For tax matters (wrong VAT, wrong country, missing business name), contact us within 30 days and we'll work with Lemon Squeezy to reissue. After 30 days, the tax has been remitted and reissuance is much harder.

For incorrect charges, email support@tec.design with the order number. We'll investigate and either correct it or refund the difference within a few business days.