# How to move/migrate your software to a different machine/VM

<p class="callout warning">If you intend to do a migration-upgrade (move from one VM to another while upgrading the software at the same time, **this article is not for you**. You should [follow this procedure instead](https://kb.syncplify.com/books/syncplify-server/page/upgrading-from-v4v5-to-v7 "Upgrading from v4/v5 to v6").  
  
**This procedure applies only to Syncplify Server v6 and later versions.** For older versions (v4 or v5), please use [this other knowledge base article instead](https://kb.syncplify.com/books/syncplify-server/page/upgrading-from-v4v5-to-v7 "Upgrading from v4/v5 to v6").  
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If you need to migrate your Syncplify Server! to a different/new machine or VM, please, keep in mind that this article explains <u>**the only correct procedure**</u> to accomplish the goal.

No worries, it's really easy. Simply follow these steps in this exact order:

- Log into the SuperAdmin web UI on your "old" machine/VM, the one you want to decommission, and take a full backup of Syncplify Server!'s configuration from the BACKUP page; then from the LICENSE page in the same UI use the Deactivate button to free up your license and be able to re-activate it later on your new VM
- Make sure you deploy a new machine/VM with a fresh operating system, and don't install anything else on it for now, only the operating system
- Copy the backup file (a .zip archive) to the new machine/VM
- [Download the latest Syncplify Server! installer](https://syngo.me/download) on the new machine/VM and install it as you normally would if it were a fresh/new deployment
- Once the installer is done you can log into your new Syncplify Server!'s SuperAdmin UI on the new machine/VM and do the following, in this exact order:  
    
    - activate the license first (the one you previously deactivated from the old machine/VM)
    - from the RESTORE page in the SuperAdmin UI perform a restore of the backup you took from your old machine/VM onto this new node

<p class="callout info">**IMPORTANT:** when you use the ***Deactivate License*** function you're freeing up that license code so that it can be reactivated **on another (different) machine**, you will <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**not**</span> be able to reactivate it on the same machine you have deactivated it from. This automatic deactivation <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**requires**</span> your server to be online (have direct, unrestricted, unproxed Internet access), if you're running your server offline, please contact us to have your license deactivated.  
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