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description: "How to buy, restore and verify Jotaid Pro, and exactly what changes in the app once it is unlocked."
---
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# Unlock Pro

This page walks through buying, restoring, and understanding exactly what Pro changes. For the feature comparison, see [Free vs Pro](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/pricing).

## Where the Unlock Screen Appears

Jotaid never blocks you behind a wall up front. Instead, the unlock screen appears the moment you reach for a Pro capability — for example:

- Tapping **+ New Project** (creating a project beyond the Inbox)
- Opening AI settings, or triggering any AI feature
- Bulk-moving notes out of the Inbox
- Editing a locked project's canvas

The entry points aren't hidden or greyed out — you can always tap them; Jotaid explains the unlock at that moment.

## Buying

The unlock screen offers a yearly subscription and a one-time purchase, with a monthly plan coming soon; all unlock exactly the same Pro. Prices come live from the App Store.

Plan comparison, Universal purchase, subscription management and **restoring a purchase** are in [Plans & Pricing](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/plans).

## What Happens When You Tap

Hitting something Pro on the free tier is not a uniform "no". There are two kinds of response:

| Action | On the free tier |
|--------|------------------|
| Using the Inbox, editing and linking its notes | Proceeds, with no prompt at all |
| Creating an additional project | Prompts to unlock |
| Bulk-moving notes into a project | Prompts to unlock |
| Triggering an AI feature | Prompts to unlock |
| Opening a Pro-locked project | **Readable**; the prompt comes only on edit |
| Importing a folder, or into a project | Prompts to unlock |

That "readable" row is worth stating plainly: a project needing Pro is **not hidden**. You can open it, read every note, pan and zoom its canvas — only changing something stops you. See [Free vs Pro](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/pricing).

## AI Is a Two-Step Setup

Unlocking Pro turns on the AI *capability*; it doesn't include AI usage. You then add **your own provider API key** — Jotaid runs AI on your key. So the order is always:

1. Unlock Pro
2. Open AI settings and add your key ([AI Setup](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/ai-setup))

## Next Steps

- [Plans & Pricing](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/plans) — Paying and restoring
- [Free vs Pro](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/pricing) — The feature comparison
- [AI Setup](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/ai-setup) — Add your key after unlocking