Cold Turkey Blocker Activator

ColdTurkeyBlockerActivator.py

import json

import sqlite3

import os

DB_PATH = "C:/ProgramData/Cold Turkey/data-app.db"

def activate():

try:

conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_PATH)

c = conn.cursor()

s = c.execute("SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key = 'settings'").fetchone()[0]

dat = json.loads(s)

if dat["additional"]["proStatus"] != "pro":

print("Your version of Cold Turkey Blocker is not activated.")

dat["additional"]["proStatus"] = "pro"

print("But now it is activated.\nPlease close Cold Turkey Blocker and run again it.")

c.execute("""UPDATE settings SET value = ? WHERE "key" = 'settings'""", (json.dumps(dat),))

conn.commit()

else:

print("Looks like your copy of Cold Turkey Blocker is already activated.")

print("Deactivating it now.")

dat["additional"]["proStatus"] = "free"

c.execute("""UPDATE settings set value = ? WHERE "key" = 'settings'""", (json.dumps(dat),))

conn.commit()

except sqlite3.Error as e:

print("Failed to activate", e)

finally:

if conn:

conn.close()

def main():

if os.path.exists(DB_PATH):

print("Data file found.\nLet's activate your copy of Cold Turkey Blocker.")

activate()

else:

print("Looks like Cold Turkey Blocker is not installed.\n If it is installed then run it at least once.")

if __name__ == '__main__':

main()

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

For people who are unable to use it on version 4.6 and up, just apply it on 4.5 first. Then update it from the official website. It works fine

Well, I get this error: The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be
read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.
When I try to install 4.5

For people who are unable to use it on version 4.6 and up, just apply it on 4.5 first. Then update it from the official website. It works fine

Well, I get this error: The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds. When I try to install 4.5

✅ Solution: I had this similar problem, but my solution was to use "HiBit Uninstaller" after uninstalling it normally. After the normal uninstallation, there's a popup window that appears and a checkbox that says "Advanced". If you check that it looks into more related files to ColdTurkey and actually deletes them, while having the option to "back" those files up. The uninstaller someone mentioned above may not be the most effective. Give HiBit Uninstaller a try.
https://www.hibitsoft.ir/Uninstaller.html

Now I was able to install 4.5 no problem.

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

✅ This works for me.

⚠️ It didn't work for me when I just right clicked and clicked "Terminal" you really do have to be in Administrator. Since I don't know how to run Command Prompt as Administrator in a specific folder. I opened "Command Prompt" and ran it as Administrator like normal. THEN used this command to locate the location of "main.py" - this case, it's in my Downloads folder.

So, I went to Downloads folder, copied the directory address which is: "C:\Users\ayuna\Downloads"

So the full command in Command Prompt is "cd C:\Users\kentc\Downloads" then I followed the guide this guy said which is to type "py main.py" then "win" = profit.

For people who are unable to use it on version 4.7+, just apply it on 4.5 first. Then update it from the official website. It works fine

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

Thanks! It worked for me!

Well, I get this error: The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be
read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.

If anyone gets this error about the database being locked, that is probably because CTB is using it somehow. This prob happened when you tried to install latest version first then uninstalled, then reinstalled into 4.5. Uninstall ALL remnants of CTB, including the Windows installation as well as any browser extensions, then go to the folder here:

C:/ProgramData/Cold Turkey/data-app.db

and delete the contents of that folder including data-app.db. If Windows cannot delete it it means there's still a CTB instance, either Windows or browser, using it. So make sure everything is uninstalled / restart to be sure. Once you can successfully delete the data-app.db, you can try reinstalling the CTB version you want and try again.

Well, I get this error: The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be
read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.

If anyone gets this error about the database being locked, that is probably because CTB is using it somehow. This prob happened when you tried to install latest version first then uninstalled, then reinstalled into 4.5. Uninstall ALL remnants of CTB, including the Windows installation as well as any browser extensions, then go to the folder here:

C:/ProgramData/Cold Turkey/data-app.db

and delete the contents of that folder including data-app.db. If Windows cannot delete it it means there's still a CTB instance, either Windows or browser, using it. So make sure everything is uninstalled / restart to be sure. Once you can successfully delete the data-app.db, you can try reinstalling the CTB version you want and try again.

I already answered above as well. To anyone reading, read my reply as well if you wan easier solution.

Well, I get this error: The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be
read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.

If anyone gets this error about the database being locked, that is probably because CTB is using it somehow. This prob happened when you tried to install latest version first then uninstalled, then reinstalled into 4.5. Uninstall ALL remnants of CTB, including the Windows installation as well as any browser extensions, then go to the folder here:
C:/ProgramData/Cold Turkey/data-app.db
and delete the contents of that folder including data-app.db. If Windows cannot delete it it means there's still a CTB instance, either Windows or browser, using it. So make sure everything is uninstalled / restart to be sure. Once you can successfully delete the data-app.db, you can try reinstalling the CTB version you want and try again.

I already answered above as well. To anyone reading, read my reply as well if you wan easier solution.

I'm not sure if an uninstaller will fully work. You could wipe all installation files of CTB on your machine, but the uninstaller will probably not account for CTB browser extensions which also lock the db.

can i get any code for coldturkey Micromanager ?

still working?

working

just so that it doesn't close .

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

for those that already had v 4.7 and wanted to uninstall it but when they do it normally it doesn't want to work (when you go to the previous version it throws these problems :

Error Reading Database
The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.
) .

go to this link and then download this [ removal tool ] https://getcoldturkey.com/support/reinstall-instructions/ from cold turkey . and then follow these steps listed up and it will work .

but this is illegal, so is any legal risk if i do this ?

but this is illegal, so is any legal risk if i do this ?

bro! are you really an IITan?
If you so really care for legality then just buy the software.

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

this method worked for me. as i am using 4.5 version and after it worked i installed the latest version and still works ✅

this is the more updated version:

import json
import sqlite3
import os

DB_PATH = "C:/ProgramData/Cold Turkey/data-app.db"

def activate():
    conn = None  # Initialize conn to None to handle exceptions during connection
    try:
        conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_PATH)
        c = conn.cursor()
        
        # Fetch settings
        result = c.execute("SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key = 'settings'").fetchone()
        if not result:
            print("No settings found in the database.")
            return
        
        s = result[0]
        dat = json.loads(s)
        
        # Check and update proStatus
        additional = dat.setdefault("additional", {})  # Safely get 'additional' key
        if additional.get("proStatus") != "pro":
            print("Your version of Cold Turkey Blocker is not activated.")
            additional["proStatus"] = "pro"
            print("But now it is activated.\nPlease close Cold Turkey Blocker and run it again.")
        else:
            print("Looks like your copy of Cold Turkey Blocker is already activated.")
            print("Deactivating it now.")
            additional["proStatus"] = "free"
        
        # Update the database
        c.execute("UPDATE settings SET value = ? WHERE key = 'settings'", (json.dumps(dat),))
        conn.commit()

    except sqlite3.Error as e:
        print("Failed to activate:", e)
    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
        print("Failed to parse settings JSON:", e)
    except KeyError as e:
        print("Key error in settings data:", e)
    finally:
        if conn:
            conn.close()

def main():
    if os.path.exists(DB_PATH):
        print("Data file found.\nLet's activate your copy of Cold Turkey Blocker.")
        activate()
    else:
        print("Looks like Cold Turkey Blocker is not installed.\nIf it is installed, please run it at least once.")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

has worked for cold turkey 4.5

Could not find platform independent libraries
Data file found.
Let's activate your copy of Cold Turkey Blocker.
Failed to parse settings JSON: Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)

help plsss

dumbo, its supposed to be in py file not the cmd.

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

i'm getting this error in cmd
WARNING -> Code is not tested for Windows.
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\Downloads\main.py", line 91, in
main()
~~~~^^
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\Downloads\main.py", line 81, in main
upgrade_blocker(c)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\Downloads\main.py", line 47, in upgrade_blocker
data = json.loads(s)
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Lib\json_init_.py", line 346, in loads
return _default_decoder.decode(s)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Lib\json\decoder.py", line 345, in decode
obj, end = self.raw_decode(s, idx=_w(s, 0).end())
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "C:\Users\Rithvik\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Lib\json\decoder.py", line 363, in raw_decode
raise JSONDecodeError("Expecting value", s, err.value) from None
json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)

plssss help! (and pls tell which version to download 4.6 or 4.7)

The above code does not work for me. ^

However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

Works perfectly as of 21/11/2025
Thanks!!

brochacho its just asking you to reopen the blocker or restart your pc

…

On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM eve-iv ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ py main.py Choose [mac|win]: win WARNING -> Code is not tested for Windows. INFO -> Blocker status is 'free' INFO -> Changing status to 'pro'. INFO -> Committing changed settings into database. CRITICAL -> "Reopen Blocker" OR "Restart the system" anybody know what this means? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/miketartar/0fc8d7bca2369ce73ea9ee7b6e0c3775#gistcomment-5874844> or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BAG6QN54GDYQNGOFCNI5UHD3544WZBFHORZGSZ3HMVZKMY3SMVQXIZNMON2WE2TFMN2F65DZOBS2WR3JON2EG33NNVSW45FGORXXA2LDOOIYFJDUPFYGLJDHNFZXJJLWMFWHKZNJGEYDKNJWGM3DKNFKMF2HI4TJMJ2XIZLTSOBKK5TBNR2WLKJSGE3DKMJUG4YTJJDOMFWWLKDBMN2G64S7NFSIFJLWMFWHKZNEORZHKZNENZQW2ZN3ORUHEZLBMRPXAYLSORUWG2LQMFXHIX3BMN2GS5TJOR4YFJLWMFWHKZNEM5UXG5FENZQW2ZNLORUHEZLBMRPXI6LQMU> . You are receiving this email because you commented on the thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub> .

The above code does not work for me. ^
However, I found a way that is more simple but does require a little bit of effort. This is for WINDOWS ONLY. (Tested on Windows 11 24H2). You will also be using Python (Just running a simple script, I promise!)

1. Download version 4.5 of Cold Turkey Blocker from this link: https://cold-turkey.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1030193999
2. Run the .exe and install it. Open the program at least once.
3. Go to this link and download the python script. (On the right hand side there should be a download icon saying "Download Raw File". It's the second icon over from where it says RAW. https://github.com/arv-anshul/ColdTurkeyBlocker-Pro/blob/main/main.py
4. Install Python for Windows and all its necessary dependencies. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/
5. Locate the main.py file you downloaded from step 3. Right click anywhere in the empty space in wherever you have it and select "Open in Terminal". MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING TERMINAL IN ADMINISTRATOR.
6. Now type in the terminal "py main.py" but without the quotation marks.
7. Your Cold Turkey Blocker will now become Pro.
8. Now you can install the higher version (4.7 from the time of this writing). The pro license will carry over to the newer version.
9. Profit.

for those that already had v 4.7 and wanted to uninstall it but when they do it normally it doesn't want to work (when you go to the previous version it throws these problems :

Error Reading Database
The database where your settings are stored is locked and can't be read. Try opening Cold Turkey Blocker in a few seconds.
) .

go to this link and then download this [ removal tool ] https://getcoldturkey.com/support/reinstall-instructions/ from cold turkey . and then follow these steps listed up and it will work .

Thanks so much!!!!! It works!!! 26-11-2025

^ Worked, 02/12/2025