This thread belongs to a time-limited ZimaOS Plus transition program. IceWhale said users who had used ZimaOS before v1.5.0 could upgrade to v1.5 and receive Plus activation for free, with the community-benefit window kept open until June 30, 2026.
That deadline has now passed. Current ZimaOS pricing lists a free tier and a $29 lifetime ZimaOS+ license. Official Zima hardware devices—ZimaBoard, ZimaBoard 2, ZimaCube, and ZimaBlade—are listed as automatically receiving Plus. Therefore the 2025 thread should not be presented as a current promise that every old 1.4 installation can still claim free Plus today.
IceWhale's Historical Promise Was Specific
Zima-Giorgio linked the official FAQ and said users would get Plus when upgrading to 1.5, with the benefit valid through June 30, 2026. IceWhale later reiterated that existing community members could receive manual support if activation failed during the eligibility window.
Some Users Received Plus Automatically After the Upgrade
One participant reported that after disabling AdGuard Home and rebooting, the interface returned showing Plus Edition automatically. Another user confirmed the same workaround succeeded for them.
They did not need to enter a code after the network condition was corrected.
DNS Filtering Could Interfere with License Activation
The thread repeatedly points toward DNS/ad-blocking interference. Users mentioned AdGuard Home, NextDNS, and custom DNS filtering as possible blockers to the activation/licensing request.
This does not mean every failed activation was caused by DNS. One user without AdGuard still remained stuck.
IceWhale Offered Manual Support for Unresolved Eligible Cases
In February 2026, a user who upgraded from 1.4.4 to 1.5.4 still saw the purchase page instead of free activation. 777-Spider told them to contact IceWhale by email for help.
This is important because the source itself shows automatic activation was not universal even during the free-upgrade window.
The Free Community Upgrade Window Ended June 30, 2026
IceWhale's February 2026 public Q&A said the free upgrade window would remain open until June 30, 2026. That date is part of the historical program and should remain visible in this article so users do not confuse it with current pricing.
Current ZimaOS Plus Is a $29 Lifetime License
Current pricing lists:
- ZimaOS Free: core features, up to four disks and three members;
- ZimaOS+: $29 lifetime, with unlimited disks and unlimited users.
See the current ZimaOS Plus pricing and entitlement rules.
Official Zima Hardware Automatically Includes Plus
Current pricing says official Zima hardware already comes with ZimaOS+ and that the entitlement automatically reactivates on the bound device after reinstall.
This is different from a generic x86 PC running ZimaOS.
Do Not Downgrade to 1.4 Just to Recreate the Old Upgrade Path
The original program depended on historical eligibility and a deadline, not merely on displaying an old version number. Downgrading today is not evidence that a device qualifies for a past benefit and can create unnecessary data/application risk.
ZimaOS Plus Upgrade FAQ
Was the free 1.4-to-Plus upgrade permanent?
The Plus entitlement was permanent once obtained, but the free claim/upgrade window was time-limited through June 30, 2026.
Did DNS filtering cause some activation failures?
Yes. Multiple users reported success after removing DNS/ad-filter interference, though that was not the only possible cause.
What is the current Plus price?
The current official pricing page lists ZimaOS+ at $29 for a lifetime license.
