Before you Start

This page covers everything you need before beginning your first TeamCloud project, including license and account requirements, what each role can and cannot do, and how to log in.

What you need

TeamCloud license (team lead only)

Only the team lead needs a TeamCloud license. Team members do not need one.

• New customers can purchase a TeamCloud license as an add-on to a MAXQDA subscription in the MAXQDA Online Shop.
• Existing customers with a MAXQDA subscription can add a TeamCloud license in the Subscription Manager.

TeamCloud supports the following MAXQDA license types.

MAXQDA account (everyone)

Every person on the team, the team lead and all team members, needs a free MAXQDA account. This is separate from your MAXQDA software license and costs nothing to create.

Team members must register and verify their accounts before the team lead can invite them to a project. Ask your team members to create their accounts at account.maxqda.com/register before you begin.

For more information about the MAXQDA account, see The MAXQDA Account.

Activating your TeamCloud license

Before you can create or manage TeamCloud projects, you need to activate your license in your MAXQDA account. You can find your license code in your delivery email.

1. Log in to your MAXQDA Account at account.maxqda.com.
2. In the dashboard, click MAXQDA TeamCloud.
3. Open the Licenses tab, as shown in the image below.
4. Enter your TeamCloud license code and click Activate.

Once you activate it, your license details appear, including license duration, serial number, storage space used, and team seats. All projects associated with your TeamCloud license contribute to the total storage and seat count.

Transferring your TeamCloud license

A team lead can transfer their TeamCloud license to another MAXQDA account. The receiving account becomes the new team lead for all projects associated with the license, and the original team lead's role switches to team member.

Before transferring, complete the following steps for each project where you are the team lead.

1. Import all pending teamwork data from your team members.
2. Upload the project to start a new cycle, so all members have the latest version.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each additional project where you are the team lead.
4. Transfer the license via the Transfer License link in your account settings. The receiving account becomes the new team lead for all projects.
5. Your role changes to team member. You can continue as a team member or leave the project from the relevant project page.

Roles and permissions

MAXQDA TeamCloud uses two fixed roles. Each project has one team lead and up to four team members. Roles are assigned per project, so you can be team lead on one project and team member on another at the same time.

Team lead

• Requires an active TeamCloud license
• Creates the TeamCloud project and uploads it to the cloud
• Invites team members to the project
• Can edit all documents
• Can create, move, rename, and delete codes
• Imports team members' work into the main project
• Starts new project cycles
• Ends the project

Team member

• Does not require a TeamCloud license, a MAXQDA license and a free MAXQDA account are sufficient
• Can join projects they are invited to
• Can download the project and open it in MAXQDA
• Cannot edit existing documents
• Can add new documents and edit them until their next upload
• Can add new codes, but changes to existing codes (moving, renaming, deleting, recoloring) are not carried over when the team lead imports their work
• Uploads their work so the team lead can import it into the main project

Logging in

You need to be logged in to your MAXQDA account within MAXQDA to download, upload, or sync TeamCloud projects. You can sign in from two places.

• In the MAXQDA welcome screen, under the Team Projects tab
• In the TeamCloud menu

Online status

Your current status is shown as a small circle on your avatar, visible in the MAXQDA welcome screen and in any open TeamCloud project.

• Green circle with check mark: you are logged in and online.
• Red circle with cross: you are working offline.

You can work on TeamCloud projects while offline. An internet connection is only needed to upload or download project files.