Your membership is tied to your Voicebuds: claiming links the buds' serial number to your Subtle account. This happens once, during setup or the first time a feature needs it.
Claiming
- Take both Voicebuds out of the case and connect them to the Subtle app.
- When prompted — "Activate your Voicebuds" — tap Activate. (If a feature needs unclaimed buds, you'll see "Subtle Voicebuds required" with a Claim button that opens the same flow.)
- When the app says Double-tap to claim, double-tap the metal plate on either Voicebud. This confirms that the buds in your hand are the ones being claimed.
- Done — you'll land on the Voicebuds Claimed screen.
If you skipped it ("Not Now"), the prompt returns the next time it's needed. While the app waits for your double-tap (about 30 seconds), the buds' other touch controls pause — including answering calls.
If claiming doesn't go through
| You see | It means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "No Double Tap Detected" | The buds didn't feel a double-tap in time | Try again, and double-tap the metal plate firmly as soon as the app asks |
| "Both Voicebuds Needed" | One bud is still in the case | Take both buds out, then try again |
| "Can't reach the server" | No internet connection | Check your connection, then try again |
| "Couldn't Verify Your Membership" | Subtle couldn't match these buds to a membership — retrying usually won't help | Tap Contact Support; the request form includes your support ID |
| "Subscription Activation Failed" | Something else went wrong | Try again; if it keeps failing, contact support with the support ID shown |
When you contact support about claiming, include the support ID from the message — it lets us find exactly what happened.
"The membership you are attempting to claim has already been claimed."
The membership for these Voicebuds is already linked to a Subtle account. The app can't tell whether that account is yours: if the account you're signed in to doesn't have an active membership, you'll see this message — sometimes as "…already been claimed by another account. Please log into another account, or pair different Voicebuds." — even when they're your own buds. (If your account already has an active membership, the app shows "You're all set" instead.)
It's usually one of these:
- You have two accounts — you activated under another email. Sign out (Profile → Account → Sign Out), sign in with the other address, and check.
- They're your buds, but your membership has ended — the app shows this message whenever the signed-in account doesn't have an active membership, even for your own buds. Check Profile → Account → Membership.
- Warranty replacement — contact support with your order number and serial number.
Subtle can't transfer a membership from one account to another. A claimed pair only becomes claimable again once the account that claimed it is permanently deleted (30 days after that account asks for deletion) — and whoever claims it next gets the rest of that membership term, not a new year. If none of the above fits, email support@subtle.co or submit a request — include the serial number (Voicebuds settings → About), your account email, and how you got the buds.
Returning your Voicebuds?
Membership terms for returns are covered in Bundled membership: what happens if you return your Voicebuds.