SnapGene will not automatically update without user initiation, and it will not offer to update to the current version if you have a permanent license that requires an older version of SnapGene.
If your older version of SnapGene updates unexpectedly, then it is likely you or another user has downloaded and installed "SnapGene Viewer" – https://www.snapgene.com/snapgene-viewer.
With the release of SnapGene 8.0 we no longer produce a separate feature-limited "SnapGene Viewer" program. Now, SnapGene 8.0 or later will run in "Viewer" mode if run without a license. See SnapGene Viewer 8.0.
Using https://www.snapgene.com/snapgene-viewer will now download the latest version of SnapGene.
If any user downloads and installs the latest "SnapGene Viewer" on a machine then this will install the latest SnapGene and overwrite any older version of SnapGene. If your permanent license is not valid for the newer version, then SnapGene will then run in "Viewer mode".
To fix this issue, obtain the correct SnapGene version installer for your license via the SnapGene MyAccount page (https://www.snapgene.com/auth/login), and reinstall SnapGene. This will overwrite the newer version and your license should then work correctly.
Ensure users do not attempt to download and install "SnapGene Viewer".