When you purchase McAfee software, you get a subscription that lets you install and use the software on a certain number of PCs for a certain period of time.
Your subscription entitles you to receive automatic updates that keep your PC protected against the latest threats and your McAfee software running smoothly.
When your McAfee subscription is about to expire, a message appears in the bottom half of the McAfeee Anti-Theft File Protection screen with an option to renew. If your subsciption has expired, you can copy existing files from your vault, but you cannot add files until you renew. For more help renewing your subscription, read Renew your subscription.
If you're using a trial version of your McAfee software, and your trial period is about to expire, a message appears in the bottom half of the McAfee Anti-Theft File Protection screen with an option to purchase a full subscription. If your trial period has expired, you can copy existing files from your vault, but you cannot add files until you buy a subscription.