License Keys

Updated Jan 26, 2026 E-Commerce

Overview

License Keys provide software licensing capabilities for your digital products. Generate unique keys, limit activations, track usage, and validate licenses. Essential for selling software, plugins, themes, and other products requiring activation control.

Prerequisites

WordPress Download Manager installed
Premium Packages add-on activated
Product with licensing enabled

Enabling Licensing

Per-Product Setup

Edit a package
Find Licensing panel
Enable license generation

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ License Settings                                             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ☑ Generate license key for this product                      │
│                                                              │
│ License Key Format:                                          │
│ [XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX                                   ▼]   │
│                                                              │
│ Activations Allowed:                                         │
│ ○ Based on license tier                                      │
│ ○ Custom: [1    ] activations                                │
│                                                              │
│ License Validity:                                            │
│ ○ Based on license tier                                      │
│ ○ Custom: [365  ] days                                       │
│ ○ Lifetime                                                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Global Settings

At Downloads > Settings > Licenses:

License Settings
─────────────────────────────────────
Default Key Format: [XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX ▼]
Key Prefix:        [                      ]
Secret Key:        [********************  ]
API Endpoint:      https://yoursite.com/wpdm-api/license/

License Key Formats

Available Formats

Format	Example
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX	A1B2-C3D4-E5F6-G7H8
XXXXXXXX-XXXX	A1B2C3D4-E5F6
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX	A1B2-C3D4-E5F6
Custom	PREFIX-XXXX-XXXX

Custom Format

Use these placeholders:

X = Alphanumeric character
N = Number only
A = Letter only

Example:

Format: LIC-NNNN-AAAA-XXXX
Result: LIC-1234-ABCD-X7Y8

License Tiers

Overview

Different license tiers with varying limits:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ License Tiers                                                │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                              │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Personal License                                        │ │
│ │ Price: $29.99 | Sites: 1 | Validity: 1 year            │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                                              │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Business License                                        │ │
│ │ Price: $99.99 | Sites: 5 | Validity: 1 year            │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                                              │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Developer License                                       │ │
│ │ Price: $199.99 | Sites: Unlimited | Validity: Lifetime │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                                              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Tier Settings

For each tier:

Setting	Description
Name	Tier display name
Price	License price
Sites/Activations	Max activation count
Validity	How long license is valid
Support Period	Support duration
Update Period	Update access duration

License Lifecycle

Generation

When order completes:

License key generated
Saved to database
Linked to order/customer
Sent via email

Activation

When customer activates:

Software sends key + site URL
API validates key
Activation recorded
Response returned

Validation

Periodic validation:

Software checks license status
API returns: valid/invalid/expired
Software responds accordingly

Expiration

When license expires:

Status changes to “Expired”
Activations blocked
Customer notified
Renewal option provided

Managing Licenses

Licenses List

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Licenses                                            [Search] [Export]        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ License Key       │ Product     │ Customer    │ Sites │ Expires    │ Status │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ XXXX-XXXX-XXXX   │ Software Pro│ John Smith  │ 2/5   │ Jan 2027   │ Active │
│ YYYY-YYYY-YYYY   │ Software Pro│ Mary Jones  │ 1/1   │ Dec 2026   │ Active │
│ ZZZZ-ZZZZ-ZZZZ   │ Templates   │ Bob Wilson  │ 3/3   │ Never      │ Active │
│ AAAA-AAAA-AAAA   │ Software Pro│ Guest       │ 0/1   │ Jan 2025   │ Expired│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

License Details

Click a license to view:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ License: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX                                                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                              │
│ Product:         Software Pro (Business License)                            │
│ Customer:        John Smith (john@example.com)                              │
│ Order:           #1234                                                       │
│ Status:          Active                                                      │
│                                                                              │
│ Activations:     2 / 5 used                                                  │
│ Created:         January 24, 2026                                           │
│ Expires:         January 24, 2027                                           │
│                                                                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Active Sites                                                                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Site URL                         │ Activated      │ Last Check    │ Action  │
│ https://example.com              │ Jan 24, 2026   │ Jan 24, 2026  │ [Deact] │
│ https://staging.example.com      │ Jan 25, 2026   │ Jan 25, 2026  │ [Deact] │
│                                                                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Extend License] [Revoke License] [Regenerate Key] [Delete]                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

License Actions

Action	Description
View	See full license details
Extend	Add time to license
Revoke	Disable the license
Deactivate Site	Remove an activation
Regenerate	Create new key
Delete	Remove license

License API

Endpoints

Endpoint	Purpose
`/activate`	Activate license
`/deactivate`	Deactivate license
`/check`	Validate license
`/info`	Get license details

Activation Request

POST https://yoursite.com/wpdm-api/license/activate

Parameters:
- license_key: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
- site_url: https://customer-site.com
- product_id: 123 (optional)

Activation Response

{
  "success": true,
  "message": "License activated successfully",
  "data": {
    "license_key": "XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX",
    "status": "active",
    "activations_used": 2,
    "activations_limit": 5,
    "expires": "2027-01-24",
    "product": "Software Pro"
  }
}

Validation Request

POST https://yoursite.com/wpdm-api/license/check

Parameters:
- license_key: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
- site_url: https://customer-site.com

Validation Response

{
  "success": true,
  "valid": true,
  "data": {
    "status": "active",
    "expires": "2027-01-24",
    "days_remaining": 365,
    "update_available": true,
    "latest_version": "2.1.0"
  }
}

Error Response

{
  "success": false,
  "error_code": "license_expired",
  "message": "License has expired. Please renew."
}

Error Codes

Code	Meaning
`invalid_key`	License key not found
`license_expired`	License has expired
`activation_limit`	Max activations reached
`license_revoked`	License has been revoked
`site_not_registered`	Site URL not activated

Client Integration

WordPress Plugin Example

class License_Client {

    private $api_url = 'https://yoursite.com/wpdm-api/license/';
    private $license_key;
    private $product_id;

    public function activate() {
        $response = wp_remote_post($this->api_url . 'activate', [
            'body' => [
                'license_key' => $this->license_key,
                'site_url' => home_url(),
                'product_id' => $this->product_id
            ]
        ]);

        $body = json_decode(wp_remote_retrieve_body($response), true);

        if ($body['success']) {
            update_option('my_plugin_license_status', 'active');
            return true;
        }

        return new WP_Error($body['error_code'], $body['message']);
    }

    public function check() {
        $response = wp_remote_post($this->api_url . 'check', [
            'body' => [
                'license_key' => $this->license_key,
                'site_url' => home_url()
            ]
        ]);

        return json_decode(wp_remote_retrieve_body($response), true);
    }

    public function deactivate() {
        $response = wp_remote_post($this->api_url . 'deactivate', [
            'body' => [
                'license_key' => $this->license_key,
                'site_url' => home_url()
            ]
        ]);

        return json_decode(wp_remote_retrieve_body($response), true);
    }
}

JavaScript Example

async function activateLicense(licenseKey) {
    const response = await fetch('https://yoursite.com/wpdm-api/license/activate', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: {
            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
        },
        body: JSON.stringify({
            license_key: licenseKey,
            site_url: window.location.origin
        })
    });

    return response.json();
}

Customer License Management

Frontend Dashboard

Customers can manage licenses at their dashboard:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ My Licenses                                                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Software Pro - Business License                              │
│ Key: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX  [Copy]                            │
│ Sites: 2 / 5  |  Expires: Jan 24, 2027                      │
│                                                              │
│ Active Sites:                                                │
│ • https://example.com [Deactivate]                          │
│ • https://staging.example.com [Deactivate]                  │
│                                                              │
│ [Renew License] [View Details]                               │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Self-Service Actions

Customers can:

View license key
See active sites
Deactivate sites
Renew expired licenses
Upgrade license tier

License Renewals

Renewal Process

License approaches expiration
Reminder email sent
Customer clicks renew link
Checkout with renewal discount
License extended

Renewal Settings

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Renewal Settings                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Renewal Discount:    [20] %             │
│ Early Renewal:       [30] days before   │
│ Grace Period:        [14] days after    │
│                                         │
│ Renewal Reminders:                      │
│ ☑ 30 days before expiry                 │
│ ☑ 7 days before expiry                  │
│ ☑ On expiry date                        │
│ ☑ 7 days after expiry (grace period)   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Renewal Email

Subject: Your Software Pro license expires in 7 days

Your license key: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Expires: January 24, 2027

Renew now and save 20%!
[Renew License - $79.99]

After expiration, you'll lose access to:
• Software updates
• Priority support
• New features

Reporting

License Statistics

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ License Overview                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Total Licenses:     1,234               │
│ Active:             1,089               │
│ Expired:            145                 │
│ Revoked:            0                   │
│                                         │
│ Expiring This Month: 23                 │
│ Renewal Rate:        78%                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Export Licenses

Export to CSV:

License key
Customer
Product
Status
Expiration
Activations

Troubleshooting

License Won’t Activate

Causes:

Activation limit reached
License expired
Wrong product

Solutions:

Check activations used
Verify expiration date
Confirm product matches

Customer Lost License Key

Solutions:

Lookup by email in Licenses
Resend order confirmation
Customer checks their dashboard

Duplicate Activations

Cause: Same site registered twice

Solution:

Find license
Deactivate duplicate entries
Customer re-activates

API Not Responding

Causes:

Wrong API URL
SSL issues
Firewall blocking

Solutions:

Verify API endpoint URL
Check SSL certificate
Whitelist API domain

Overview

Prerequisites

Enabling Licensing

Per-Product Setup

Global Settings

License Key Formats

Available Formats

Custom Format

License Tiers

Overview

Tier Settings

License Lifecycle

Generation

Activation

Validation

Expiration

Managing Licenses

Licenses List

License Details

License Actions

License API

Endpoints

Activation Request

Activation Response

Validation Request

Validation Response

Error Response

Error Codes

Client Integration

WordPress Plugin Example

JavaScript Example

Customer License Management

Frontend Dashboard

Self-Service Actions

License Renewals

Renewal Process

Renewal Settings

Renewal Email

Reporting

License Statistics

Export Licenses

Troubleshooting

License Won’t Activate

Customer Lost License Key

Duplicate Activations

API Not Responding

Related Documentation