---
title: "Manage License Activations and Connected Sites"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/accounts-licensing/manage-license-activations-and-connected-sites/"
description: "This guide will explain how to activate your plugin or theme license, connect sites to your subscription, manage active domains, move licenses between sites, an…"
vertical: "Software"
area: "Accounts & Licensing"
date: "2026-08-31"
last_modified: "2026-08-31"
---

# Manage License Activations and Connected Sites

This guide will explain how to activate your plugin or theme license, connect sites to your subscription, manage active domains, move licenses between sites, and troubleshoot activation issues.

Before you begin

- You must be logged into the [customer portal](https://software.liquidweb.com/).
- Confirm your subscription is active.
- Confirm your subscription includes an available site slot.

 

## **Activating Your Plugin or Theme License**

License activation connects your WordPress site to your subscription and enables:

- Automatic updates
- Premium features
- Access to supported add-ons
- License validation

To add your license key, you must first have at least one premium plugin installed:

1. Log in to your **Liquid Web Account**.
2. Go to the **Downloads** section and download your plugin file.
3. Install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site.

**Activation Steps**

1. Log in to your **WordPress Dashboard**.
2. Go to **Settings** > **Liquid Web Products** in the left menu.
3. Enter your **Unified License Key** directly into the field provided.
4. Once the key is added, click **Activate**. You will be redirected to your account in the Liquid Web portal.
5. Add your website URL under the **My Sites** section.
6. Return to your **WordPress Dashboard** and refresh the page to see your license display as validated.

## **Viewing Connected Sites**

Each Subscription includes a Sites Management section showing which domains are currently connected to your license.

![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sites-management-1024x254.jpg)The usage counter shows how many available site slots are currently in use.

## **Connecting a Site to Your Subscription**

If your subscription includes available capacity, you can connect another site directly from Sites Management.

To add a site:

1. Open the subscription in question
2. Scroll to **Sites Management**
3. Select **+ Add Site**
4. Enter the domain URL
5. Complete activation from the WordPress site using your **Unified License Key**

After activation:

- The site appears in Sites Management
- Updates become available
- Premium functionality unlocks automatically

## **Removing a Site from Your Subscription**

Removing a site disconnects the license from that domain and frees a site slot for another activation.

1. Open **Sites Management**
2. Locate the domain
3. Select **Delete**
4. Confirm removal

Removing a site:

- Does not delete plugin data
- Does not uninstall the plugin
- Stops premium updates and license validation

## **Moving a License to a Different Site**

You can change the website for your license at any time. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to **Sites Management**, find your old domain, and click **Deactivate** or **Delete**.
2. Click **+ Add Site** and enter your new domain.
3. Open your new site’s WordPress dashboard and enter your **Unified License Key** to finish.

## **Understanding Site Limits**

Each subscription tier includes a set number of active site slots. If you run out of slots, you can free up space by removing an unused site or purchasing extra site capacity. Depending on your product setup, staging and non-production environments may not count against your total limit. *[Learn more.](https://docs.nexcess.com/software/kadence/site-limits-and-license-usage/)*

## **Troubleshooting**

**My License Key is Invalid**

Extra spaces or hidden formatting characters are one of the most common activation problems.

Instead of manually highlighting the key, use the copy button from the customer portal when possible.

Also confirm:

- the correct email address is being used
- the subscription is active
- the site limit has not been reached

**The Site isn’t Appearing in Sites Management**

Refresh the page and wait a few minutes for synchronization.

If the site still does not appear:

- confirm the license was activated successfully
- confirm the site is publicly reachable
- verify the site is using the correct Unified License Key

**I’ve Reached my Site Limit**

Your subscription has used all available activation slots.

To continue:

- remove an unused site
- purchase additional site capacity
- or upgrade your subscription tier

**The Activation Process is Timing Out**

A firewall, security plugin, or hosting restriction may be blocking outgoing requests to the licensing server.

Check:

- firewall settings
- outbound request restrictions
- plugin system status warnings

If necessary, contact your hosting provider.