--- title: "Understand How the Unified License Key Works" source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/accounts-licensing/understand-how-the-unified-license-key-works/" description: "This guide provides a brief overview of the Unified License Key in your customer portal, what it covers, and how renewals and new purchases are handled. Read th…" vertical: "Software" area: "Accounts & Licensing" date: "2026-08-31" last_modified: "2026-08-31" --- # Understand How the Unified License Key Works This guide provides a brief overview of the Unified License Key in your customer portal, what it covers, and how renewals and new purchases are handled. Read this if you want to understand why every Liquid Web product on your account uses the same key and what happens when you add or renew a subscription. Before you get started - You must be logged into the [customer portal](https://software.liquidweb.com/) - Confirm you have one or more active subscriptions ## **What is a Unified License Key**? The Unified License Key is a single key that activates every Liquid Web software product on your account. Instead of tracking a different license key for each plugin or product, you copy one key and use it everywhere. You’ll find the key in the customer portal on the **License** page, which shows the full details, the products covered, and the upcoming renewal breakdown. ## **How your Unified Key works** Three principles describe how the key behaves across your account: - **One key for everything.** Your license key covers all your subscriptions. One key, every product, every site. - **Aligned renewals.** All subscriptions renew on the same date. New additions are pro-rated so they line up with that date. - **Pro-rated additions.** When you buy a new product, you’re charged only for the time remaining until your next renewal. Going forward, the new product renews together with the rest of your account. ### **Open the License page** 1. Log in to the [customer portal](https://software.liquidweb.com/). 2. Select **License** in the left sidebar. The **Unified License Key** page opens. 3. Review the key and its summary at the top of the page, including **Status**, **Products Configured**, **Auto-Renew**, and **Expires On**. ![Liquid Web Portal - License key](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-4.36.43-PM-scaled.png)### **Copy or hide your license key** 1. On the License page, locate the key displayed at the top of the panel. 2. Select **Show/Hide** to reveal or hide the key on screen. 3. Select **Copy** to copy the key to the clipboard for use on your WordPress site. ### **Review the products covered by your key** The **Products that still need setup** and **Configured products** sections list every product activated by your Unified License Key. 1. Each product row shows the product name, the number of tiers you own, the count of active sites versus your total site allowance, and the per-year price. 2. Below each product, individual plan rows show the tier (for example, **Pro**), site usage, per-year price, per-site price, and current status. 3. Select a plan row to open its full details. ### **Review your renewal breakdown** The **Renewal Breakdown** section shows what your account will be charged on the next renewal date. 1. Read the line above the table to see your next renewal date and how many days away it is. 2. The table lists each product, its number of sites, its plan, and its renewal price. 3. The **Subtotal** and **Total** rows show what you’ll be charged across all products on the renewal date. ## **What Happens Next** Your Unified License Key stays the same as you add, upgrade, or renew products. New purchases activate under the same key and align with your existing renewal date through pro-rated charging. When the renewal date arrives, every product on the key renews together using the default payment method on file. If you change a payment method, billing address, or VAT/Tax ID on the **Account** page, those updates apply to the next Unified License Key renewal automatically. ## **Troubleshooting** **My License Key Shows “Active,” but My Plugin Says it isn’t Licensed.** Copy the key fresh from the License page and paste it into the **Software License Manager** field, making sure there are no extra spaces. If activation still fails, confirm the site is reachable from the public internet and contact Support. **I Bought a New Product, but I Don’t See it under my Unified License Key.** Refresh the License page. New purchases usually appear within a few minutes. If the product still isn’t listed after that, contact Account Services with your order number. **My New Purchase Wasn’t Prorated.** Pro-rated charging applies to subscriptions added between renewal dates. One-time purchases and certain add-ons may be billed at the full price. Open the latest invoice for the exact breakdown, then contact Account Services if the amount doesn’t match what you expected. **I want Different Products to Renew on Different Dates.** The Unified License Key is designed to keep all subscriptions on the same renewal date so you receive a single charge each cycle. Separate renewal dates aren’t supported on a Unified License Key. Contact Account Services if you have a billing situation that requires a different setup. **I Don’t See a Unified License Key on my Dashboard.** The key only appears once you have at least one active subscription. If you do have an active subscription and the card is missing, refresh the page. If it still isn’t shown, contact Account Services.