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Published Sep. 10, 2025

Deploying Activation Keys

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Liferay Support

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This article documents the basic instructions for how to deploy your Activation Key using an .xml file. The steps will vary slightly depending on the version of the Liferay platform you are using. If you encounter any issues along the way, see this separate Troubleshooting Activation Key Issues article.

Resolution

Deployment of Activation Keys Using .xml File in Liferay DXP

To activate a DXP instance using an .xml key file, you can deploy an activation key with the following steps:

Liferay DXP 7.1 — Liferay DXP Quarterly Releases

  1. Delete the contents of the ${liferay.home}/data/license folder without deleting the folder itself.
  2. Remove all activation-key-[...].xml files from the ${liferay.home}/osgi/modules folder.
  3. Start the application server, one node at a time if clustering.
  4. Place the activation key .xml file in the Liferay DXP deploy directory (${auto.deploy.deploy.dir} which defaults to ${liferay.home}/deploy).
  5. Wait for the activation key file to be auto-deployed. 
  6. Proceed to using Liferay DXP.

Liferay DXP 7.0

  1. For Liferay DXP 7.0 and patch levels at or below Fix Pack 53, it is mandatory to uninstall the LCS client
    1. Remove Liferay Connected Services Client.lpkg, located:
      1. In the Tomcat bundle, in the $ {liferay.home}/osgi/marketplace folder
      2. In case of using another application server, in the OSGi Dependencies/marketplace folder
  2. Delete the contents of the ${liferay.home}/data/license folder without deleting the folder itself.
  3. Remove all activation-key-[...].xml files from the ${liferay.home}/osgi/modules folder.
  4. Start the application server, one node at a time if clustering.
  5. Place the activation key .xml file in the Liferay DXP deploy directory (${auto.deploy.deploy.dir} which defaults to ${liferay.home}/deploy).
  6. Wait for the activation key file to be auto-deployed.
  7. Proceed to using Liferay DXP.

Deployment of Activation Keys Using .xml File in Liferay Portal 6.1 and 6.2

For Liferay Portal version 6.1 and 6.2, you can follow the steps below to deploy.

  1. Clear the ${liferay.home}/data/licensefolder.
  2. Start the application server, one node at a time if clustering
  3. Place the activation key .xml file in the Liferay Portal deploy directory (${auto.deploy.deploy.dir} which defaults to ${liferay.home}/deploy).
  4. Wait for the activation key file to be auto-deployed.
  5. Proceed to using the portal.

Note 1:For best results, please be sure that there are no pre-existing .li files in the data/license folder prior to deploying the .xml file.

Note 2: When deploying Activation Keys in Liferay with Amazon Web Service (AWS), please know that:

  • A static host name or IP address is required.
  • If using AWS and auto-scaling, configure your AWS settings to predetermine the host name.

Deployment of Activation Keys in Portal 5.2 EE SP5 — 6.0. EE

Liferay Portal versions 5.2 EE SP5 to 6.0 EE slightly varies with which folder the .xml file is deployed into.

  1. Clear the ${liferay.home}/data/ee folder.
  2. Place the activation key .xml file in the Liferay Portal deploy directory (${auto.deploy.deploy.dir} which defaults to ${liferay.home}/deploy).
  3. Start the application server.
  4. Wait for the activation key file to be auto-deployed.
  5. Proceed to using the product.

Deployment of Activation Keys in Liferay Portal 5.2 SP4 and Below

An activation key for Liferay Portal version 5.4 SP4 and lower is based off the Server ID or server MAC address and utilizes a license key.

  1. Remove all remaining .li files from the ${liferay.home}/data/ee directory.
    1. If it is a new Liferay Portal instance, you will be automatically directed to the License Management page.
    2. If changing activation keys on a pre-existing portal instance, type [portal_url]/c/portal/ee/update_license in the address bar of your browser to reach the license management page.
  2. Paste the key in the License Key section.
  3. Click Save.
  4. Proceed to using the product.

Additional Information

For more information on activating Liferay and managing your licenses, see Customer Portal Help.

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