License Activation
Activate your NocoDB Enterprise license — standard, airgapped, and fully offline activation methods.
NocoDB Enterprise requires a valid license key to enable enterprise features. The activation method depends on whether your server has internet access.
Which method should I use?
| Method | When to use | Internet needed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Your server can reach the internet | Yes — ongoing |
| Airgapped | Your server has limited or no internet access | One-time only |
| Offline (manual) | Your server has no internet access at all | Never |
Most self-hosted customers use Standard. If your environment restricts outbound connections, use Airgapped. If your server can never connect to the internet, reach out to us and we will set it up for you.
Airgapped and offline activation are available exclusively on Enterprise plans. Contact us to learn more.
Standard license
Best for cloud VMs, typical data centers, and any environment with internet access.
How to activate
- Open the NocoDB UI and go to Admin Panel > License.
- Paste your license key and click Save.
- NocoDB activates the license immediately — no restart needed.
How it stays active
NocoDB periodically checks in with the license server (a lightweight call — no application data leaves your server). If your server temporarily loses internet, there is a 7-day grace period before enterprise features are paused. Connectivity restored? Everything resumes automatically.
Airgapped license
Available on Enterprise plans only. Contact sales to get an airgapped license key.
Best for firewalled environments, restricted networks, or anywhere ongoing internet access is not possible.
With an airgapped license, NocoDB connects to the internet once during setup. After that single activation, it runs fully offline for the lifetime of the license — no check-ins, no callbacks.
How to activate
-
You will receive a license key starting with
nc_ag_from NocoDB. -
Make sure your server has temporary outbound internet access (just for the initial activation).
-
Open the NocoDB UI and go to Admin Panel > License.
-
Paste your
nc_ag_license key and click Save. -
NocoDB activates the license with a single outbound call. Once confirmed, you can remove internet access — NocoDB will continue running with full enterprise features.
Good to know
- After activation, no internet connection is needed until the license expires.
- The license is tied to your installation. If your Instance ID changes, contact us to re-activate.
Offline activation
Available on Enterprise plans only. Contact sales to set up offline activation.
For environments that can never connect to the internet — classified networks, isolated infrastructure, or strict compliance setups.
We handle this for you. Here's what to do:
-
Start NocoDB. During startup, it prints an Instance ID in the logs:
docker compose logs nocodb | grep "Instance ID"You will see something like:
Instance ID: a1b2c3d4e5f6789... -
Send us your Instance ID along with your license key. You can reach us at:
- Email: cs@nocodb.com
- In-product chat (from any machine with access)
- Your account manager
-
We will send you back a license token. Open the NocoDB UI, go to Admin Panel > License, paste the token, and click Save.
The license token is unique to your installation and cannot be transferred to another server.
What is the Instance ID?
The Instance ID uniquely identifies your NocoDB deployment. It is printed in the server logs every time NocoDB starts and remains stable across restarts, updates, and reboots. If it ever changes, reach out to us for a new activation.
Renewing your license
| Method | What to do |
|---|---|
| Standard | Nothing — renewal is automatic once your subscription is renewed. |
| Airgapped | Temporarily restore internet access and restart NocoDB. The new expiry is picked up automatically. |
| Offline | Contact us for a new license token and update it in Admin Panel > License. |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Activation fails | Make sure your server can reach app.nocodb.com over HTTPS. Check firewalls, proxies, and DNS. |
| "Bound to a different installation" | Your installation environment changed. Contact us at cs@nocodb.com for a re-issue. |
| Enterprise features stopped working | For standard licenses, restore internet access and restart. For expired licenses, renew your subscription. |
| Can't find the Instance ID | Check the NocoDB container logs — the Instance ID is printed during startup. |