# Activating a License
> Part of the NocoDB documentation (Self-hosting). Index of all pages: https://nocodb.com/llms.txt. Any docs page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL.
URL: https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/license-activation
Last updated: 2026-10-03
Activate a self-hosted NocoDB license with the standard, airgapped or fully offline method.
Self-hosted NocoDB needs a valid license key to enable paid features. The correct activation method depends on the internet access of your server. If you do not have a license yet, refer to Purchase a License.
## Before you begin
To activate a license, your NocoDB instance must use Postgres as its database. SQLite and MySQL cannot activate a license. Migrate to Postgres before you continue.
## Which method should I use?
| Method | When to use | Internet needed |
| --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | --------------- |
| [Standard](#standard-license) | Your server can reach the internet | Yes, ongoing |
| [Airgapped](#airgapped-license) | Your server has limited or no internet access | One-time only |
| [Offline (manual)](#offline-activation) | 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, [contact us](#offline-activation). We will set it up for you.
Airgapped and offline activation are available exclusively on
**Enterprise plans**
.
[Contact us](mailto:cs@nocodb.com)
to learn more.
## Standard license
Use this method for cloud VMs, usual data centers and all environments with internet access.
### How to activate
1. Open the NocoDB UI and go to **Admin Panel** > **License**.
2. Paste your license key into the **Enter your license key** field. The **Save** button becomes available.
3. Click **Save**. NocoDB validates the key with NocoDB Cloud. If the key is valid, the status banner turns green and paid features start immediately. You do not need to restart.
### How it stays active
NocoDB checks in with the license server every **6 hours**. The call is small and sends no application data. If a check-in fails, NocoDB tries again every hour. After **48 hours** without a successful check-in, NocoDB pauses paid features. They start again automatically when the connection comes back.
While check-ins fail, super admins see a warning in the left sidebar. The warning shows:
* the host that needs outbound access
* the time that is left before paid features stop
To check in immediately, click **Retry now** in the warning. You then do not wait for the next scheduled attempt. After the 48 hours, the warning shows that paid features are off until access comes back. The license itself stays valid.
### Network requirements
NocoDB makes outbound HTTPS calls to one endpoint only:
```
POST https://app.nocodb.com/api/v1/on-premise/agent
```
If your network filters outbound traffic by host or path, allow exactly that host (`app.nocodb.com`) and that path (`/api/v1/on-premise/agent`) over TCP 443. NocoDB needs no other access.
### Setting the license key via environment variable
You can set the key at startup, instead of in the Admin Panel:
```bash
NC_LICENSE_KEY=nc_...
```
When you set `NC_LICENSE_KEY` in the environment, the **Admin Panel → License** page becomes read-only. The environment value takes precedence. Use this method for IaC and for temporary instances that must activate again at each boot.
### Multi-process deployments
If you run the API and the worker as separate containers, or scale `nocodb` to multiple replicas, all processes must get license changes. NocoDB sends these changes through a Redis pub/sub channel. You need a working Redis connection (`NC_REDIS_URL`) for this. Without it, license changes in the Admin Panel do not reach all processes until you restart. The production examples and the [Single-server install](/docs/self-hosting/installation/single-server) already include Redis.
## Airgapped license
Available on
**Enterprise plans**
only.
[Contact sales](mailto:cs@nocodb.com)
to get an airgapped license key.
Use this method for networks with a firewall or other restrictions, or where permanent internet access is not possible.
With an airgapped license, NocoDB connects to the internet **once** during setup. After this activation, it runs **fully offline** for the lifetime of the license. It makes no check-ins and no callbacks.
### How to activate
1. Get your license key from NocoDB. It starts with `nc_ag_`.
2. Make sure that your server has **temporary** outbound internet access (only for the first activation).
3. Open the NocoDB UI and go to **Admin Panel** > **License**.
4. Paste your `nc_ag_` license key.
5. Click **Save**.
6. NocoDB activates the license with one outbound call. When the activation is confirmed, you can **remove internet access**. NocoDB continues to run with full paid features.
### Notes
* 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 activate it again.
## Offline activation
Available on
**Enterprise plans**
only.
[Contact sales](mailto:cs@nocodb.com)
to set up offline activation.
Use this method for environments that can **never** connect to the internet: classified networks, isolated infrastructure or strict compliance setups.
We do the activation for you:
1. **Start NocoDB.** During startup, it writes an **Instance ID** in the logs:
```bash
docker compose logs nocodb | grep "Instance ID"
```
The output is similar to this:
```
Instance ID: a1b2c3d4e5f6789...
```
2. **Send us your Instance ID** and your license key by email to [cs@nocodb.com](mailto:cs@nocodb.com).
3. **We will send you back a license token.** Open the NocoDB UI.
4. Go to **Admin Panel** > **License**.
5. Paste the token.
6. Click **Save**.
The license token is unique to your installation and cannot be transferred to another server.
## Manage license on this instance
When a license is active, the **Admin Panel → License** page shows more controls.
### Refresh license
Click **Refresh License** to validate the license with NocoDB Cloud again. Use this if you recently upgraded or renewed your plan and the instance does not show the change yet.
### Remove license
1. Click **Remove License** to deactivate the license on this instance.
2. Confirm the removal.
The instance goes back to NocoDB Community, and paid features are disabled. The license key stays in your NocoDB Cloud account. You can apply it again at any time.
### Manage license (billing portal)
When a license is active, the License page shows a **Manage License** card. Click it to open the Stripe billing portal. For what you can do there, refer to [Manage billing](/docs/self-hosting/purchase-license#manage-billing).
## What is the Instance ID?
The Instance ID is the unique identifier of your NocoDB deployment. NocoDB writes it in the server logs each time it starts. It stays the same after restarts and updates. If it changes, contact us for a new activation.
## Renewing your license
| Method | What to do |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Standard** | Nothing. When your subscription renews, the license renews automatically. |
| **Airgapped** | Restore internet access for a short time and restart NocoDB. NocoDB gets the new expiry date automatically. |
| **Offline** | Contact us for a new license token. Update the token in **Admin Panel** > **License**. |
## Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation fails | Make sure that your server can reach `https://app.nocodb.com/api/v1/on-premise/agent` over TCP 443. Check firewalls, egress proxies and DNS. |
| "Bound to a different installation" | Your installation environment changed. Contact us at [cs@nocodb.com](mailto:cs@nocodb.com) for a new license. |
| Paid 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. NocoDB writes the Instance ID during startup. |
## Good to know
* **Same image, license-gated.** `nocodb/nocodb:latest` contains the Community code and the Enterprise code. Enterprise features start when you set a valid license key, in the Admin Panel or with the `NC_LICENSE_KEY` env var. There is no separate `nocodb-ee` image to pull.
## Related
* [Purchasing a License](/docs/self-hosting/purchase-license)
---
## Related pages
- [Self-Hosting](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting.md): Self-host NocoDB on your own infrastructure and keep full control of your data.
- [Environment Variables](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/environment-variables.md): Set environment variables to configure a self-hosted NocoDB instance: database, storage, authentication, cache, rate limits and more.
- [Purchasing a License](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/purchase-license.md): Purchase a Business or Scale plan license for your self-hosted NocoDB instance through NocoDB Cloud.
- [White Label](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/white-label.md): Replace the NocoDB branding on your self-hosted instance with your own product name, logos, favicon, brand color, email branding and support contact.
- [Troubleshooting](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/troubleshooting.md): Find and fix common problems with self-hosted NocoDB: startup, network, SSL, database, attachments and login.
- [Migration Guide](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/migration-guide.md): Migrate a self-hosted NocoDB instance from a non-Postgres database to PostgreSQL so you can activate a paid license without losing data.
- [License](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/license.md): The NocoDB Sustainable Use License (SUL), its Fair-Code principles, and when you need a commercial license.
- [FAQs](https://nocodb.com/docs/self-hosting/FAQs.md): Answers to common questions about self-hosted NocoDB: what the Community Edition includes, upgrades, shifted timestamps and instance details.