PRTG 9 Manual: Enter a License Key

A license key for PRTG Network Monitor consists of the license name and a license key, which is a string that contains 70 characters and numbers. This information is usually sent to customers via email.

You can either enter the license key during the installation process or you can select the Use the Freeware Edition option. When installing as Freeware, you can use the PRTG Server Administrator Windows program to enter a license key later. Your Freeware version will then be converted to a trial or commercial version (only possible if commercial installer is used). Note: You do not need to enter a license key if you want to use the freeware edition only.

Please check first if you have installed the proper edition and then enter the license key.

Step 1: Make Sure You Have Installed the Correct Edition

There are two different installers available for PRTG (see Download section):

• The publicly available installer only contains the Freeware, Starter and Trial Editions. It does not accept any commercial license keys.
• The Commercial installer is only available for download to paying customers.

The Commercial Installer must be installed to run the commercial editions of PRTG Network Monitor. If you have purchased a license key for PRTG you must download and install the latest Commercial Installer from the Paessler website in order to apply your license key. You can install a commercial version "on top" of an existing Trial Edition in order to maintain your configuration and monitoring data.

Step 2: Enter the License Key in the PRTG Server Administrator

Please start the PRTG Server Administrator program from the Windows Start Menu. In the program, select the License tab.

Start Menu Icon

To use a PRTG license with this installation of PRTG, please enter the license information you have received from Paessler via email. To avoid typing errors, please copy and paste both the License Name and the License Key from the email. Both must be transferred exactly as shown in the email.

PRTG Server Administrator License Tab

To make sure your key has been entered correctly please click on the Check Key button. A popup box will either show success or denial of your license information. License information is also checked if you change tabs.

In the Licensed Edition field you will see an accepted licence key.

Click on the Ok button to save and confirm to restart the core server service by clicking on the Yes button.

PRTG Server Administrator Confirm Service Restart

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