---
title: "Installing a License"
slug: "installing-a-license"
tags: ["5.5"]
updated: 2026-10-27T23:00:54Z
published: 2026-10-27T23:00:54Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/installing-a-license"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installing a License

You can install a license before, on or after its start date.

When you install a license, the license key is decrypted and then validated. Initially, the license state is set to *pending*. If the expiration date has passed, the state changes to *expired*. If the expiration date is in the future and the start date has passed, the license is activated and its state changes to *active*. If the start date is in the future, the license state remains *pending* until the start date and is then activated on the start date.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Expired licenses remain in the system and cannot be removed.

## Installing a License from the VAST Web UI

1. From the left navigation menu, select Support and then License.
2. On the License page, click Create.
3. Copy the license key to the clipboard and paste it into the License Key field.
4. Click Add.

The license is added.

## Installing a License from the VAST CLI

Run the [license add](/docs-5-5/docs/license-add#usage) command.

For example:

```plaintext
vcli: admin> license add --license_key gAAAAABgRHciUs9Mu-y0rTS7grA0Kt-pm852jwMdDlyAqZFxUNDEWHsdmbVA83vbPbS0nyz9bchFWJECWZYyOejzX4dVoXxuvlMj3bl5NbN6qD6CVjtFKA6ITFKocEic-1cY_3dw1063
```