Manage Licenses

A HiveMQ Platform license activates your HiveMQ Software deployment and enables platform connectivity.

Install a HiveMQ License

Without a valid license, HiveMQ starts in evaluation mode. Evaluation mode supports up to 25 client connections and is for testing purposes only. Production use requires a valid license.

HiveMQ supports two licensing models:

License type Description Internet access

Platform license

Purchase online through the HiveMQ Portal with a credit card. Available for HiveMQ version 4.50 and above.

Required at runtime

File-based license

Issued by the HiveMQ sales team as a .lic file.

Not required

Install a Platform License

  1. Purchase a Platform license through the HiveMQ Portal. During purchase, configure the number of connections and the throughput you require. After purchase, you receive a license key.

  2. In your HiveMQ installation directory, open conf/license.xml.

  3. If the <license-key> tag is commented out, remove the comment markers (<!-- and -→). Then add your license key between the <license-key> tags:

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--
    This file is used to configure the platform license key for the HiveMQ Broker.
-->
<license xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="./license.xsd">
   <license-key>your-platform-license-key</license-key>
</license>

  4. Save the file.

    HiveMQ reloads the configuration automatically. No restart is required.

At runtime, HiveMQ verifies your Platform license entitlements (connections and throughput) at https://licenses.app.hivemq.com/public/v1/license/check. Your HiveMQ cluster requires internet access. To verify your license and entitlements, open the Control Center and select Licenses.

Install a File-based License

  1. Obtain your hivemq.lic file from the HiveMQ sales team.

  2. Move the hivemq.lic file into the license folder of your HiveMQ installation directory.

    HiveMQ detects the license file automatically at runtime. No restart is required.

Next Steps