LearnDash Licensing and Management controls how LearnDash licenses and official add-ons are handled inside WordPress. It provides a central location to activate a license, manage add-ons, and control which users can view licensing details.
Starting with LearnDash version 4.18.0, licensing is included directly in the core LearnDash plugin. A separate licensing plugin is no longer required when using the latest version.
This article explains how Licensing and Management work and how administrators can use them to manage LearnDash licenses and add-ons.
Before You Begin #
Before using Licensing and Management, the following requirements should be met:
- LearnDash is installed and activated on the WordPress site
- A valid LearnDash license and account email are available
- The site is running LearnDash 4.18.0 or later, or the Licensing and Management add-on can be installed manually if using a version earlier than 4.18.0
Licensing is required to receive updates, access official add-ons, and get support from the LearnDash team.
How Licensing and Management Is Installed #
Licensing and Management can be installed in one of two ways, depending on the LearnDash version in use.
Automatic Installation (Recommended) #
When LearnDash is updated to the latest version, Licensing and Management is automatically included and activated. No additional setup is required. This option is available for sites running LearnDash 4.18.0 or later.
Manual Installation (Older Versions) #
Sites using older versions of LearnDash can manually install Licensing and Management.
- Log in to the LearnDash account
- Open the Downloads tab
- Download the Licensing and Management plugin
- Upload and activate the plugin on the WordPress site
Once activated, licensing and add-on management features become available inside the LearnDash settings.
The LearnDash Licensing and Management Features #
Licensing and Management combines several tools into one location, allowing administrators to manage licenses and add-ons without switching between multiple screens.
The main areas include:
- Add-ons management
- License settings
- License visibility controls
Managing LearnDash Add-Ons #
The Add-ons screen displays all official LearnDash add-ons that are installed or available for the site.
Viewing and Managing Add-Ons #
From the Add-ons screen, administrators can:
- View installed and available add-ons
- Check add-on versions
- Activate or deactivate add-ons
- Update add-ons
- Delete add-ons that are no longer needed
Bulk actions are available for managing multiple add-ons at the same time.
Using Bulk Actions #
- Select one or more add-ons from the list.
- Choose an action from the bulk actions dropdown.
- Click Apply to complete the action.
LearnDash Premium Add-ons #
LearnDash Premium add-ons can be purchased and installed under the LearnDash Premium Add-ons tab.
Third-Party Add-Ons #
The Third Party tab displays plugins created by external developers that work with LearnDash. These plugins are not maintained by LearnDash. Support requests and issues should be directed to the plugin author.
There is also a link to our Documentation page in the top-right corner, which you can visit to check out the Knowledge Base.
Licensing and Management Settings #
The LearnDash Licensing and Management settings house the new licensing system, replacing the previous licensing verification system. It also offers an option that gives you control over who can view the licensing system among your users.
License Visibility #
By default, only the administrator who installed LearnDash can view licensing details.
To allow other users to view and manage licensing:
- Navigate to LearnDash LMS > Settings > Advanced > License Visibility
- Add the user who should have access
- Click +ADD button to save the change
If a user who hasn’t been added tries to access the license page, they will see this message. That user also can’t view Add-ons or receive LearnDash updates.
Now, the users you added will be able to view Licensing and Management and manage your add-ons and licenses.
Managing the LearnDash License #
License information is managed from the LMS License screen.
To access license settings, go to LearnDash LMS > Settings > LMS License. From this screen, administrators can:
- Enter and activate a license
- Replace an existing license
- Revoke a license from the site
An active license is required to receive updates, access official add-ons, and use LearnDash support.
Moving a License to a New Site #
A LearnDash license can be transferred from one site to another. The license must be removed from the old site before it can be used on a new one.
Remove the License From the Old Site #
- Log in to the old site’s WordPress admin area
- Navigate to LearnDash LMS > Settings > LMS License
- Click the “SIGN OUT” button to remove the license email and license key
Remove the Site From the LearnDash Account #
- Log in to the LearnDash account
- Open the Sites tab
- Delete the domain associated with the old site
Activate the License on the New Site #
- Download the latest version of LearnDash from the Downloads tab in the LearnDash account
- Install and activate LearnDash on the new site
- Navigate to LearnDash LMS > Settings > LMS License
- Enter the license email and license key
- Click Update to activate the license
Once activated, the license is fully transferred to the new site.
LearnDash Licensing & Management plugin won’t activate or gives a “fatal error” when trying to activate.
With the release of LearnDash 4.18.0, the licensing process and features are now integrated directly into the core LearnDash plugin.
As a result, the separate LearnDash Licensing and Management plugin is no longer needed. You can safely delete it after updating to version 4.18.0 or the latest version.
For more details on what’s included in this update, you can check out the full changelog here: https://www.learndash.com/release-notes/