License keys and your signing key
Oct 25, 2026
Key format and prefix
Every key you issue starts with a prefix, then groups of five letters and digits: ACME-7K2QD-X9M4B-LP3TR-A8HVE.
- Set the Key Prefix per product under Module Settings > License Settings. Letters and digits only, up to 12.
- With no prefix, keys start with
LIC. - Change the Key Length if you want longer keys (default 20 characters, in groups of five).
Changing the prefix affects new keys only. To give an existing client a key in the new format, open the license under License > Licenses and use Regenerate key.
Your signing key
When Sell License is installed, your site makes a signing key pair in storage/app/private/licensing/: private.pem (kept secret, outside the web root) and public.pem. It is made once and never replaced by an update or by installing the plugin again.
- The private key signs what your site issues (signed licenses and update information).
- The public key verifies it. If your software checks signed licenses itself, it embeds your public key.
Back it up
Include storage/app/private/licensing/ in your backups. If private.pem is lost, a new pair has to be made, and software that holds your old public key will no longer accept what your site signs. The simple check used by the downloadable LicenseClient.php is not affected.
To make a new pair, remove any leftover key file in that folder and run php artisan license:generate-keys.