---
title: Activate your licence
description: "Activate your Pawtani licence for one-click updates, and what happens when it expires."
url: "https://wpruby.com/knowledgebase/pawtani-licence/"
updated: "2026-11-04"
category: WPRuby Themes / Pawtani
---

# Activate your licence

Pawtani works fully without a licence. An active licence adds one-click theme updates from your dashboard.

Table of Contents

 [Toggle](#)

- [Find your key](#Find_your_key)
- [Activate](#Activate)
- [Install an update](#Install_an_update)
- [Refresh, deactivate or move your licence](#Refresh_deactivate_or_move_your_licence)
- [When a licence expires](#When_a_licence_expires)
- [Status messages](#Status_messages)

## Find your key

Your licence key is in your [WPRuby account](https://wpruby.com/my-account/), next to your Pawtani purchase.

## Activate

1. Go to **Appearance → Pawtani**.
2. Under **Licence and updates**, paste your key into **Licence key**.
3. Click **Activate licence**.

You'll see *Licence activated. Theme updates will now appear under Dashboard → Updates.* The **Status** row then shows whether the licence is active, its expiry date (or **Lifetime licence**), and **Sites: X of Y**: how many sites use the key and how many your licence allows.

Only administrators can see and change the licence. Until it's active, administrators see a short reminder with an **Enter licence key** link.

## Install an update

New versions appear under **Dashboard → Updates** and **Appearance → Themes**, like any other theme update. Your Site Editor changes are kept.

## Refresh, deactivate or move your licence

- **Refresh status** checks your licence with wpruby.com again, for example after you renew or upgrade it.
- **Deactivate licence** frees this site's activation. Do this before you move the theme to another site, then activate the key there.

## When a licence expires

The theme keeps working, and everything you built stays as it is. You stop receiving updates until you renew. The status shows *Expired on* the date, with a **Renew licence** link.

## Status messages

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| This licence key was not recognised. | Check the key in your WPRuby account and paste it again. |
| This licence key is for a different product. | Use the key from your Pawtani purchase. |
| This licence has reached its site limit. | Deactivate it on another site, or upgrade it in your WPRuby account. |
| This licence has expired. | Renew it in your WPRuby account, then click **Refresh status**. |
| This licence key has been disabled. | Contact WPRuby support. |
| The licence could not be activated. | Try again, or contact WPRuby support. |