How to activate the application and manage license keys

Activation is the process of activating a license that allows you to use a fully functional version of the application until the license expires.

To start using the Kaspersky application with a subscription, you need to activate the application using the activation code you received when you subscribed. When you add an activation code, an active license key is added to your device, activating the application.

You can activate the application in one of the following ways:

• During the initial configuration of the Kaspersky application.

  To do this, you need to enter the activation code when prompted by the initial configuration script or specify the activation code in the initial configuration file. Doing this adds an active key corresponding to the license to use the application under the subscription.

• After installation of the application is complete.

  To do this, you need to add an active key corresponding to the license to use the application under the subscription. You can add a key by applying the activation code in one of the following ways:

  • On the command line using management commands.
  • In the application interface.

A root account is required to add and remove license keys.

If you have automatic renewal disabled for your subscription, you will need to renew your subscription to continue using the application after your subscription expires. You can also add a reserve license key to the application. A reserve key becomes active when the license associated with the active key expires or when the active key is deleted. Having a reserve key lets you avoid functionality limitations when the license associated with the active key expires. You can add a reserve key to the application by applying an activation code. A reserve key is added in the same way as an active key.

A reserve license key can be added only if an active license key has already been added.

You can view information about license keys added to the application as well as license terms in one of the following ways:

• On the command line using management commands.
• In the application interface.

How to subscribe

You purchase a subscription to use the application when you purchase the application.

If the app is already installed, you can purchase a subscription through the application interface.

To purchase a subscription through the application interface:

1. Open the main application window.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the area, which displays information about the license and the key.
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the Support button and in the Support window that opens, open the Licenses window by clicking the link in the License key field or the Licenses link in the lower part of the window.

   This opens the Licenses window.

3. Click the Buy button in this window.

   The Kaspersky website will open in your browser. You can pay for your subscription there.

To manage your subscription, you must creating an account on the My Kaspersky portal.

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How to add or remove a license key using the command line

To manage license keys on a device, you can use license key management commands.

To add an active license key to the application, run the following command:

kfl-control [-L] --add-active-key <activation code>

where <activation code> is the activation code.

If the application is already activated and you add a new license key (use a new activation code), the new key replaces the previously added key. If the license associated with a previously added key has not yet expired, you can add that key to the application on another device.

To add a reserve license key to the application, run the following command:

kfl-control [-L] --add-reserve-key <activation code>

You can only use a reserve license key if the auto-renewal feature is disabled for your subscription.

If an active key has not yet been added to the application on the device, the command fails.

To remove the active key from the application, run the following command:

kfl-control [-L] --remove-active-key

If you remove the active license key, the application is not activated. You can use the application only after activation.

To remove a reserve key from the application, run the following command:

kfl-control [-L] --remove-reserve-key

How to view license information on the command line

From the command line, you can use the -L --query command to view information about the active and reserve license keys added to the application as well as the license provided under your subscription to use the application.

To view information about the license keys and license on the device, run the following command:

kfl-control -L --query [--json]

where --json outputs data in JSON format. If the --json option is not specified, the settings are output in the INI format.

As a result of the command execution, the following information will be displayed in the console:

• Information about the active application key, if a key has been added:
  • Date and time when the license for using the application expires.
  • Number of days before the end of the license term.
  • Information about the limitation of protection functions.
  • Information about the limitation of the function for updating application databases.
  • Information about the status of the license key.
  • The type of license associated with the key.
  • Licensing limitation of the key (the number of licensing units).
  • Name of the application that the key is intended to activate.
  • Active license key (unique alphanumeric sequence).
  • Activation date.
• Information about the reserve application key, if a reserve key has been added:
  • Date and time when the license for using the application expires.
  • Information about the limitation of protection functions.
  • Information about the limitation of the function for updating application databases.
  • Information about the status of the license key.
  • The type of license associated with the key.
  • Licensing limitation of the key (the number of licensing units).
  • Name of the application that the key is intended to activate.
  • Reserve license key (unique alphanumeric sequence).
  • Date and time when the license associated with the active key expires, in UTC.

How to add or remove a license key using the application interface

Using the application interface, you can add and remove application license keys, renew your subscription and view information about the license under which the application is being used as well as the license key associated with the license.

To add an active or reserve license key to the application:

1. Open the main application window.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the area, which displays information about the license and the key.
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the Support button and in the Support window that opens, open the Licenses window by clicking the link in the License key field or the Licenses link in the lower part of the window.

   This opens the Licenses window.

3. Click Add.
4. Enter the activation code in the Add key (displayed when adding an active key) or Add reserve key (displayed when adding a reserve key) area and click the Next button.

   The window displays information about the key and the license associated with it.

5. Click the Activate button.

If the application is already activated and you add a new license key (use a new activation code), the new key replaces the previously added key. If the license associated with a previously added key has not yet expired, you can add that key to the application on another device.

To remove a license key that has been added to the application:

1. Open the main application window.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the area, which displays information about the license and the key.
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the Support button and in the Support window that opens, open the Licenses window by clicking the link in the License key field or the Licenses link in the lower part of the window.

   This opens the Licenses window.

3. Click the Remove button to the right of the information about the key that you want to remove.
4. Confirm the removal in the window that opens.

If you remove the active license key, the application is not activated. You can use the application only after activation.

How to view license information in the application interface

In the application interface, you can view information about the active and reserve license keys added to the application as well as the license provided under your subscription to use the application.

To view license information:

1. Open the main application window.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the area, which displays information about the license and the key.
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the Support button and in the Support window that opens, open the Licenses window by clicking the link in the License key field or the Licenses link in the lower part of the window.

   This opens the Licenses window. The window displays information about the active and reserve keys added to the application. Click the More info link to view full information about the licenses and keys.

Click the More info link to view full information about the licenses and keys.

The Current licenses section displays information about active keys and associated licenses:

• The type of active license associated with the active key, the license limitation, and the license expiration date.
• License key – unique alphanumeric sequence.
• Key status – the status of the key or a message about the problems associated with the key (if any).
• Valid from – date when the application was activated by adding this key.
• Expires – the number of days before the license expires and the license expiration date in UTC format.
• Name – the name of the application for which the activation key was added.
• Protection – information about restrictions on protection functions and the ability to update application databases.

The Reserve keys section displays information about reserve keys and associated licenses:

• Type of reserve key, license limit, and license term associated with the key.
• License key – unique alphanumeric sequence.
• License type – the type of license associated with the reserve key.
• Name – the name of the application for which the activation key was added.
• Protection – information about restrictions on protection functions and the ability to update application databases.

How to renew your subscription

If you have auto-renewal enabled for your subscription, it will automatically renew for a new term after your subscription expires without you having to do anything. Automatic renewal of your subscription is paid for using the bank card details that you specified on the My Kaspersky portal or on the Kaspersky partner website where you purchased your subscription. The information you provide will not be used until your subscription is due for renewal. You will receive an email reminder 15 days before your subscription expires. If you did not provide your credit card details for automatic renewal when you subscribed, you must provide them before the current subscription expires.

If automatic renewal is disabled for your subscription, you can renew your subscription manually after it expires.

To renew your subscription after it expires:

1. Open the main application window.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the area, which displays information about the license and the key.
   • In the lower part of the main application window, click the Support button and in the Support window that opens, open the Licenses window by clicking the link in the License key field or the Licenses link in the lower part of the window.

     This opens the Licenses window.

3. Click the Renew button in this window.

   The browser will open the website of Kaspersky or one of its partners. You can pay for and renew your subscription there.

   During the payment process, provide the email address associated with your My Kaspersky account. Within an hour after paying for a subscription renewal, information about the new subscription license term is sent to the application.

   You can view information about the license term:

   • On the command line using management commands.
   • In the application interface.

If you do not renew your subscription or if automatic renewal fails, you may be given a grace period during which you can use the application's features without restrictions. After this period, all the application's features will become unavailable.

The availability and duration of the grace period depend on the terms of the subscription plan you select. If your subscription plan does not include a grace period, your access to all features of the application will end immediately upon expiration of your subscription.

If auto-renewal is disabled for your subscription but you added a reserve license key to the application before your subscription expired, the application automatically activates using the reserve license key when your subscription expires.

You can use a reserve license key only if you purchased a subscription without automatic renewal.

Special offers

Special offers are available on the Kaspersky website. They may include discounts on your next subscription period when you activate the current subscription.

Renewal prices are subject to change and special offers may not be available at renewal time.

Problems with automatic renewal

Automatic renewal of your subscription may not be available for the following reasons:

• Your bank card has expired.

  Make sure your bank card is valid and has not expired. If the expiration date has passed, please update your bank card details.

• Your bank card has been blocked.

  Check if there are any blocks on your card. A card may be blocked due to suspicious activity or insufficient funds. Please contact your bank for more information.

• The automatic renewal feature is disabled.

  Make sure you have enabled the automatic renewal feature in your subscription settings on the My Kaspersky portal or on the Kaspersky partner website where you subscribed.

• Insufficient funds in the account.

  Please check your account balance to ensure there are sufficient funds to cover the renewal fee.

• Technical failures or system errors.

  Sometimes problems may arise if the service is experiencing technical problems. Please try again later or contact Technical Support.

How to recover an activation code

If you lose the provided activation code, you can recover it in one of the following ways:

• If you have access to your My Kaspersky account, you can find your activation codes in the Licenses section on the My Kaspersky portal.
• If you do not have access to your My Kaspersky account, please contact Technical Support or the Kaspersky partner from whom you purchased the subscription to use the Kaspersky application.

For detailed information on how to recover an activation code using My Kaspersky, please refer to the Kaspersky Knowledge Base.