Vcenter License Key Command Line May 2026

In large-scale virtualized environments, the vSphere Web Client is the standard graphical interface for managing licenses. However, when you need to automate, troubleshoot, or perform bulk operations, the command line becomes indispensable. For vCenter Server (both Windows-based and the vCenter Server Appliance - VCSA), several command-line interfaces allow you to view, add, assign, and remove license keys.

License Key: 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000 Name: vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus Total: 2 CPUs Used: 1 CPUs Expiration: Never Status: OK License Key: 11111-11111-11111-11111-11111 Name: vCenter Server 7 Total: 1 Instance Used: 1 Instance Expiration: 2025-12-31 Status: OK /usr/lib/vmware-vcenter-license-service/scripts/license.py add --key XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX To add with a custom label: vcenter license key command line

systemctl status vcenter-license-service systemctl restart vcenter-license-service In large-scale virtualized environments

# Get the host's moref (e.g., ha-host, domain-c1234) vim-cmd vimsvc/auth/luid vim-cmd vimsvc/license --assign <license-key> <moref> when you need to automate