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How to manually activate a Unity license via command line on Windows.

Maxine
  • Updated

Activate via command line on Windows

 
First, delete the existing .ulf found in the following location if one is there: C:ProgramData/Unity. Now close the Hub completely using the Task Manager.
 
Now, you need to create an activation license file (ALF) using the command line method.
 
Enter the following into the Command Prompt (replacing <editor-installation-location> with the actual installation location, such as "C:\Program Files\Unity\Hub\Editor\2020.3.30f1\Editor\unity.exe"):
 
Note: It does not matter which Editor version you choose. The activation works for all installed Editors.
 
"<editor-installation-location>" -batchmode -createManualActivationFile -logfile
 
 
After you generate a license activation (.alf) file, the next step is to use this to request your Unity license (.ulf) file from the license server:
  1. Open the license.unity3d.com/manual webpage.
  2. If prompted, sign in to your Unity ID. This is necessary to request a Unity license file. The Manual activation webpage appears.
  3. Click the Browse button to locate the license activation (.alf) file you already generated using your system’s file browser. By default, your .alf is found in C:\Users\<username>
  4. If the upload was successful and Unity detected that the file you chose was a license activation file, the filename appears in the text box with a green checkmark. If you see a red X instead, try again.
  5. Click the Next button. The Activate your license webpage appears.
  6. Enter your serial number and click the Next button. The Download license file webpage appears.
  7. Click the Download license file button.
  8. Allow downloads for the license.unity3d.com/manual webpage if your system prompts you.
  9. Open your browser’s downloads location and locate the new Unity license file with the .ulf extension.
Now you are ready to activate your Unity license from the command line.
 
Enter the following into the Command Prompt (replacing <editor-installation-location> with the actual installation location, such as”C:\Program Files\Unity\Hub\Editor\2020.3.30f1\Editor\unity.exe"):
 
"<editor-installation-location>" -batchmode -manualLicenseFile <yourulffilelocation> -logfile
 
 
Your Unity license is now activated.
 
If the above steps do not help resolve your issue, contact Customer Service with your log files.
 
More Information:
 
I see the error ‘Your serial number is not valid’ when attempting to activate through the Unity Hub. What does this mean?
 
I have been asked to provide a log file, where do I find this?

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