License errors: causes and fixes
Unknown key, seats taken, trial already used, installation already claimed, domain not verifiable: what each message means and how to fix it.
Updated on Oct 5, 2026, 1:36 p.m.
On this page
In short. License errors show in Administration → Agora, License block, on the Last error line. None of them closes the forum.
The messages #
| Message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| unknown or revoked key | The key is mistyped, or was revoked | Copy it again from My account → My licences → Show key; otherwise open a ticket |
| every seat on this key is taken | Another installation (often the same machine) holds the seat | Restart; if it persists, Release the old seat and retry. See Free a seat |
| this installation is already attached to a license… | The installation identity was not recognised | Restart the server; if it persists, open a ticket with the installation ID |
| this server has already had its free trial | A trial was already used on this game server | Buy a license and paste its key |
| this installation is already held by a paid license | You pasted a trial key on a paid installation | Paste your paid key, and also replace the old key in your environment variable |
| license suspended — an installation already activated keeps running… | The license is suspended | Open a ticket. See Suspended or expired license |
| domain not verifiable | The license server could not verify your site | Make the site reachable over HTTPS from the Internet, or link a Discord server |
| trial awaiting manual review | The team must approve the trial | Wait, or open a ticket |
| license server unreachable | Outbound network cut, or maintenance | See License server unreachable |
| too many attempts, try again later | Rate limit | Wait a few minutes |
| installation unknown to the license server | The installation must reactivate | Nothing to do: automatic reactivation at the next cycle |
| unexpected answer from the license server (code: …) | Unforeseen error | Try again with Check now; if it persists, give this code to support |
| Invalid key (AGORA-… format) | The key does not have the right format | Check that it starts with AGORA- |
On agorapanel.com: "The license service is temporarily unreachable" #
This message appears on the website (not in your Agora) when you do Show the key, download the .env file or the panel egg, or open a license's detail, while the license service is not answering. It does not mean your license is lost: "Your licenses are safe; try again in a few minutes". In that case the site no longer says "no license" or "this key is not in our possession": only a license that is really not found gives that second message. Try again a little later; if the message lasts, open a ticket.
On the first start #
Without a valid key, the bootstrap downloads nothing and stops with an explicit message in the console or logs. Check AGORA_KEY (Docker, panel) or AGORA_LICENSE_KEY (manual compose file), then restart.
The clock #
"The clock on this server looks wrong": check the system time and NTP sync, then run a check again. Moving the clock back extends neither the trial nor the grace.
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- Activate or change your license keyThe key is read in your customer space, set on the first start, and later replaced in Administration → Agora without touching the server.
- Free a license seatA key belongs to one installation; after a reinstall or a move, the old installation keeps the seat until you release it.
- License or update server unreachableNothing shuts off right away: check the machine's outbound HTTPS access to lic1 and lic2.agorapanel.com, DNS and the firewall.
- Understanding your license stateProvisional trial, activation pending, trial, active, grace period, locked: what each state opens, and what never closes.