---
title: Activate your license
description: "Register your license key to unlock one-click updates, and choose which release channel you follow."
url: "https://flatsome.com/docs/activate-license"
lastUpdated: 2026-10-02
---

A license key registers one production website. Once a site is registered, updates for the Flatsome theme and the Flatsome plugin show up in WordPress like any other update, and modules that ship as separate plugins can be installed from the Modules screen.

## Find your license key

Sign in to your account at [my.flatsome.com](https://my.flatsome.com). Every license you own is listed there with its key, which looks like `FL-1234-5678-ABCD-EFGH`. If you do not have a license yet, you can [buy one](https://my.flatsome.com/checkout) and the key is added to your account right away.

## Activate the site

1. In the WordPress admin, go to **Flatsome → Dashboard**, then choose the **Activation** tab.
2. Paste your license key into the **License key** field.
3. Confirm that you understand each key registers one production website, then choose **Activate**.

A success notice confirms the site is registered. Development, staging, and local environments do not count toward the production activation, so you can use the same key on your staging copy and on your computer.

## Staging and local sites

Flatsome registers each site as production, staging, or local based on the [WordPress environment type](https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/wordpress/wp-config/#wp-environment-type). Set it in `wp-config.php` before you activate the license, above the `/* That's all, stop editing! */` line:

```php
define( 'WP_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE', 'staging' );
```

- - `staging` registers a staging site.
- - `local` or `development` registers a local site.
- - `production`, or no value, registers a production site.

Some addresses are always registered as staging, whatever `WP_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE` says: a subdomain named `staging`, `dev`, `test`, or `local`, optionally followed by a number or a dash suffix (such as `staging2.example.com` or `dev-shop.example.com`), and these hosting staging domains:

`*.app.github.dev`, `*.closte.com`, `*.cloudwaysapps.com`, `*.cloudwayssites.com`, `*.ddev.site`, `*.dreamhosters.com`, `*.flywheelsites.com`, `*.flywheelstaging.com`, `*.gitpod.io`, `*.goserver.host`, `*.instawp.co`, `*.instawp.dev`, `*.instawp.link`, `*.instawp.site`, `*.instawp.xyz`, `*.kinsta.cloud`, `*.lndo.site`, `*.localsite.io`, `*.mybluehost.me`, `*.myftpupload.com`, `*.mysites.io`, `*.mystagingwebsite.com`, `*.ngrok-free.app`, `*.ngrok-free.dev`, `*.nxcli.io`, `*.nxcli.net`, `*.onrocket.site`, `*.pantheonsite.io`, `*.pressdns.com`, `*.savviihq.com`, `*.servebolt.cloud`, `*.sg-host.com`, `*.stackstaging.com`, `*.stage.site`, `*.tastewp.com`, `*.temp.domains`, `*.tempurl.host`, `*.updraftclone.com`, `*.webspaceconfig.de`, `*.wp.build`, `*.wp1.sh`, `*.wp1.site`, `*.wpbouwlocatie.nl`, `*.wpcomstaging.com`, `*.wpengine.com`, `*.wpenginepowered.com`, `*.wpstage.net`, `*.wptiger.fr`, `*.zonevs.eu`, and `*-liquidwebsites.com`.

Changed the environment type after activating? Deactivate and activate the license again so the site is registered in the right environment.

## Update the theme and plugin

Registered sites get updates through **Dashboard → Updates**, and on the Themes and Plugins screens, exactly like WordPress core updates. Nothing needs to be downloaded by hand.

Choose how early you get new versions under **Flatsome → Settings → Updates**:

- **Release channel**: *Stable* only offers tested releases. *Beta* also offers beta builds before they become stable.
- **Include prerelease versions**: also offer alpha and release candidate builds. Use this on a staging site, not on a live store.

## Move a license to another site

Open the **Activation** tab under **Flatsome → Dashboard** on the old site and choose **Deactivate**, then activate the key on the new site. If the old site is no longer reachable, remove the activation from the license at [my.flatsome.com](https://my.flatsome.com) instead.