Activate a license across multiple sites with license_key.txt
You can ship a Freemius license key inside the plugin zip so each site activates without pasting the key by hand. This works from plugin version 5.210 onward (current stable is 5.303).
If a child site already runs the free plugin (or has already opted in to Freemius), some installs still ask you to paste the key once. In that case activate manually on that site, or redeploy after a fresh uninstall of the free plugin.
Step-by-step
- Download the plugin from your account. Use 5.210 or newer.
- Extract the ZIP on your computer.
- Create
license_key.txtin the extracted plugin folder. Paste only your license key (it starts withsk_). No extra spaces, blank lines, or other characters. - Zip the folder again and install or deploy that custom zip.
- Activation runs on the next admin load (or MainWP child request). It fails if you are over quota or the subscription is expired.
- On success, the plugin deletes
license_key.txtautomatically.
Deploy with MainWP’s plugin installer
After you build the custom ZIP that includes license_key.txt, push it with MainWP’s plugin installer (install or upload to selected sites). WP Security Ninja reads the file on the next admin load or MainWP child request.
MainWP’s Activate toggle only turns the plugin on. It does not activate the Freemius license. Keep the key in license_key.txt, or enter it once on the child.
The Security Ninja for MainWP extension does not add a second installer for this. Use MainWP’s plugin tools for the ZIP, then use the extension for scans, settings, IPs, and monitoring after the plugin is active.
Troubleshooting
- Wrong format: The file must contain only the
sk_key, with no extra characters or line breaks. - Activation failure: Check site quota and that the subscription is active. If it still fails, contact support.
- Still asked for a key after Free was already installed: Paste the key once on that child, or remove the free install and redeploy the ZIP that includes
license_key.txt.
