Purpose
This article explains how to check the current Plesk license key ID and its expiration date using the command line interface (CLI), along with the file location of the actual license key.
Steps to Retrieve License Information
1. Check the Plesk License Key ID
Run the following command to extract the Plesk license key ID:
/usr/sbin/plesk bin keyinfo --list | grep plesk_key_id | grep -Eo '[[:alpha:]]{4}[[:digit:]]{12}'
Example Output:
PLSK120905520001
This is your unique Plesk license key ID.
2. Check the License Expiration Date
Use this command to get the license expiration (limitation) date:
/usr/sbin/plesk bin keyinfo --list | grep lim_date | grep -Eo '[[:digit:]]{8}'
Example Output:
20250828
This indicates the license will expire on August 28, 2025.
3. Locate the Actual License Key File
To view the physical license key file on the server:
ls -la /etc/sw/keys/keys
Example Output:
-rw-rw----. 1 root swkey-data 13783 Jul 28 01:12 keyXXmEP0Ef
The file named keyXXmEP0Ef is the actual license key used by Plesk, stored under /etc/sw/keys/keys. Only the root user and swkey-data group members have access to it.
Notes
-
Commands must be run as
rootor with appropriatesudoprivileges. -
The date format returned is
YYYYMMDD. -
Avoid modifying the key file directly to prevent license corruption.
