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How to Use the License Manager for WooCommerce

Selling software is different from selling a normal digital download.

A PDF, image pack, or template can be delivered with a simple download link. However, software usually needs more control. You may need license keys, site activation limits, customer account access, and a way for your software to check whether a license is active.

That is why Xobytes License Manager for WooCommerce was built.

This guide explains how to use the License Manager to sell your own software licenses from a WordPress and WooCommerce website.

Purchase the license manager here.

What Is Xobytes License Manager?

Xobytes License Manager is a WooCommerce license manager plugin that lets you sell licensed software from your own website.

Instead of using a third-party license platform, your own WooCommerce store can create license keys, track customer licenses, manage activated sites, and provide REST API endpoints for license validation.

As a result, you can sell products such as:

  • WordPress plugins
  • WordPress themes
  • WooCommerce extensions
  • AI tools
  • private client software
  • templates
  • automation tools
  • SaaS-connected WordPress tools
  • custom business software

In other words, your website becomes your own software license server.

How the License Manager Works

The process is simple.

First, you create a WooCommerce product for the software you want to sell. Next, you connect that product ID to a license rule inside the License Manager. Then, when a customer buys that product, the plugin creates a license key automatically.

After that, the customer can copy the license key from their account page and paste it into your software. Finally, your software checks the license through your website’s license API.

The basic flow looks like this:

Customer buys software product
↓
WooCommerce order is marked processing or completed
↓
License Manager creates a license key
↓
Customer copies the license from My Account
↓
Customer enters the license in your software
↓
Your software activates and checks the license through your site API

Because of this, you do not have to create license keys by hand after every sale.

Purchase the license manager here.

Step 1: Install Xobytes License Manager

To start, upload the plugin to your WordPress website.

Go to:

Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin

Then upload the plugin ZIP file and click:

Install Now

After WordPress installs the plugin, click:

Activate Plugin

Once the plugin is active, you should see the License Manager menu inside your WordPress admin area.

Step 2: Activate Your Xobytes License

Before using the plugin, activate your Xobytes license.

Go to:

WooCommerce > License Manager License

Then paste the license key you received after purchase.

Click:

Activate License

After activation, the plugin should show your status as active.

This license unlocks the License Manager plugin on your website. After that, you can use it to create license systems for your own software products.

Step 3: Create a WooCommerce Product

Next, create the product you want to sell.

Go to:

Products > Add New

Give your product a clear name.

For example:

My Plugin Pro

Then set the price, description, product image, and download settings.

If you are selling a plugin ZIP file, you can make it a digital/downloadable product. However, the license system can also work with non-download products if you deliver the software another way.

After you publish the product, look at the product edit URL.

It may look like this:

post=123

That number is the WooCommerce Product ID.

You will need that ID in the next step.

Purchase the license manager here.

Step 4: Add a License Rule

Now you need to tell the License Manager which WooCommerce product should create a license.

Go to:

WooCommerce > AI License Products

or the License Manager product rule page shown in your plugin.

Then find:

Add or Update License Rule

Enter the WooCommerce Product ID.

Next, enter a plan name.

For example:

my-plugin-pro

Then set the number of websites the license can activate on.

For example:

1

Finally, choose the billing mode.

Use:

One-time purchase

if the customer pays once.

Use:

Subscription-locked license

if the license should depend on an active yearly or monthly subscription.

Then click:

Save License Rule

Now that product is connected to the license system.

Step 5: Test a Purchase

After setting up your license rule, test the checkout process.

You can place a test order or create an order manually in WooCommerce.

Once the order reaches:

Processing

or:

Completed

the License Manager should create a license key for the customer.

This license key is stored in your website database and connected to the customer’s WordPress user account.

Step 6: View the Customer License

Customers can find their license key inside their WooCommerce account.

They can go to:

My Account > Software Licenses

From there, they can see license details such as:

  • license key
  • plan
  • status
  • max sites
  • active sites
  • subscription status
  • connected websites

This makes the customer experience much easier. Also, it reduces support requests because buyers can find their own license keys without contacting you.

Purchase the license manager here.

Step 7: Connect Your Software to the License API

The License Manager creates REST API endpoints on your own website.

Your software can use these endpoints to activate, check, and deactivate licenses.

The API endpoints are based on the customer’s own website domain.

For example, if your store is:

https://example.com

then your license API endpoints would be:

https://example.com/wp-json/xblm/v1/activate
https://example.com/wp-json/xblm/v1/check
https://example.com/wp-json/xblm/v1/deactivate

This is important because each buyer’s License Manager installation uses their own website as the license server.

Step 8: Activate a License From Your Software

When a customer enters a license key inside your plugin, theme, or software, your software should send an activation request to the license API.

The activation request should include:

license_key
site_url
site_fingerprint
wp_user_email

The license server checks the key and decides whether the site can be activated.

If the license is active and the site limit has not been reached, the server returns a successful response.

Then your software should save:

license_key
site_id
plan
status
last_checked

After that, your software can use the saved data for future checks.

Step 9: Check the License Regularly

Activation is only the first step.

Your software should also check the license on a schedule.

For example, you may check the license:

once per day

or:

once every few hours

The license check confirms whether the license is still active.

This is useful when:

  • a license is revoked
  • a subscription expires
  • a payment fails
  • a site is deactivated
  • a license reaches its site limit
  • a customer changes plans

Because of this, your software can respond to license changes automatically.

Step 10: Deactivate a Site

Sometimes a customer may want to move a license from one website to another.

For example, they may stop using an old domain and activate the software on a new site.

In that case, your software can call the deactivate endpoint.

Once the site is deactivated, the license slot can be freed.

This helps customers manage their own activations without needing constant support.

Step 11: Manage Licenses as the Store Owner

As the store owner, you can manage licenses from the WordPress admin area.

You can view active licenses, customer owners, plans, max sites, active site counts, subscription IDs, status, and creation dates.

You can also take actions such as:

  • revoke a license
  • reward a license with one more site
  • delete a license
  • remove connected sites
  • review customer access

This gives you control over your software sales after checkout.

Step 12: Use Clear Plan Names

Plan names should be simple and consistent.

For example, use names like:

my-plugin-starter
my-plugin-pro
my-plugin-agency
my-plugin-lifetime

Clear plan names make it easier for your software to understand what features the customer should receive.

For example:

starter = basic features
pro = advanced features
agency = more site activations
lifetime = long-term access

As a result, your license system can support upgrades and different packages more easily.

Purchase the license manager here.

Step 13: Create License Tiers

Most software sellers should create more than one license tier.

For example:

Starter License: 1 site
Pro License: 3 sites
Agency License: 10 sites
Lifetime License: 1 site or unlimited sites

Each tier can be a separate WooCommerce product.

Then each product can have its own license rule.

This gives customers more choices. Also, it gives you a better way to increase revenue with higher-tier plans.

Step 14: Use Subscription-Locked Licenses for Yearly Billing

If you want to charge every year, use subscription-locked licenses.

With this setup, the customer must keep an active subscription to keep the license active.

This is useful for:

  • yearly plugin licenses
  • yearly theme licenses
  • software updates
  • support access
  • premium API tools
  • hosted features
  • ongoing security tools

If the subscription is canceled, expired, or payment fails, the license can be marked inactive.

Therefore, yearly billing gives your software business more stable recurring revenue.

Step 15: Test Before Launching

Before selling to real customers, test the full flow.

Use this checklist:

Create WooCommerce product
Save license rule for that product ID
Place test order
Mark order processing or completed
Confirm license key was created
Confirm license appears in customer account
Activate the license from your software
Check the license through the API
Deactivate the test site
Try a second activation
Test revoked license behavior
Test expired subscription behavior

Testing helps you catch problems before customers buy.

Best Practices for Using the License Manager

Use clear product names, simple plan names, and easy customer instructions.

Also, make sure your software has a clean license activation screen.

Your customer should know exactly where to paste the license key and what to do next.

For the best experience, include:

  • license key field
  • activate button
  • deactivate button
  • current license status
  • plan name
  • last checked date
  • support link
  • renewal link if needed

This makes the software feel professional and easier to use.

Purchase the license manager here.

Common Questions

Can I use this to sell WordPress plugins?

Yes. Xobytes License Manager is a good fit for selling WordPress plugins with license keys and site activations.

Can I use it for themes?

Yes. You can use it for themes, plugins, WooCommerce extensions, or other software products.

Does it work with WooCommerce products?

Yes. The system works by mapping WooCommerce product IDs to license rules.

Can I sell yearly licenses?

Yes. You can use subscription-locked licenses for yearly billing.

Can customers see their own license keys?

Yes. Customers can view their licenses in the WooCommerce My Account area.

Can my software check the license automatically?

Yes. Your software can use the REST API endpoints to activate, check, and deactivate licenses.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to use the License Manager is simple once you understand the flow.

You create a WooCommerce product, connect it to a license rule, sell the product, and let the plugin create the customer license key. Then your software uses the API to activate and check that license.

Because of this, Xobytes License Manager gives software sellers a strong foundation for building a real software business with WordPress and WooCommerce.

Instead of selling simple downloads, you can sell licensed software with customer accounts, site activations, status checks, and controlled access.

Purchase the license manager here.

Hey, I’m Xoie. Let me know if you need help.