---
title: Manage your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license
description: InfluxDB 3 Enterprise licenses authorize the use of the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise software. Learn how licenses work, how to activate and renew licenses, and more.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/license/
estimated_tokens: 4612
product: InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
version: enterprise
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/license/
date: '2026-01-27T12:16:48-06:00'
lastmod: '2026-01-27T12:16:48-06:00'
---

InfluxDB 3 Enterprise licenses authorize the use of the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
software and apply to a single cluster. Licenses are primarily based on the
number of CPUs InfluxDB can use, but there are other limitations depending on
the license type.

* [License feature comparison](#license-feature-comparison)
* [CPU limit](#cpu-limit)
  * [CPU accounting](#cpu-accounting)

* [Upgrade from InfluxDB 3 Core](#upgrade-from-influxdb-3-core)
* [Activate a license](#activate-a-license)
  * [Activate a trial or at-home license](#activate-a-trial-or-at-home-license)
  * [Activate a commercial license](#activate-a-commercial-license)

* [Change your license type](#change-your-license-type)
* [Renew a license](#renew-a-license)
* [Expiration behavior](#expiration-behavior)

## License feature comparison

The following InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license types are available:

* **Trial**: 30-day trial license with full access to InfluxDB 3 Enterprise capabilities.
* **At-Home**: For at-home hobbyist use with limited access to InfluxDB 3 Enterprise capabilities.
* **Commercial**: Commercial license with full access to InfluxDB 3 Enterprise capabilities.

|   Features   | Trial |At-Home|  Commercial  |
|--------------|-------|-------|--------------|
|CPU Core Limit|  256  |   2   |*Per contract*|
|  Expiration  |30 days|*Never*|*Per contract*|
|  Multi-node  |       |       |              |
|Commercial use|       |       |              |

All other InfluxDB 3 Enterprise features are available to all licenses.

## CPU limit

Each InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license limits the number of CPUs InfluxDB can use.
The CPU limit is per cluster, not per machine. A cluster may consist of
multiple nodes that share the available CPU limit.

For example, you can purchase a 32-CPU Commercial license and set up an
InfluxDB 3 Enterprise cluster with the following:

* 3 × writer nodes, each with 4 CPUs (12 total)
* 1 × compactor node with 8 CPUs
* 3 × query nodes, each with 4 CPUs (12 total)

With the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise Commercial license, CPU cores are purchased in
batches of 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 cores.

### CPU accounting

CPU cores are determined by whatever the operating system of the host machine
reports as its core count. InfluxDB 3 Enterprise does not differentiate between
physical and virtual CPU cores.

> [!Note]
> If using Linux, InfluxDB uses whatever cgroup CPU accounting is active–for
> example: `cpuset` or `cpu.shares`.

## Upgrade from InfluxDB 3 Core

To upgrade from InfluxDB 3 Core to InfluxDB 3 Enterprise, see[Upgrade from Core](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/upgrade-from-core/).

## Activate a license

Each InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license must be activated when you start the server,
but the process of activating the license depends on the license type:

* [Activate a trial or at-home license](#activate-a-trial-or-at-home-license)
* [Activate a commercial license](#activate-a-commercial-license)

### Activate a trial or at-home license

1. Use the [`influxdb3 serve` command](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/serve/) to start the server.
   If the server doesn’t find a license file or email address, the server prompts you
   to enter your email address.
   If you’re [activating an InfluxDB trial or home license with Docker](#activate-a-trial-or-home-license-with-docker) or [with DEB/RPM installs](#activate-a-trial-or-home-license-with-linux-packaging), include options to [skip the email prompt](#skip-the-email-prompt).
2. The server prompts you to select a license type. Select `trial` or `home`.
3. In the verification email from InfluxDB 3 Enterprise,
   click the button to verify your email address.

After you verify your email address, InfluxDB 3 Enterprise auto-generates a
license (associated with your cluster and email address) and stores the license
file in your object store.
The license file is a JWT file that contains the license information.

#### Activate a trial or home license with Docker or Linux packaging

If you’re starting a new InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server in a Docker container or
installed via DEB or RPM, you must use one of the methods to[skip the email prompt](#skip-the-email-prompt).
This ensures that the server can generate the license file after you
verify your email address. See the following examples:

* [Docker Compose example](?t=Docker+compose#start-with-license-email-and-compose)
* [DEB and RPM TOML configuration](?t=DEB+and+RPM+TOML#start-with-license-email-and-toml)

#### Skip the email prompt

To skip the email prompt when starting the server, you can provide your email
address using one of the following methods:

* **CLI option:** Use the [`--license-email`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/serve/) option with the `influxdb3 serve` command
* **Environment variable:** Set the `INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL` environment variable
* **TOML config (DEB/RPM-only):** Set the [`license-email`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/config-options/#license-email) option in the [`/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf` file](/influxdb3/enterprise/install/#toml-configuration-linux) for a DEB or RPM install

If the server finds a valid license file in your object store, it ignores the
license email option.

See examples to [start the server with your license email](#start-the-server-with-your-license-email).

#### Use an existing trial or at-home license

When you activate a trial or at-home license, InfluxDB registers your email
address with the license server.
To use your existing license–for example, if you deleted your license
file–provide your email address using one of the following methods:

* **CLI option:** Use the [`--license-email`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/serve/) option with the `influxdb3 serve` command
* **Environment variable:** Set the `INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL` environment variable
* **TOML config (DEB/RPM-only):** Set the [`license-email`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/config-options/#license-email) option in the [`/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf` file](/influxdb3/enterprise/install/#toml-configuration-linux) for a DEB or RPM install

InfluxDB validates your email address with the license server and uses your
existing license if it’s still valid.

### Activate a commercial license

1. [Contact InfluxData Sales](https://influxdata.com/contact-sales/) to obtain
   an InfluxDB 3 Enterprise Commercial license. Provide the following:

   * Cluster UUID
   * Object Store Info

   > [!Note]
> This information is provided in the output of the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
> server if you try to start the server without a valid license.

   InfluxData will provide you with a commercial license file.
   The license file is a JWT file that contains the license information.

2. When starting the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server, provide the license file
   path using one of the following methods:

   * **CLI option:** Use the [`--license-file`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/config-options/#license-file) option with the `influxdb3 serve` command
   * **Environment variable:** Set the `INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_FILE` environment variable.
   * **TOML config (DEB/RPM-only):** Set the [`license-file`](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/config-options/#license-file) option in the [`/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf` file](/influxdb3/enterprise/install/#toml-configuration-linux) for a DEB or RPM install

### License detection

InfluxDB 3 Enterprise checks for a license in the following order:

1. `--license-file` CLI option or `license-file` TOML option
2. `INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_FILE` environment variable
3. Default commercial license path in the object store
4. Default trial/home license path in the object store
5. `--license-email` CLI option or `license-email` TOML option
6. `INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL` environment variable
7. If no license is found, the server won’t start

#### Default license file location

When using the default license path (items 3-4 above), InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
looks for the license file in your [object store directory](/influxdb3/enterprise/get-started/setup/#object-store-examples):

```text
<OBJECT_STORE>/<CLUSTER_ID>/commercial_license
<OBJECT_STORE>/<CLUSTER_ID>/trial_or_home_license
```

### Start the server with your license email

The following examples show how to provide your license email for different
InfluxDB 3 Enterprise installation methods:

#### Quick install (CLI) ####[Docker Compose](#start-with-license-email-and-compose)[DEB/RPM (TOML)](#start-with-license-email-and-toml)

```bash
influxdb3 serve \
--cluster-id CLUSTER_ID \
--node-id NODE_ID \
--license-email EMAIL_ADDRESS \
# ...
```

```bash
INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL=EMAIL_ADDRESS

influxdb3 serve \
--cluster-id CLUSTER_ID \
--node-id NODE_ID \
# ...
```

```yaml
# compose.yaml
name: data-crunching-stack
services:
  influxdb3-enterprise:
    container_name: influxdb3-enterprise
    image: influxdb:3-enterprise
    ports:
      - 8181:8181
    command:
      - influxdb3
      - serve
      - --node-id=NODE_ID
      - --cluster-id=CLUSTER_ID
      - --object-store=file
      - --data-dir=/var/lib/influxdb3/data
      - --plugin-dir=/var/lib/influxdb3/plugins
    environment:
      - INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL=EMAIL_ADDRESS
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        # Path to store data on your host system
        source: ~/.influxdb3/data
        # Path to store data in the container
        target: /var/lib/influxdb3/data
      - type: bind
        # Path to store plugins on your host system
        source: ~/.influxdb3/plugins
        # Path to store plugins in the container
        target: /var/lib/influxdb3/plugins
```

Replace the following:

* `EMAIL_ADDRESS`: Your email address for license activation
* `NODE_ID`: Your existing node identifier from Core
* `CLUSTER_ID`: A new cluster identifier for Enterprise
* `~/.influxdb3/data`: The same data directory you used with Core
* `~/.influxdb3/plugins`: The same plugins directory you used with Core

1. Edit `/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf` to add your license email:

   ```
   license-email="EMAIL_ADDRESS"
   ```

2. To start the server, run the following command:

   ```
   # systemd (modern systems; see logs with 'journalctl --unit influxdb3-enterprise')
   systemctl start influxdb3-enterprise

   # SysV init (legacy systems; logs to /var/lib/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.log)
   /etc/init.d/influxdb3-enterprise start
   ```

### Start the server with your license file

The following examples show how to provide your license file for different
InfluxDB 3 Enterprise installation methods:

#### Quick install (CLI) ####[DEB/RPM (TOML)](#start-with-license-file-and-toml)

```bash
influxdb3 serve \
--cluster-id cluster01 \
--node-id node01 \
--license-file /path/to/license-file.jwt \
# ...
```

```bash
INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_FILE=/path/to/license-file.jwt

influxdb3 serve \
--cluster-id cluster01 \
--node-id node01 \
# ...
```

1. Edit `/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf` to add your license file path:

   ```
   license-file="/etc/influxdb3/license-file.jwt"
   ```

2. Ensure the license file has strict permissions that allow the database to read the file:

   ```
   chown root:influxdb3 /etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf
   chmod 0640 /etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf
   ```

3. To start the server, run the following command:

   ```
   # systemd (modern systems; see logs with 'journalctl --unit influxdb3-enterprise')
   systemctl start influxdb3-enterprise

   # SysV init (legacy systems; logs to /var/lib/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.log)
   /etc/init.d/influxdb3-enterprise start
   ```

For more information about `influxdb3 serve` options, see the[CLI reference](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/serve/).

## Change your license type

If you need to change your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license type–for example,
from Trial to At-Home, or from Trial to Commercial–follow these steps.

### Identify your current license

Check your current license type and status:

```bash
influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
```

### Change from Trial or At-Home to a different Trial or At-Home license

To switch between Trial and At-Home licenses (or to reset a Trial license),
you need to remove the existing license file so the server prompts you to
select a new license type.

#### Quick install (Linux/macOS) ####

1. **Stop the server** (press Ctrl+C or `pkill -f "influxdb3 serve"`).

2. **Back up and remove the existing license file** from your data directory
   (the path you passed to `--data-dir`).
   The license file is stored at:

   ```
   <DATA_DIR>/<CLUSTER_ID>/trial_or_home_license
   ```

   For example, if your data directory is `~/.influxdb3/data` and cluster ID is `cluster0`:

   ```
   # Back up the license file
   mv ~/.influxdb3/data/cluster0/trial_or_home_license \
      ~/.influxdb3/data/cluster0/trial_or_home_license.bak
   ```

3. **Restart the server** with your license email:

   ```
   influxdb3 serve \
     --license-email EMAIL_ADDRESS \
     # ... other options
   ```

   Replace `EMAIL_ADDRESS` with your email address for license activation.

4. **Select the new license type** when prompted (or the server automatically
   activates the license associated with your email).

5. **Verify your email** by clicking the link in the verification email.

6. **Verify the new license:**

   ```
   influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
   ```

1. **Stop the container:**

   ```
   docker stop influxdb3-enterprise
   ```

2. **Back up and remove the existing license file** from your data volume.
   The license file is stored in the **host path** mounted to your data volume:

   ```
   <HOST_DATA_PATH>/<CLUSTER_ID>/trial_or_home_license
   ```

   For example, if your compose file mounts `~/.influxdb3/data` to `/var/lib/influxdb3/data`and your cluster ID is `cluster0`:

   ```
   # Back up the license file on the host
   mv ~/.influxdb3/data/cluster0/trial_or_home_license \
      ~/.influxdb3/data/cluster0/trial_or_home_license.bak
   ```

3. **Restart the container** with your license email:

   ```
   docker run -d \
     -e INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_EMAIL=EMAIL_ADDRESS \
     # ... other options
     influxdb:3-enterprise
   ```

   Replace `EMAIL_ADDRESS` with your email address for license activation.

4. **Check your email** and click the verification link to activate the license.

5. **Verify the new license:**

   ```
   influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
   ```

1. **Stop the server:**

   ```
   sudo systemctl stop influxdb3-enterprise
   ```

2. **Back up and remove the existing license file** from the default data directory.
   The license file is stored at:

   ```
   /var/lib/influxdb3/data/<CLUSTER_ID>/trial_or_home_license
   ```

   For DEB/RPM installs using the default `primary-cluster` cluster ID:

   ```
   # Back up the license file
   sudo mv /var/lib/influxdb3/data/primary-cluster/trial_or_home_license \
           /var/lib/influxdb3/data/primary-cluster/trial_or_home_license.bak
   ```

3. **Update the license email** in your configuration file:

   Edit `/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf`:

   ```
   license-email = "new-email@example.com"
   ```

4. **Restart the server:**

   ```
   sudo systemctl start influxdb3-enterprise
   ```

5. **Check your email** and click the verification link to activate the license.

6. **Verify the new license:**

   ```
   influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
   ```

### Change to a Commercial license

To upgrade to a Commercial license from any other license type:

1. [Contact InfluxData Sales](https://influxdata.com/contact-sales/) to obtain
   a Commercial license file. Provide:

   * Your cluster ID
   * Your object store information

2. **Stop the server.**

3. **Start the server with the commercial license file.**

The commercial license takes precedence over any existing trial or at-home
license in your object store.

#### Quick install (Linux/macOS) ####

Start the server with the `--license-file` option:

```bash
influxdb3 serve \
  --license-file /path/to/commercial-license.jwt \
  # ... other options
```

Or set the environment variable:

```bash
export INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_FILE=/path/to/commercial-license.jwt
influxdb3 serve # ... other options
```

Verify the new license:

```bash
influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
```

Mount the license file and set the environment variable:

```bash
docker run -d \
  -v /path/to/commercial-license.jwt:/license.jwt:ro \
  -e INFLUXDB3_ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_FILE=/license.jwt \
  # ... other options
  influxdb:3-enterprise
```

Verify the new license:

```bash
influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
```

1. **Copy the license file** to the server:

   ```
   sudo cp /path/to/commercial-license.jwt /etc/influxdb3/license.jwt
   sudo chown influxdb3:influxdb3 /etc/influxdb3/license.jwt
   sudo chmod 600 /etc/influxdb3/license.jwt
   ```

2. **Update the configuration** to use the license file:

   Edit `/etc/influxdb3/influxdb3-enterprise.conf`:

   ```
   license-file = "/etc/influxdb3/license.jwt"
   ```

3. **Start the server:**

   ```
   sudo systemctl start influxdb3-enterprise
   ```

4. **Verify the new license:**

   ```
   influxdb3 show license --host http://localhost:8181
   ```

## Renew a license

To renew an InfluxDB 3 Enterprise Commercial license, contact[InfluxData Sales](https://influxdata.com/contact-sales/).

## Expiration behavior

When your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise license expires, the following occurs:

* Write requests continue to be accepted and processed.
* Compactions continue to optimize persisted data.
* Query requests return an error.
* If the InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server stops, it will not restart without a valid,
  non-expired license.

#### Related

* [influxdb3 serve](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/serve/)
* [Upgrade InfluxDB 3 Enterprise](/influxdb3/enterprise/admin/upgrade/)
* [Install InfluxDB 3 Enterprise](/influxdb3/enterprise/install/)
* [Install InfluxDB 3 Core](/influxdb3/core/install/)
| Features | Trial | At-Home | Commercial |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Features | Trial | At-Home | Commercial |
| CPU Core Limit | 256 | 2 | Per contract |
| Expiration | 30 days | Never | Per contract |
| Multi-node |  |  |  |
| Commercial use |  |  |  |