How to change the Confluence Data Center License in confluence.cfg.xml file
Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.
Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.
*Except Fisheye and Crucible
Summary
As a Confluence administrator, you might need to manually change the license directly in confluence.cfg.xml file for any number of reasons including:
upgrades are failing
the license is corrupted
the license cannot be changed in the Confluence UI
etc
Solution
If that is the case, please, follow below steps to achieve it:
Install a new instance of Confluence using the same Confluence version.
Be sure to use the license listed at https://my.atlassian.com
You can use the embedded HSQL database for this step as we just need the license information.
This new install doesn't have to run on the same server where the license needs to be applied.
After you have completed all steps in the Confluence setup wizard, open this new instance's
<confluence_home>/confluence.cfg.xmlfile.Identify the properties below:
1 2<property name="atlassian.license.hash">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</property> <property name="atlassian.license.message">yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy</property>Some versions of Confluence do not require a hashed license. In these versions, you simply need to edit the
confluence.license.messagepropertyCopy these properties into the original
<confluence_home>/confluence.cfg.xmlfile replacing the information already thereStart Confluence.
Feel free to delete the temporary instance at this point.
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