Frequently Asked Questions

This article lists the answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about working with the Kendo UI for Angular license keys.

Why is my license key truncated when an environment variable is set on Windows?

Because of the larger license key file size, the key length is automatically truncated when environment variable is set on Windows, resulting in the following error:

bash

[ERROR][Telerik and Kendo UI Licensing] Corrupted Telerik and Kendo UI License Key content in TELERIK_LICENSE

To fix the error, copy the file to %AppData%\Telerik\telerik-license.txt or put the telerik-license.txt file in the root folder of the application.

We do not recommend using the TELERIK_LICENSE environment variable for local development on Windows. Using the environment variable is recommended on CI/CD platforms where the variable size limit is larger. Refer to Adding the License Key to CI Services.

Will the product function with an expired license key?

This depends on the type of license you have:

• Perpetual Licenses will continue to function normally with an expired license key. However, the following will happen if you update or install a package version that is released after the expiration date of the license:

  • A watermark will appear over selected Kendo UI for Angular components.
  • A licensing banner will pop over a page that uses unlicensed Kendo UI for Angular components.
  • A warning message will appear when calling the kendo-ui-license activate command.
  • A warning message will appear in the browser console.

• Subscription Licenses will continue to function normally for deployed applications. However, the following will happen when you try to rebuild the application:

  • A warning message will appear when calling the kendo-ui-license activate command.

• Trial Licenses will continue to function normally with an expired license key. The following will happen if you try to build or run the application:

  • A watermark appears on application startup.
  • A modal dialog appears on application startup.
  • A warning message will appear when calling the kendo-ui-license activate command.
  • A warning message similar to the following is logged in the build log.

See the Invalid License section for more information.

Note: Future updates of the library may restrict or disable some features when no valid license is present.

I updated the version of the Kendo UI for Angular packages in my project and the invalid license attributes appeared. What is the cause for this behavior?

The most likely cause is that the newly installed Kendo UI for Angular components were released after the expiration date of your current license. To fix this issue:

1. Download a new license key.

2. Clear the Angular cache.

   bash

   rm -rf .angular/cache

3. Activate the new license key.

Can I use the same license key in multiple builds?

You can use your personal license key in multiple pipelines, builds, and environments.

However, each individual developer must use a unique personal license key.

Does the license key expire?

Yes, the license key expires at the end of your support subscription:

• For trial users, this is at the end of your 30-day trial.
• For licensed developers, this is when your subscription expires.

You will need to download and install a new license key after starting a trial, renewing, or upgrading a license.

An expired license key is valid for all Kendo UI for Angular versions which are published before its expiration date.

Do I need an Internet connection to activate the license?

No, the license activation and validation are performed entirely offline.

Do I have to add the license key to source control?

No, you do not have to add the telerik-license.txt license key file or its contents to source control.

Build servers have to use the TELERIK_LICENSE environment variable as described in Adding the License Key to CI Services.

Do not store the license key in plain text, for example, in a GitHub Actions Workflow definition.

Is it possible to activate the license without executing commands?

Yes, if present, the license will be activated automatically during package installation. This applies to both the license key files and the environment variable. A diagnostic message will be printed in the npm install log.

Using the kendo-ui-license activate command is optional, but recommended in builds as it will return an error if the activation fails.

What happens if both the environment variable and the license key file are present?

If both the TELERIK_LICENSE environment variable and the telerik-license.txt file are present, then the environment variable will be used.

To enforce the use of the license key file, unset the environment variable.

My team has more than one licensed developer. Which key do I have to use?

You can use any of the keys associated with your subscriptions to activate your license, both in your local environment and in CI builds.

Can I use the license after it has been expired?

Yes, you can continue using the already-expired license. The application and component functionalities won't be affected unless the Kendo Angular packages are updated to a version released after the expiration date of the license.

I renewed my license key but still see the invalid license attributes. What should I do?

Due to some optimization techniques of the framework, the invalid license attributes may still appear even after a successful activation of the license. You need to clear the cache stored by Angular and then update the license key:

1. Clear the Angular cache:

   bash

   rm -rf .angular/cache

   The same command needs to be executed if a valid license is activated successfully on already built Angular app.

2. Update the license key.

For more information, refer to the Angular Persistent disk cache article.

When were the watermark and invalid license banner introduced?

Starting with Kendo UI for Angular version 13.5.0, a missing license causes a watermark to appear over selected components. For more information, see the Invalid License section.

Are earlier versions of Kendo UI for Angular affected?

No, versions released prior to December 2020 do not require a license key.

Suggested Links

• Setting Up Your License Key
• License Activation Errors and Warnings
• Adding the License Key to CI Services