Activate your Telerik License with an Assembly (.dll)

Environment

Version	Product
2025 Q1 or later	Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX

Description

I want to be able to activate the Telerik License without creating classes or adding code to the App_Code folder. I want to ensure proper implementation of Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX licensing in a setup where an ASP.NET Web site project is used assemblies are referenced by adding the dll to the bin folder.

This knowledge base article also answers the following questions:

• Can I activate a the Telerik License using a DLL in the Bin folder?
• How to activate the Telerik License without adding any code to the App_Code folder?
• How to resolve assembly mismatches with Telerik.Licensing.Runtime.dll during production?

Solution

Creating a License Key Assembly

1. In Visual Studio Create a Class Library (.NET Framework) project and name it something like TelerikLicenseKey

2. Reference the Telerik Licensing

   • Option 1: Install the Telerik.Licensing NuGet package the project through the Nuget Package Manager
   • Option 2: Add a NuGet PackageReference to the project file (.csproj or .vbproj).
     XML

     <ItemGroup>
        <PackageReference Include="Telerik.Licensing" Version="[1.4.6,2.0)" />
     </ItemGroup>

3. Download your Telerik License Key:

   • Navigate to the License Keys page in your Telerik account.
   • Locate the Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX row and click the "View Key" link. Select the programming language and Copy the license key.

4. Add the License Key to the project

   • In the Class Library, add the copied License Key Script to Properties > AssemblyInfo.cs

5. Build the project then copy the compiled assembly e.g. TelerikLicenseKey.dll to the Bin folder of the Web site project you are aiming to activate the Telerik License for.

This works as if adding the License key to a Class in the App_Code\ folder, except that the Class Library will need to be maitnained separately to keep the Telerik.Licensing.Runtime.dll up-to-date in case the Telerik UI gets updated.

Addressing Assembly Mismatches

If you encounter assembly mismatch errors, follow these steps:

1. Use Binding Redirects:

   • Add a binding redirect to your web.config to resolve mismatches between versions of Telerik.Licensing.Runtime.dll. Example:
     xml

     <?xml version="1.0"?>  
     <configuration>  
       <runtime>  
         <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">  
           <dependentAssembly>  
             <assemblyIdentity name="Telerik.Licensing.Runtime" publicKeyToken="98bb5b04e55c09ef" culture="neutral" />  
             <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-1.6.5.0" newVersion="1.6.5.0" />  
           </dependentAssembly>  
         </assemblyBinding>  
       </runtime>  
     </configuration>  

2. Version Compatibility:

   • Ensure the Telerik.Licensing.Runtime.dll version referenced to the Class Library matches the Telerik version in your Web site project.

See Also

• License Key Installation
• Web Application Projects vs. Web Site Projects
• Adding Binding Redirects in Web.config