Vcenter License Key Command Line Jun 2026

Set-VMHost -VMHost $vmhost -LicenseKey '00000-00000-00000-00000-00000'

Always ensure your license keys are stored securely. Do not store scripts containing plain-text license keys in public repositories. Use VMware's official licensing portal to verify entitlement. vcenter license key command line

Do you prefer automating via on the appliance or PowerCLI from a management server? Do you prefer automating via on the appliance

PowerCLI is the most robust and documented method. Are you trying to license multiple vCenters at once

If you are having trouble with the process, could you tell me: Are you using ? Are you trying to license multiple vCenters at once? Are you getting a specific error message ? I can provide the exact commands for your scenario. How to run script to count VMware core based license?

From a PowerShell terminal (run as administrator), execute:

| Tool | Primary Use Case | Key Commands | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Bulk management of licenses across a vCenter environment | Connect-VIServer , Get-VcLicense , Get-VMHost , Set-VMHost -LicenseKey , Get-LicenseDataManager , UpdateAssociatedLicenseData | | ESXi Shell ( vim-cmd ) | Direct, single-host license management | vim-cmd vimsvc/license --show , vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set= |