This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2021-09-23. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Uploading a new license to GitHub Enterprise Server

You can upload your license file for GitHub Enterprise to your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to validate your application.

About license files for GitHub Enterprise

After you purchase or upgrade a license for GitHub Enterprise from GitHub's Sales team, you must upload the new license file to your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to unlock your new user licenses. For more information about licenses for GitHub Enterprise Server, see "About licenses for GitHub Enterprise" and "Downloading your license for GitHub Enterprise."

If you'd like to renew or add user licenses to GitHub Enterprise, or if you have questions about your license, contact GitHub's Sales team. Your new license file will be available for download immediately after you complete your order.

Uploading your license to your GitHub Enterprise Server instance

Warning: Updating your license causes a small amount of downtime for your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

  1. Sign into your GitHub Enterprise Server instance as a site administrator.

  2. In the top-right corner of GitHub Enterprise Server, click your profile photo, then click Enterprise settings. "Enterprise settings" in drop-down menu for profile photo on GitHub Enterprise Server

  3. In the enterprise account sidebar, click Settings. Settings tab in the enterprise account sidebar

  4. In the left sidebar, click License. "License" tab in the enterprise account settings sidebar

  5. Under "Quick links", click Update license. Update license link

  6. To select your license, click License file, or drag your license file onto License file. Upload license file

  7. Click Upload. Begin upload

If the web UI for GitHub Enterprise Server doesn't reflect your updated license immediately, see "Troubleshooting."

Troubleshooting

In some scenarios, the web UI for GitHub Enterprise Server may not immediately reflect your new license. You can force the system to detect the license by restarting two system services.

  1. SSH into your GitHub Enterprise Server instance. For more information, see "Accessing the administrative shell (SSH)."

    $ ssh -p 122 admin@HOSTNAME
  2. Restart the services for Git authentication and the HTTP server.

    Warning: Running the following command will result in a few minutes of user-facing downtime for GitHub Enterprise Server. Run the command with care.

    sudo systemctl restart github-gitauth github-unicorn
    
  3. After GitHub Enterprise Server returns you to a prompt, try accessing GitHub Enterprise Server via the command line or web UI again.