Why Does cPanel Show a License Error After an IP Change?

When your server’s IP address changes, your cPanel license may become invalid, displaying errors like:

  • “Invalid License File”
  • “Cannot Read License File”
  • “Your IP address has changed, and your license is invalid”

This happens because cPanel licenses are assigned to a specific IP. If your IP changes, you need to update your license details with cPanel.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix cPanel License Errors

Step 1: Verify Your Server’s New IP Address

First, confirm that your server is using the correct new IP address:

curl -s http://checkip.cpanel.net

or

hostname -I

Make sure the IP displayed matches your new IP.

Step 2: Update the cPanel License File

To refresh your cPanel license, run the following command:

/usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt

This command forces cPanel to check and revalidate the license with the new IP.

Step 3: Verify the License Activation

Check if your license is now valid by running:

curl -s https://verify.cpanel.net | grep $(curl -s http://checkip.cpanel.net)

If the license is active, your issue is resolved.

Step 4: Update Your License with cPanel (If Needed)

If your license is still invalid, manually update it:

  1. If you get your license with us, open a support ticket and we will fix that.
  2. If you purchased directly from cPanel, Log in to your cPanel Store.
  3. Go to Manage Licenses.
  4. Find your license and update the IP address.
  5. Run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt again to activate the new IP.

Step 5: Restart cPanel Services

Finally, restart cPanel services to apply the changes:

service cpanel restart

or

/scripts/restartsrv_cpsrvd

Common Issues & Fixes

  • License still shows as invalid? Wait 5–10 minutes and re-run /usr/local/cpanel/cpkeyclt.
  • Unable to connect to cPanel? Make sure port 2087 is open in your firewall.
  • Incorrect IP in cPanel? Update your network configuration with: 
    nano /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

Need Help Fixing Your cPanel License?

If you’re still experiencing issues, @CustomerPanel is available 24/7 for support. Upgrade to a managed hosting plan for hassle-free cPanel management.