> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://syteca.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Activate or Update the Serial Key
> Activate a new Syteca serial key or update an existing one, from the Management Tool. Two procedures depending on whether the Application Server has Internet access: online activation directly from the Management Tool, or offline activation via the Syteca website.
Activating a serial key associates a Syteca deployment with a purchased product license. Updating a serial key applies changes made by the Syteca vendor (extended Update and Support period, additional endpoint or PAM seat licenses) to an existing key already installed in the deployment. The procedure is the same for activating a new key and updating an existing one, and depends on whether the Application Server has Internet access at the time.
**NOT AVAILABLE IN SAAS.** Serial key activation applies to on-premises Syteca deployments. SaaS deployments are licensed by the Syteca vendor.
## Choose the activation method
| Method | When to use it |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Online activation** | The Application Server computer has an active Internet connection. This is the simpler procedure, done entirely inside the Management Tool. |
| **Offline activation** | The Application Server computer does not have Internet access, for example in air-gapped environments or highly restricted networks. Activation is done on the Syteca website first, then added to the Management Tool in offline mode. |
## Permissions required
The Management Tool user performing the activation must:
1. Belong to the **built-in default tenant**.
2. Hold the [administrative Tenant Management and System Configuration permission](/docs/administration/users/administrative-permissions).
Without these two conditions the activation controls are not visible in the Management Tool.
## Online activation
Use this procedure when the Application Server computer has Internet access.
### Open the Serial Key Management tab
Confirm that the Application Server computer has an active Internet connection. If not, use the offline procedure below instead.
Log in as a user of the built-in default tenant who holds the administrative Tenant Management and System Configuration permission.
Click the **Configuration** button at the top of the Management Tool interface. On the Configuration page, select the **Serial Key Management** tab, then open the **Serial Key** sub-tab.
### Activate a new key or update an existing one
On the **Serial Key** sub-tab, choose one of the two actions.
**To activate a new serial key:**
1. Click **Activate Product** in the top right of the page.
2. Select **Activate Product Online** from the menu.
3. In the **Serial Key Activation** popup that opens, enter the serial key.
4. Click **Activate**.
**To update an existing serial key** (after your Syteca vendor has updated the key on their side):
1. Click **Update Key State** in the top right of the page.
Whenever the Syteca vendor updates an existing serial key (for example, to extend the Update and Support period or add more licenses), click **Update Key State** in the Management Tool for the changes to take effect. Nothing changes in the deployment until this button is clicked.
### Verify the serial key details
After activation or update, the serial key is displayed on the **Serial Key Management** tab with the number of licenses available, the Update and Support period end date, and other license attributes.
## Offline activation
Use this procedure when the Application Server computer does not have Internet access. The activation is done on the Syteca website, then the result is applied in the Management Tool offline.
The full step-by-step instructions live on the Syteca website:
Complete offline activation walkthrough on the Syteca website. Includes the download-and-upload cycle between the Management Tool and the Syteca activation server, and how to import the activation response file back into the Management Tool.
The offline activation procedure requires access to another computer with Internet access, since the Application Server computer itself is not connected. Plan the workflow accordingly, and have both computers available at the time of activation.
## Troubleshooting
### The Configuration tab or Serial Key Management sub-tab is missing
The logged-in user does not belong to the built-in default tenant, or does not hold the administrative Tenant Management and System Configuration permission. See [Permissions required](#permissions-required) above, then log in as a user who meets both conditions.
### Activate Product Online fails
Check the following in order:
1. The Application Server computer has current Internet connectivity, including DNS resolution of the Syteca activation servers.
2. Corporate firewall or proxy rules allow outbound HTTPS from the Application Server computer to the Syteca activation endpoint.
3. The entered serial key matches the one provided by the Syteca vendor exactly, with no leading or trailing whitespace.
If online activation still fails, use the offline procedure as a workaround, then contact Syteca support to investigate the online activation issue.
### Update Key State does not reflect vendor-side changes
Confirm with the Syteca vendor that the key change has actually been applied on their side. Update Key State fetches the current state; if the vendor has not yet applied the change, the button does not report an error but also does not change anything.
## Related
How Syteca licensing works, license types, and where each license type applies.
Serial key management operations after activation, including replacing and removing keys.
Distribute the endpoint licenses covered by the serial key to specific Clients.
Distribute PAM seat licenses to users.