License keys are created automatically – you do not need to manually generate or type them. This chapter explains exactly when keys are created, what triggers the creation, and what format the keys take when delivered to your customers.
How It Works – The Complete Flow
Here is what happens from the moment a customer clicks “Buy” to the moment they receive their license key:
1. Customer places an order in your WooCommerce store
They select your licensed product, add it to the cart, go through checkout, and complete payment.
2. The plugin checks which products in the order have a plan assigned
It scans every line item in the order. If a product has a license plan on its License tab, that line item is flagged for key generation.
3. One license key is created per item quantity
If the customer bought 1 copy, 1 key is created. If they bought 3 copies, 3 separate keys are created – each unique, each independently valid.
4. Each key is linked to the order, the product, the plan, and the customer account
The system records exactly which order and product each key belongs to, so you always know where a key came from.
5. The key appears on the order confirmation and in My Account
The customer can see their license key on the order detail page (“Thank you” page and order emails) and in My Account → Licenses. There is no extra step for them.
When Is the Key Generated?
You can choose from two generation modes in License Verification → Settings. These are not mutually exclusive – you can use both.
| Mode | When the Key Is Created | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Generate on order placed |
The instant the customer submits their order – even before payment is confirmed for pay-later methods like bank transfer. |
Digital downloads and software products where you want instant delivery. Most stores should use this. |
Generate when order status changes to… |
You pick one or more WooCommerce order statuses (e.g. “Processing,” “Completed”). The key is created the first time the order reaches one of those statuses. |
Physical products that happen to include a software license, where you only want to issue the key after confirming payment is received. |
Both modes can work together. If “Generate on order placed” is enabled and a key is already created, the status-based trigger is automatically skipped for that order item – the same item never gets two keys.
What Does a License Key Look Like?
The plugin generates each key as a unique, random string in a standard format. Here is what a typical license key looks like:
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Each key is made up of letters and numbers grouped in segments separated by hyphens. The key is completely random – no two customers will ever receive the same key. Keys are stored securely in your database and can be looked up by order, customer, or product.
Where Customers See Their Key
After an order is placed and the key is generated, customers can find their license key in three places:
| Location | How to Access | What They See |
|---|---|---|
Order confirmation page |
Immediately after checkout, on the “Thank you for your order” page |
A section listing all license keys from this order, with a copy button for each key |
Order confirmation email |
The WooCommerce order email sent to the customer’s inbox |
License keys listed in the email body below the order summary |
My Account → Licenses |
Customer logs in → clicks My Account → clicks Licenses tab |
A searchable list of all their license keys across all orders, with status, expiry date, and activation count |
Tips
- Use “Generate on order placed” for all digital and software products. Customers expect instant delivery, and any delay feels like a technical problem even if it is not.
- For stores that accept bank transfer or invoice payment, use the status-based trigger set to “Processing” – this way keys are only issued after payment is confirmed by your bank notification.
- If a customer reports they did not receive a key, first check License Verification → Licenses and search by their order number. The key was almost certainly created – the issue is usually that they are looking in the wrong place (check email spam folder, or direct them to My Account → Licenses).
- You can manually generate a key for any order from the license admin page if automatic generation was missed. See Managing Licenses for how to do this.