Class License

Manages IronPDF licensing - apply your license key once at application startup. Removes watermarks and enables production use with a valid commercial or trial license.

// Apply license at startup (Program.cs or Global.asax):
License.LicenseKey = "IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01";

// Verify licensing status:
if (License.IsLicensed) {
    Console.WriteLine("IronPDF is licensed and ready!");
}

// Alternative: Use config files
// App.config or Web.config:
// <appSettings>
//   <add key="IronPdf.LicenseKey" value="YOUR-KEY"/>
// </appSettings>

// appsettings.json (.NET Core):
// {
//   "IronPdf.LicenseKey": "YOUR-KEY"
// }

Set license key once at application startup

Watermarks appear without valid license in production

See: https://ironpdf.com/licensing/

See: https://ironpdf.com/docs/license/license-keys/

Inheritance
System.Object
License
Namespace: IronPdf
Assembly: IronPdf.dll
Syntax
public static class License : Object

Working with PDF generation in IronPDF runs through License. It manages IronPDF licensing - apply your license key once at application startup.

License matters when an application needs to configure or invoke PDF generation from C# code. The class encapsulates the related options and behavior in a single object that is set up once and reused across render or processing calls. Typical scenarios include batch generation pipelines, templated document workflows, and integration with existing C# document services.

To use License, instantiate or obtain it from the relevant entry point in the IronPDF C# API. Key properties include IsLicensed, LicenseKey. Assign options or invoke methods on the instance to configure or perform the operation. The license keys covers typical usage in C# end to end.

using IronPdf;

// Obtain License from the relevant entry point in the IronPDF API
void Configure(License instance)
{
    var current = instance.IsLicensed;
    instance.DisableAppAnalytics();
}

For the broader workflow, see the cshtml to PDF mvc core guide in the IronPDF C# documentation. For broader context, the PDF generation portion of the IronPDF C# API contains related types that work with License directly. License exposes additional members beyond those highlighted above; the reference tables on this page list the full set. In application code, treat License as a configured object that is constructed once and reused across operations rather than instantiated per call. Configuration is generally idempotent: assigning the same property value twice has the same effect as assigning it once. For diagnostic purposes, inspect the relevant License property after each operation to confirm the configured state. See the constructors, properties, and methods tables below for the complete API surface of License. Application code typically obtains or instantiates a single License and shares it across multiple IronPDF operations rather than recreating it per call.

Properties

IsLicensed

Determines whether this instance of IronPDF is Licensed.

Will return false unless a LicenseKey is set to a valid trial or full license key in IronPdf.License.LicenseKey, Web.Config , App.Config or appsettings.json in .Net Core.

See https://ironpdf.com/licensing/ and https://ironpdf.com/docs/license/license-keys/

Declaration
public static bool IsLicensed { get; }
Property Value
Type Description
System.Boolean

True if the license key given is valid.

LicenseKey

Removes watermarks. Get Licensed at https://ironpdf.com/licensing

For .Net framework applications, a license key can alternatively be added to Web.Config or App.Config XML file using <add key="IronPdf.LicenseKey" value="IRONPDF-LICENSE-KEY"/> within the appSettings tag. See https://ironpdf.com/docs/license/license-keys/

For .Net Core applications, a license key may be added to appsettings.json where the key name is "IronPdf.LicenseKey" and the value is a valid IronPDF trial or full license key.

See https://ironpdf.com/licensing/ for licensing options.

Declaration
public static string LicenseKey { get; set; }
Property Value
Type Description
System.String

Methods

DisableAppAnalytics()

Disables AppAnalytics for IronPdf. Limitations apply.

Declaration
public static void DisableAppAnalytics()

IsValidLicense(String)

Determines whether a string license is valid upon the validation process

------------------------------------------------

Usage: bool checkValidLicense = IronPdf.License.IsValidLicense(IronPdf.License.LicenseKey);

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Declaration
public static bool IsValidLicense(string LicenseKey)
Parameters
Type Name Description
System.String LicenseKey

IronPdf license key as a string
Returns
Type Description
System.Boolean

true if the license key given is valid and not expired.
Remarks

Important Notes:

Validation Behavior: This method will return false for expired keys, even if they were previously valid. This includes:

  • Expired TEAM KEY
  • Expired Subscription Key
  • Expired Enterprise Key
Related Documentation:

Get a Trial Key: Learn more and get a trial key

Commercial Licensing: View commercial licensing options

API Reference: Full API Documentation