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Licensing FAQs

for ArcGIS

Do you have more licensing questions? We have put together these FAQs to help answer some of the more common queries

Deauthorizing your ArcGIS for Desktop License

Esri UK Technical Support have put this guide together to help you successfully deauthorize your ArcGIS for Desktop Single Use License. This will allow you to transfer the license from one machine to another without exceeding the maximum number of authorizations available.


  1. Open the ArcGIS Administrator by going to All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcGIS Administrator.
  2. With the ArcGIS Administrator open, click on the Support Operations folder within the folder-tree. Click Deauthorize.

    [alert]Note: Ensure that all ArcGIS software is closed before starting the deauthorization process[/alert]



    If you have a connection to the internet on the machine which holds the license please see the Online Deauthorization section. If the machine is not connected to the internet then please see the Offline Deauthorization section.

Frequently asked questions

  1. The Software Authorization Wizard screen opens. Select Deauthorize now with Esri using the Internet. Click Next.


  2. The Deauthorization Options screen opens. Select the licences you would like to deauthorize. Click Next to deauthorize them.



  3. The Deauthorization Complete screen shows that you have successfully deauthorized. Click Finish.

  1. The Software Authorization Wizard screen opens. Select Deauthorize at Esri’s website or by email to receive your deauthorization file. Click Next.


  2. The Deauthorization Options screen opens. Select the licenses you would like to deauthorize. Click Next to deauthorize them.


  3. The Email Deauthorization screen displays. Click Save and specify the desired location to save your deauthorize.txt file to. This will enable the Finish button.


  4. As per the instructions on the Email Deauthorization screen, you should now move this file to a machine which has an internet connection to either:
    1. Upload the deauthorize.txt file to the Secure Site Operations section of My Esri (you may be prompted to login to My Esri using your username and password).
      • Select Choose File, and browse to the deauthorize.txt file and click Open. Click Upload.


      • The file will process and you will be prompted to download the license file to your local machine. Click Download License File.
      • Click Save and specify the desired location to save your deauthorization.respc file to. Click Save.
      • If necessary move the deauthorization.respc file back to the machine which holds the license.

    2. Email the deauthorize.txt file to authorize@esri.com using your preferred email client.

      [alert class="alert-green"]Tip: This is an automated service, so you do not need to include a subject or any information in the email.[/alert]

      • When the response email is received (typically within 2 minutes), save the attached deauthorization.respc file to the desired location.
      • If necessary move the deauthorization.respc file back to the machine which holds the license.

  5. Browse to the deauthorization.respc file and double-click it. The Deauthorization Method screen will open and will pre-select the I have received a deauthorization file from Esri and am now ready to finish the deauthorization process. It will also have populated the field with the path to the deauthorization.respc file. Click Next.
  6. The Deauthorization Complete screen displays with a list of features that have been deauthorised. Click Finish.

Deauthorizing your ArcGIS for Desktop License

Esri UK Technical Support have put this guide together to help you successfully deauthorise your ArcGIS for Desktop Concurrent Use Licence. This will allow you to transfer the licence from one machine to another without exceeding the maximum number of authorisations available.


  1. Open the License Server Administrator by going to All Programs > ArcGIS > License Server Administrator.
  2. With the License Server Administrator open, click on the Authorizations folder within the folder-tree. Click Deauthorize.

    [alert]Note: Ensure that all ArcGIS software is closed before starting the deauthorization process[/alert]



If you have a connection to the internet on the machine which holds the license please see the Online Deauthorization section. If the machine is not connected to the internet then please see the Offline Deauthorization section.

Frequently asked questions

  1. The Software Authorization Wizard screen opens. Select Deauthorize now with Esri using the Internet. Click Next.


  2. The Deauthorization Options screen opens. Select the licenses you would like to deauthorize. Tips on how to selectively deauthorize or change the number of licenses you wish to deauthorize may be found here. Click Next to deauthorize them.


  3. The Deauthorization Complete screen shows that you have successfully deauthorized. Click Finish.

  1. The Software Authorization Wizard screen opens. Select Deauthorize at Esri’s website or by email to receive your deauthorization file. Click Next.


  2. The Deauthorization Options screen opens. Select the licenses you would like to deauthorize. Tips on how to selectively deauthorize or change the number of licenses you wish to deauthorize may be found here. Click Next to deauthorize them.


  3. The Email Deauthorization screen displays. Click Save and specify the desired location to save your deauthorize.txt file to. This will enable the Finish button.


  4. As per the instructions on the Email Deauthorization screen you should now move this file to a machine which has an internet connection to either:
    1. Upload the deauthorize.txt file to the Secure Site Operations section of My Esri (you may be prompted to login to My Esri using your username and password).
      • Select Choose File, and browse to the deauthorize.txt file and click Open. Click Upload.


      • The file will process and you will be prompted to download the license file to your local machine. Click Download License File.


      • Click Save and specify the desired location to save your deauthorization.respc file to. Click Save.
      • If necessary move the deauthorization.respc file back to the machine which holds the license.

    2. Email the deauthorize.txt file to authorize@esri.com using your preferred email client.

      [alert class="alert-green"]Tip: This is an automated service, so you do not need to include a subject or any information in the email.[/alert]

      • When the response email is received (typically within 2 minutes), save the attached deauthorization.respc file to the desired location.
      • If necessary move the deauthorization.respc file back to the machine which holds the license.

  5. Browse to the deauthorization.respc file and double-click it. The Deauthorization Method screen will open and will pre-select the I have received a deauthorization file from Esri and am now ready to finish the deauthorization process. It will also have populated the field with the path to the deauthorization.respc file. Click Next.


  6. The Deauthorization Complete screen displays with a list of features that have been deauthorised. Click Finish.

Creating a provisioning file

What is a Provisioning File?

A provisioning file (.pvrc or .prvs) is a text file that can be generated to prefill the authorization information in the Software Authorization Wizard to save time by avoiding manual entry. It is a useful way to deploy licenses in large organizations.


  1. Sign into My Esri.
  2. Under My Organizations click on the Licensing tab and then Provisioning.

    [alert]Note: Some functions shown above may not be available to the user because they do not have sufficient permissions[/alert]



  3. On the Provisioning page select the appropriate Product, Version and License type. Also, select whether you want to create a provisioning file for the core products only, core products and extensions or the extensions only. Click Apply to show the available licenses.


  4. Select the licenses you want to provision. For single use licenses use the tick boxes to select the licenses you want to provision.

    [alert class="alert-green"]Tip: If you want to Select All of the extensions check the tick box next to allocate to Select All.[/alert]



    If you are provisioning concurrent use licenses select the licenses you want to provision and also the number you want to allocate.

  5. Enter in the information for the person assigned to the license or fill in the information for yourself. Select a delivery option, either download or email. You can also add in some notes such as a machine ID. The delivery options will allow you to either email it to the person who is assigned the license, or if it is for yourself you can download it. Click Create File to create your provisioning file (.prvc or .prvs).

    [alert]Note: A .prvc file is for provisioning a single use license. A .prvs file is for provisioning concurrent use licenses.[/alert]



  6. Once the file has been created you will be presented with instructions. Follow these instructions to authorize the software.


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