Easy Digital Downloads delivers updates for EDD Pro and your pass features right in your WordPress dashboard, just like plugins from WordPress.org. One pass license key covers EDD Pro and every feature included in your pass, so you don’t need a separate key for each feature.
This guide shows you where to find your license key, how to activate it, and how to install updates automatically or by hand. All you need is an active Easy Digital Downloads pass, and the steps are the same for every pass level, from Personal to All Access.
Before you get started, make sure you can log in to your Easy Digital Downloads account.
Finding Your License Key
First, log in to your Easy Digital Downloads account. Then, open the Downloads tab.
The license card at the top shows your pass type, license key, expiration date, and site activations. Your key is listed under License Key, and the copy icon next to that label copies it for you.
If EDD Pro isn’t on your site yet, click Download Easy Digital Downloads to get the plugin’s zip file. You can then upload it from Plugins » Add Plugin, just like any other plugin.
With your key copied, you’re ready to activate it on your site.
Activating Your License Key
Your license key needs to be active on your site before updates can reach it. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Downloads » Settings. You’ll land on the General tab, with the Store section open. Under Easy Digital Downloads (Pro) Key, paste your key into the License Key field and click Activate License.
Once your key is active, the field shows a Deactivate button, a View Extensions button, and the date your license expires.
Note: Are you using the free version of Easy Digital Downloads? On the free version, this section is titled Go Pro With Easy Digital Downloads. Entering your pass license key there upgrades your site to EDD Pro. For details, see our guide on upgrading to EDD Pro.
Installing Your Pass Features
With your key active, every feature in your pass is ready to install. You won’t need to enter a key for each feature.
To browse them, go to Downloads » Extensions. The Manage Extensions page lists the features included in your pass. Next, find the one you want and click Install. EDD downloads and installs it for you. If a feature you expect isn’t listed, use the Refresh Extensions button at the top of the page.
For a full walkthrough, see our guide on installing an extension.
Updating EDD Pro and Your Features
New versions of EDD Pro and your features show up in WordPress the same way as updates for any other plugin.
To see your available updates, go to Dashboard » Updates in your WordPress admin. Then, scroll to the Plugins section and check the box next to each plugin you want to update. Then, click Update Plugins.
You’ll also see a notice under the plugin’s row on the Plugins page, with a link to the new version’s details.
Note: After you activate your license key, it can take up to four hours for new updates to show up. EDD saves update information for a few hours at a time, so you don’t need to reinstall anything. Just check back later.
Licensing Extensions Not Included in Your Pass
Some installed extensions aren’t covered by your pass. For example, you may have bought one separately. These extensions get their own license keys, and you manage them from a separate tab.
To find it, go to Downloads » Settings and open the Licenses tab. This tab lists each installed extension that isn’t included with your pass, along with a key field. For each extension, paste its license key into the field and click Activate.
An extension without an active license shows the message “Unlicensed: currently not receiving updates.”
Features that come with your pass don’t appear on this tab. Your pass license key on the Store section already covers them.
Managing Your Site Activations
Each pass can be active on a set number of sites. Your license card in your account shows how many you’ve used under Site Activations, such as “0 / 3.”
To see which sites are using your license, click View Sites on your license card.
A panel opens with each site URL and a Deactivate button. Deactivating a site removes it from your license, which frees up an activation for a new site.
Local and staging sites don’t count toward your activations, so you can test updates on a copy of your store without using up a site.
To learn which staging setups are detected, see our guide on staging site support.
Updating Manually
Updating by hand is another option if you prefer not to use the built-in updates. This takes a little more time, so we recommend the built-in updates whenever you can.
Downloading the Latest Version
In your account’s Downloads tab, the Download Easy Digital Downloads button on your license card gets the latest EDD Pro zip file. For a feature, scroll down to the list below your license card. Then, click Download under the feature you want.
Uploading the New Version
Next, in your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins » Add Plugin and click Upload Plugin next to the page title.
The upload form opens at the top of the page. From here, click Choose File and select the zip file you downloaded. Then, click Install Now.
Because the plugin is already on your site, WordPress then shows a screen comparing your current version with the uploaded one. The Replace current with uploaded option on that screen finishes the update, and your settings stay in place.
For more help with uploading plugins, see WPBeginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
That’s it! Now you know how to activate your license key and keep EDD Pro and your features up to date.
Next, you may want to read our guide on renewing your license key so your updates keep coming after your pass expires.
FAQ
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about getting updates.
Do I need a separate license key for each feature?
No. Your pass license key covers EDD Pro and every feature included in your pass. You only need another key for an extension that isn’t part of your pass, which you enter on the Licenses tab.
Why don’t I see an update right after activating my key?
Update information is saved on your site for a few hours at a time. It can take up to four hours after activation for a new update to appear. You don’t need to reinstall anything.
What happens to updates if my license expires?
Each pass includes updates and support for one year. EDD Pro and your features keep working after your license expires, but you won’t get new updates until you renew. To learn more, see our guide on license renewals.
Do local and staging sites count toward my site activations?
No. Local and staging sites don’t count toward your activation limit.
