Licensing continued

Author: dimodi

_contentTemplates/common/get-started.md

@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ To download and install your Telerik license key:
 1. Go to the <a href="https://www.telerik.com/account/your-licenses/license-keys" target="_blank">License Keys page</a> in your Telerik account.
 1. Click the **Download License Key** button.
 1. Save the `telerik-license.txt` file to:
-    * (on Windows) `%AppData%\Telerik\telerik-license.txt`, for example, `C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\telerik-license.txt`
+    * (on Windows) `%AppData%\Telerik\telerik-license.txt`, for example, `C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\Telerik\telerik-license.txt`
     * (on Mac or Linux) `~/.telerik/telerik-license.txt`, for example, `/Users/.../.telerik/telerik-license.txt`
 
 This will make the license key available to all Telerik .NET apps that you develop on your local machine.
@@ -208,6 +208,6 @@ This will make the license key available to all Telerik .NET apps that you devel
 
 #license-key-know-more-link
 
-The [Telerik License Key](slug://installation-license-key) article provides additional details on installing and updating your Telerik license key in different scenarios.
+The [Telerik License Key](slug://installation-license-key) article provides additional details on installing and updating your Telerik license key in different scenarios. [Automatic license key maintenance](slug://installation-license-key#automatic-installation) is more effective and recommended in the long run.
 
 #end

deployment/overview.md

@@ -11,12 +11,7 @@ position: 1
 
 # Blazor Deployment Overview
 
-This article explains the basics of deploying a Telerik-enabled Blazor web application. It consists of the following sections:
-
-* [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
-* [License Key](#license-key)
-* [Telerik Components](#telerik-components)
-* [Next Steps and Troubleshooting](#next-steps-and-troubleshooting)
+This article lists the fundamentals of deploying a Telerik-enabled Blazor web application.
 
 @[template](/_contentTemplates/common/general-info.md#ci-cd-support)
 

getting-started/vs-code-integration/new-project-wizard.md

@@ -44,37 +44,41 @@ The available templates vary depending on the target framework and hosting model
 
 Type your project name and select the output folder for it.
 
-#### Section 3: Select UI for Blazor Version
+#### Section 3: Install or Update License Key
+
+If necessary, the Telerik Visual Studio Code extension will notify you about a missing or outdated [license key](slug://installation-license-key), and will install or update it.
+
+#### Section 4: Select UI for Blazor Version
 
 Select the preferred UI for Blazor version. Make sure that your system has access to the specified version of the UI components. You can achieve this with the [Telerik NuGet feed](slug://installation/nuget).
 
-#### Section 4: Select Hosting Model
+#### Section 5: Select Hosting Model
 
 Here you can select the desired hosting model—[**WebApp**](slug://getting-started/web-app), [**Client** (also: WebAssembly)](slug://getting-started/client-side), [**Server**](slug://getting-started/server-side), or [**Hybrid** (a hybrid Blazor MAUI)](slug://getting-started/hybrid-blazor).
 
 The available target framework options are updated upon selecting the hosting model.
 
-#### Section 5: Select Your License Type
+#### Section 6: Select Your License Type
 
 Select your license type - **Commercial** (**Paid**) or **Trial**.
 
-#### Section 6: Choose How to Distribute the Client Assets
+#### Section 7: Choose How to Distribute the Client Assets
 
 Choose whether to load the required Telerik UI stylesheet and JS Interop file as [static NuGet assets](slug://getting-started/what-you-need#css-theme-and-javascript-files) or load them from the [Telerik CDN](slug://common-features-cdn).
 
-#### Section 7: Enable or Disable Localization
+#### Section 8: Enable or Disable Localization
 
 Choose whether to use [localization](slug://globalization-localization) in the project or not.
 
-#### Section 8: Select the Preferred Icon Type
+#### Section 9: Select the Preferred Icon Type
 
 Decide if you want to switch to using [Font Icons](slug://common-features-icons) instead of the default SVG icons.
 
-#### Section 9: Select Target Framework
+#### Section 10: Select Target Framework
 
 The available .NET framework versions vary depending on the selected hosting model.
 
-#### Section 10: Select Theme
+#### Section 11: Select Theme
 
 Select your desired [theme](slug://themes-overview) for your project. Click **See All Swatches** to explore the available [theme color variations](slug://themes-overview#basics).
 

getting-started/vs-integration/convert-project-wizard.md

@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ You can choose to back up the project state before the conversion (in a folder c
 
 ### Step 4: Install or Update License Key
 
-If necessary, the Telerik Visual Studio extension will notify you about a missing or outdated [license key](slug://installation-license-key), and will help you resolve the issue.
+If necessary, the Telerik Visual Studio extension will notify you about a missing or outdated [license key](slug://installation-license-key), and will install or update it.
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 

getting-started/vs-integration/new-project-wizard.md

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ Finally, you can apply one of the available [themes](slug://themes-overview) to
 
 ### Step 4: Install or Update License Key
 
-If necessary, the Telerik Visual Studio extension will notify you about a missing or outdated [license key](slug://installation-license-key), and will help you resolve the issue.
+If necessary, the Telerik Visual Studio extension will notify you about a missing or outdated [license key](slug://installation-license-key), and will install or update it.
 
 ## See Also
 

installation/license-key.md

@@ -51,12 +51,91 @@ If you need to activate Telerik UI for Blazor only in a specific app, then save
 
 ## License Key Updates
 
-Whenever you renew or purchase a new Telerik license, always install a new license key. The new license key includes information about all previous purchases. This process is referred to as a *license key update*.
+Always install a new license key whenever you:
+
+* renew or purchase a new Telerik license
+* Start a new trial
+The new license key includes information about all previous purchases. This process is referred to as a *license key update*.
 
 * If you used [automatic license key installation](#automatic-installation), then open the tool that you used to download and install the license key file. You can also update the license key file by using the [manual steps above](#manual-installation).
 * If you used the [manual license key installation](#manual-installation), then repeat the same steps.
 * To [update your license key in CI/CD environments](slug://deployment-license-key), get your new license key and update the environment variable value.
 
+## Frequently Asked Questions
+
+#### Does the license key expire?
+
+Yes, the license key expires at the end of your subscription:
+
+* For trial users, this is at the end of your 30-day trial period.
+* For commercial license holders, this is when your subscription term expires.
+
+You need to download and install a new license key after:
+
+* Starting a new trial
+* Buying a new license
+* Renewing an existing license
+* Upgrading an existing license
+
+An expired [perpetual license](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/faq/licensing-purchasing#licensing) key is valid for all Telerik UI for Blazor versions published before the license expiration date.
+
+#### Will Telerik UI for Blazor function with an expired license key?
+
+This depends on the [Telerik UI for Blazor license type (perpetual, subscription, or trial)](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/faq/licensing-purchasing#licensing):
+
+* *Perpetual licenses* function normally with an expired license key, as long as the application is using a version that was released before the expiration date of the license.
+* *Subscription licenses* function normally in already deployed applications, but you cannot rebuild and republish the app.
+* *Trial licenses* function normally only within the 30-day trial period.
+
+Scenarios that do not match the above three descriptions result in the following application behaviors:
+
+* A popup banner appears on application startup.
+* A watermark appears on Telerik UI for Blazor components.
+* [A warning message appears in the application's build log](slug://troubleshooting-license-key-errors).
+
+#### I updated the Telerik UI for Blazor version in my project and license errors appeared. Why?
+
+The most likely cause is that the new Telerik UI for Blazor version was released after the expiration date of your current license or license key. To fix this issue:
+
+1. Renew your Telerik UI for Blazor license if necessary.
+1. [Update your license key](slug://installation-license-key)
+
+#### Can I use the same license key in multiple builds?
+
+You can use your personal license key in multiple pipelines, builds, and environments. However, each individual developer must use their own unique personal license key.
+
+#### Do I need an Internet connection to activate the license?
+
+No, the license validation and activation occur offline.
+
+#### Do I have to add the license key to source control?
+
+No, you do not have to add the `telerik-license.txt` license key file or its contents to source control.
+
+Build servers [must use the `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable](slug://deployment-license-key).
+
+>warning Do not store the license key in plain text, for example, in a GitHub Actions Workflow definition.
+
+#### What happens if both the environment variable and the license key file are present?
+
+If both the `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable and the `telerik-license.txt` file are present, then the environment variable will be used.
+To use the license key file, unset the environment variable.
+
+#### What happens if several license key files exist?
+
+If both a global and a project-specific `telerik-license.txt` files exist, then the project-specific license key will be used.
+
+#### My team has more than one license holder. Which key do we have to use?
+
+To activate Telerik UI for Blazor:
+
+* [Every developer must be assigned their own license or seat](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/faq/licensing-purchasing).
+* Every developer must use a license key that is associated with their personal Telerik account.
+
+#### Are earlier Telerik UI for Blazor versions affected?
+
+No, versions up to **7.1.0** released prior to February 2025 do not require a license key.
+
 ## Next Steps
 
 * [Set Up the Telerik NuGet Feed](slug://installation/nuget)