Transfer an ArcGIS Desktop license to a different machine

Summary

Often it is necessary to use a different machine (or more than one machine) for testing purposes, perhaps due to differing environments. Multiple machines cannot be used to authorize a Single Use license for ArcGIS Desktop software. However, this license can be moved from one machine to another.

Procedure

The instructions below describe how to transfer an ArcGIS Desktop license from a physical machine (source machine) to a different machine (destination machine), including a virtual machine. The directions include deauthorizing the license on the source machine, locating the authorization number, and authorizing the destination machine.

Concurrent Use licenses:

1. Deauthorize the license from the source machine. For more information, refer to the following article, How To: Perform online deauthorization of licenses for ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Engine.
2. On the destination machine, log in to my.esri.com using an organization account and download ArcGIS License Manager; click My Organizations > Download > View Downloads (according to product name) > ArcGIS License Manager.\

3. Retrieve the authorization number from the same portal, under the Licensing section, or transfer the Provisioning file (PRVC) from the source machine to the destination machine.
4. Authorize ArcGIS License Manager. For more information, refer to the following article, How To: Download and install Esri software from My Esri.
5. Configure License Manager in ArcGIS Administrator on the newly authorized machine (destination machine). For more information, refer to the following web help document, Client machine setup—ArcGIS Administrator.

Single Use licenses:

1. Deauthorize the license from the source machine. For more information, refer to the following article: How To: Perform online deauthorization of licenses for ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Engine.
2. Authorize the license on the destination machine. For more information, refer to ArcGIS Desktop: Authorizing your software.