# Installing your License Key
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Prior to license key installation, make sure that you have completed [Installing Existent Plugin](/documentation/learning-existent/getting-started/installing-existent-plugin.md) successfully.
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Every developer using the Existent plugin must install a valid license.
To obtain a license key, you need to sign up at the Existent website. If you have not already, you can register for an Existent account at .
The Existent Plugin is currently offered under 3 different licensing agreements. Choose the one that best suits your needs.
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Please note that if you are using the **Starter** **License** you won't be able to make packaged builds of your application, and the number of Existent components that can be included in your levels will be limited - see [this section on Starter restrictions](#q-what-restrictions-apply-to-me-as-a-starter-licence-holder) for more details.
If you opt for an **Indie** **License** you will have unrestricted access to all Unreal features, and you'll be able to package your project for end users. If you don't enter a valid license you won't be able to Play in Editor (PIE) or in VR.
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After signing up, you will receive an email with a License Key, as shown on the image below:
When you first start a project after installing the Existent Plugin, a license validation will not have been run yet, and so the Play in Editor (PIE) or Play in VR modes won't be usable.
* Launch the Unreal Engine editor where your project is located.
* Ensure that the Existent plugin is enabled.
* Click on the **Existent Toolbar Button** and from the dropdown menu select **Existent License.**
The Existent Toolbar Button contains a button to open the Existent License Settings
* This will open up the Project Settings window (under Plugins-Existent License) and you can enter an Existent License Key.
* After entering your license key, click on the **Validate License** button.
The Existent License Settings where you can enter your license key
* The feedback text below the button will change to show whether the license was validated successful along with license expiry date and the type of License Plan (Starter/Indie).
* You have now successfully entered your license key for the Existent plugin in Unreal Engine. Your plugin should be fully functional and ready to use.
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Ensure that when you click on "Validate License" your PC is connected to the internet.
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#### Troubleshooting Q\&A
#### **Q: Can I use the same license key on multiple projects?**
A: Yes, each license is bound to a machine, so you can use the same key on multiple projects. You will just need to validate the license on each project. Refer to the license agreement for more details.
#### **Q: What should I do if I lose my license key?**
A: Check your email folder for the original Existent registration email. Otherwise, contact us at and share the original email you used for registration or your company details.
#### **Q: Do I need to validate the license key every time I start my project?**
A: No, you only need to do it once. The next time you load your project, the license key will be saved and validation will take place on startup in the back-end.
#### **Q: I tried packaging my project but packaging failed even though I have a valid license.**
A: Make sure you validate your license key within your Unreal Engine project again and try re-packaging your project.
#### **Q: How do I deactivate the license key used on an old machine?**
A: When you try to validate the license key on a new machine, if the license key is valid but you have exceeded the maximum number of seats, you will see a UI menu with all currently activated machines, allowing you to deactivate old machines. You can then validate again and activate your new machine.
#### **Q: What restrictions apply to me as a 'Starter' licence holder?**
If you've opted for a 'Starter' licence of Existent, you will only be able to play the experiences you build via the Unreal editor (PIE), and cannot package your project into a separate executable file.
Any level you create must also include a maximum of:
* 2 Existent Players
* 2 Existent Spaces
* 1 Existent Vehicle
* 1 tracked object (i.e. a non-player Actor with an ExistentTrackerComponent attached)
If any of these limits are exceeded, you will not be able to play your experience via the editor.
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.existent.com/documentation/learning-existent/getting-started/installing-your-license-key.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.