If you sell software—WordPress plugins, themes, or any digital product—you know the real work begins after the sale. Managing license keys, handling activation requests, and manually sending updates is a full-time job that doesn’t earn you a single extra dollar.
What if you could automate that entire process, right from your WooCommerce dashboard?
We welcome you to experience the Ultimate WooCommerce Licenses Manager, the all-in-one plugin designed to turn your store into a professional, self-sufficient software sales platform.
This plugin is a complete, developer-first toolkit that integrates directly with WooCommerce. It automates the four most time-consuming parts of selling software:
This plugin is for any developer, creator, or agency that sells software and values their time:
1.1), you go to that same product, update the version number, and upload the new .zip file. The plugin handles the rest, sending a secure, time-limited download link to all customers with a valid license.We believe in this tool so much that we want you to try it. You can download the Ultimate WooCommerce Licenses Manager and use it for free to manage your first licensed product.
Stop managing. Start building. Download the plugin today and automate your software business.
IMPORTANT
Description: This documentation explains how to set up automatic licensing and updates for your product using the Ultimate WooCommerce Licenses Manager (UWLM) running on your store. Author: [Ultimate Multimedia Consult] License: GPLv2 or later License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
WELCOME!
This guide is for developers and users who want to integrate a WordPress plugin or theme with the Ultimate WooCommerce Licenses Manager (UWLM) running on their own WooCommerce store. UWLM allows you to automatically generate, manage, and validate license keys, and even deliver automatic updates for your software.
This readme.txt explains:
1. What is the Ultimate WooCommerce Licenses Manager (UWLM)?
UWLM is a powerful WordPress plugin that runs on your main WooCommerce store. Its purpose is to automate the entire licensing process for the digital products you sell.
2. How Your Customers Interact with Licenses
For your customers, the process is simple:
3. Developer Integration: Enabling Licensing in Your Client’s Product
To make your client’s plugin/theme communicate with UWLM on your store, you need to add some code. This code will handle the license input, activation, validation, and update checks.
Important: This code should go into your client’s plugin’s main file, or an included file, not directly into functions.php on the client’s site (unless you are developing a theme, in which case a separate licensing-functions.php file within your theme is appropriate).
Step-by-Step Implementation:
A. Define Your Store URL and Product ID
You’ll need to tell your client’s plugin where your store is and what its specific product ID is.
https://www.yourdomain.com).Add this to the top of your plugin’s main file (or a file included by it):
<?php
// Define constants for your licensing server and product.
// IMPORTANT: Replace these with your actual store URL and product ID.
if ( ! defined( 'MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL' ) ) {
// --- THIS LINE HAS BEEN FIXED ---
define( 'MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL', '[https://www.ultimatemultimediaconsult.com](https://www.ultimatemultimediaconsult.com)' ); // Replace with your store's URL
}
if ( ! defined( 'MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID' ) ) {
define( 'MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID', 'XXXX' ); // Replace with the WooCommerce Product ID of THIS specific plugin/theme
}
if ( ! defined( 'MY_PLUGIN_SLUG' ) ) {
define( 'MY_PLUGIN_SLUG', 'your-plugin-slug' ); // Replace with the slug of YOUR plugin/theme (e.g., 'my-awesome-plugin')
}
if ( ! defined( 'MY_PLUGIN_FILE' ) ) {
// This assumes this code is in your plugin's main file.
// If not, adjust the path accordingly.
define( 'MY_PLUGIN_FILE', __FILE__ );
}
?>
B. Create a License Settings Page/Section
Your customers need a place to enter their license key. This example creates a simple settings page.
Add this to your plugin’s main file (or an included admin file):
<?php
// Add a menu page for license settings
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'my_plugin_license_menu' );
function my_plugin_license_menu() {
add_options_page(
__( 'My Plugin License', 'your-textdomain' ),
__( 'My Plugin License', 'your-textdomain' ),
'manage_options',
MY_PLUGIN_SLUG . '-license',
'my_plugin_license_page_content'
);
}
// Render the content of the license settings page
function my_plugin_license_page_content() {
// Check user capabilities
if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return;
}
// Handle form submission
if ( isset( $_POST['my_plugin_license_nonce'] ) && wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['my_plugin_license_nonce'], 'my_plugin_license_action' ) ) {
if ( isset( $_POST['my_plugin_license_key'] ) ) {
$new_license_key = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['my_plugin_license_key'] );
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_key', $new_license_key );
// Attempt to activate or deactivate the license
if ( isset( $_POST['my_plugin_activate_license'] ) ) {
my_plugin_activate_license( $new_license_key );
} elseif ( isset( $_POST['my_plugin_deactivate_license'] ) ) {
my_plugin_deactivate_license( $new_license_key );
}
}
}
$license_key = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_key', '' );
$license_status = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive' ); // 'active', 'inactive', 'expired', 'invalid'
$license_expires = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_expires', '' );
?>
<div class="wrap">
<h1><?php esc_html_e( 'My Plugin License Settings', 'your-textdomain' ); ?></h1>
<form method="post" action-xhr="#">
<?php wp_nonce_field( 'my_plugin_license_action', 'my_plugin_license_nonce' ); ?>
<table class="form-table">
<tr>
<th scope="row"><label for="my_plugin_license_key"><?php esc_html_e( 'License Key', 'your-textdomain' ); ?></label></th>
<td>
<input type="text" id="my_plugin_license_key" name="my_plugin_license_key" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $license_key ); ?>" class="regular-text" />
<p class="description"><?php esc_html_e( 'Enter your license key here to enable premium features and automatic updates.', 'your-textdomain' ); ?></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row"><?php esc_html_e( 'License Status', 'your-textdomain' ); ?></th>
<td>
<?php
$status_class = 'notice-info';
switch ( $license_status ) {
case 'active':
$status_message = __( 'Active', 'your-textdomain' );
$status_class = 'notice-success';
break;
case 'expired':
$status_message = __( 'Expired', 'your-textdomain' );
$status_class = 'notice-warning';
break;
case 'invalid':
$status_message = __( 'Invalid', 'your-textdomain' );
$status_class = 'notice-error';
break;
default:
$status_message = __( 'Inactive', 'your-textdomain' );
$status_class = 'notice-info';
break;
}
echo '<p class="notice ' . esc_attr( $status_class ) . ' inline" style="margin:0; padding: 10px;">' . esc_html( $status_message );
if ( $license_status === 'active' && $license_expires && $license_expires !== 'lifetime' ) {
echo ' (' . sprintf( __( 'Expires: %s', 'your-textdomain' ), date_i18n( get_option( 'date_format' ), strtotime( $license_expires ) ) ) . ')';
}
echo '</p>';
?>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<?php submit_button( __( 'Save Changes', 'your-textdomain' ) ); ?>
<?php if ( 'active' !== $license_status ) : ?>
<input type="submit" name="my_plugin_activate_license" class="button button-primary" value="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Activate License', 'your-textdomain' ); ?>" />
<?php else : ?>
<input type="submit" name="my_plugin_deactivate_license" class="button button-secondary" value="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Deactivate License', 'your-textdomain' ); ?>" >C. Implement API Communication Functions
These functions will make the actual calls to your UWLM store.
Add this to your plugin’s main file (or an included file):
<?php
/**
* Function to activate the license key.
*
* @param string $license_key The license key to activate.
*/function my_plugin_activate_license( $license_key ) {
if ( empty( $license_key ) ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_key_empty', __( 'Please enter a license key.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
return;
}
$api_params = array(
'license_key' => $license_key,
'product_id' => MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID,
'instance_url' => home_url(),
);
$response = wp_remote_post( MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL . '/wp-json/uwlm/v1/activate', array(
'timeout' => 15,
'sslverify' => true, // Set to true in production if your server uses SSL
'body' => $api_params,
// No need for X-Api-Key/Secret for client-side activate/check/version,
// UWLM validates against the license_key itself.
) );
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_api_error', sprintf( __( 'API Error: %s', 'your-textdomain' ), $response->get_error_message() ), 'error' );
return;
}
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body );
if ( $data && isset( $data->activated ) ) {
if ( $data->activated === true ) {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_key', $license_key );
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'active' );
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_expires', $data->expires_at ?? 'lifetime' );
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_activated', __( 'License activated successfully!', 'your-textdomain' ), 'success' );
} else {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'invalid' ); // Or more specific error
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_activation_failed', sprintf( __( 'License activation failed: %s', 'your-textdomain' ), $data->message ?? $data->error ?? 'Unknown error.' ), 'error' );
}
} else {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'invalid' );
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_invalid_response', __( 'Invalid API response during activation.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
}
}
/**
* Function to deactivate the license key.
*
* @param string $license_key The license key to deactivate.
*/function my_plugin_deactivate_license( $license_key ) {
if ( empty( $license_key ) ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_key_empty', __( 'License key not found for deactivation.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
return;
}
$api_params = array(
'license_key' => $license_key,
'instance_url' => home_url(),
);
$response = wp_remote_post( MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL . '/wp-json/uwlm/v1/deactivate', array(
'timeout' => 15,
'sslverify' => true, // Set to true in production if your server uses SSL
'body' => $api_params,
) );
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_api_error', sprintf( __( 'API Error: %s', 'your-textdomain' ), $response->get_error_message() ), 'error' );
return;
}
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body );
if ( $data && isset( $data->deactivated ) ) {
if ( $data->deactivated === true ) {
delete_option( 'my_plugin_license_key' ); // Remove key on deactivation
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive' );
delete_option( 'my_plugin_license_expires' );
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_deactivated', __( 'License deactivated successfully.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'success' );
} else {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_deactivation_failed', sprintf( __( 'License deactivation failed: %s', 'your-textdomain' ), $data->message ?? 'Unknown error.' ), 'error' );
}
} else {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_invalid_response', __( 'Invalid API response during deactivation.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
}
}
/**
* Periodically check license validity.
* This runs once per day to avoid spamming your API.
*/add_action( 'admin_init', 'my_plugin_check_license_status' );
function my_plugin_check_license_status() {
// Only check once a day, or if the status is unknown/inactive and license key exists.
$last_check_time = get_transient( 'my_plugin_license_last_check' );
$license_key = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_key' );
$license_status = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive' );
if ( ! $license_key || ( $last_check_time && time() < $last_check_time + DAY_IN_SECONDS && $license_status === 'active' ) ) {
return; // Don't check too often if already active, or if no key exists.
}
$api_params = array(
'license_key' => $license_key,
'product_id' => MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID,
);
$response = wp_remote_get( add_query_arg( $api_params, MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL . '/wp-json/uwlm/v1/check' ), array(
'timeout' => 15,
'sslverify' => true, // Set to true in production if your server uses SSL
) );
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
// Log error but don't stop plugin functionality.
error_log( 'My Plugin License Check API Error: ' . $response->get_error_message() );
set_transient( 'my_plugin_license_last_check', time(), DAY_IN_SECONDS ); // Still rate limit.
return;
}
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body );
if ( $data && isset( $data->valid ) ) {
if ( $data->valid === true ) {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'active' );
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_expires', $data->expires_at ?? 'lifetime' );
} else {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', $data->error ?? 'invalid' ); // Use API error code for status
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_expires', $data->expires_at ?? '' ); // Clear expiration if invalid
if ( $data->error === 'key_expired' ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_expired_notice', __( 'Your license has expired. Please renew it to continue receiving updates and support.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
} elseif ( $data->error === 'key_inactive' || $data->error === 'invalid_key' ) {
add_settings_error( 'my_plugin_license_key', 'my_plugin_invalid_notice', __( 'Your license key is invalid or inactive. Please check and re-enter it.', 'your-textdomain' ), 'error' );
}
}
} else {
update_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'error' );
error_log( 'My Plugin License Check: Invalid API response.' );
}
set_transient( 'my_plugin_license_last_check', time(), DAY_IN_SECONDS ); // Update last check time
}
?>
D. Implement Automatic Updates
This is crucial for providing a seamless experience to your customers. WordPress has a built-in system for this.
Add this to your plugin’s main file (or an included file):
<?php
// Hook into the plugin update check process
add_filter( 'plugins_api', 'my_plugin_update_info', 10, 3 );
add_filter( 'site_transient_update_plugins', 'my_plugin_push_update', 10, 1 );
/**
* Get plugin update information from your store.
* This is primarily for the 'View details' link on the plugins page.
*/function my_plugin_update_info( $res, $action, $args ) {
if ( 'plugin_information' !== $action || empty( $args->slug ) || $args->slug !== MY_PLUGIN_SLUG ) {
return $res;
}
$license_key = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_key' );
if ( empty( $license_key ) || get_option('my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive') !== 'active' ) {
return $res; // No update info if no active license
}
$api_params = array(
'license_key' => $license_key,
'product_id' => MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID,
);
$response = wp_remote_get( add_query_arg( $api_params, MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL . '/wp-json/uwlm/v1/version' ), array(
'timeout' => 15,
'sslverify' => true, // Set to true in production if your server uses SSL
) );
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
error_log( 'My Plugin Update Info API Error: ' . $response->get_error_message() );
return $res;
}
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body );
if ( $data && isset( $data->version ) ) {
$res = new stdClass();
$res->name = __( 'My Plugin Name', 'your-textdomain' ); // Replace with your plugin's name
$res->slug = MY_PLUGIN_SLUG;
$res->version = $data->version;
$res->author = __( 'Your Name/Company', 'your-textdomain' ); // Replace
$res->download_link = $data->download_url;
$res->package = $data->package;
$res->url = MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL; // Link to your plugin's page on your store
$res->sections = array(
'description' => __( 'Your plugin description here.', 'your-textdomain' ), // Replace
'changelog' => $data->changelog ?? __( 'No changelog provided.', 'your-textdomain' ),
);
}
return $res;
}
/**
* Pushes the update information into the WordPress update transient.
* This makes the update available in the plugins list table.
*/function my_plugin_push_update( $transient ) {
if ( empty( $transient->checked ) ) {
return $transient;
}
$license_key = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_key' );
if ( empty( $license_key ) || get_option('my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive') !== 'active' ) {
return $transient; // No updates if no active license
}
$api_params = array(
'license_key' => $license_key,
'product_id' => MY_PLUGIN_PRODUCT_ID,
);
$response = wp_remote_get( add_query_arg( $api_params, MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL . '/wp-json/uwlm/v1/version' ), array(
'timeout' => 15,
'sslverify' => true, // Set to true in production if your server uses SSL
) );
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
error_log( 'My Plugin Push Update API Error: ' . $response->get_error_message() );
return $transient;
}
$body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
$data = json_decode( $body );
if ( $data && isset( $data->version ) ) {
// Get the current version of the plugin from its file header
$plugin_data = get_file_data( MY_PLUGIN_FILE, array('Version' => 'Version') );
$current_version = $plugin_data['Version'];
if ( version_compare( $data->version, $current_version, '>' ) ) {
$plugin_path = plugin_basename( MY_PLUGIN_FILE );
$transient->response[ $plugin_path ] = (object) array(
'slug' => MY_PLUGIN_SLUG,
'new_version' => $data->version,
'url' => MY_PLUGIN_STORE_URL,
'package' => $data->package,
'tested' => '6.7', // Latest WP version tested with
'requires' => '5.8', // Minimum WP version required
);
}
}
return $transient;
}
?>
E. (Optional) Restrict Features for Inactive Licenses
You might want to limit functionality if the license isn’t active.
<?php
/**
* Example: Check license status before enabling a feature.
*/function my_plugin_can_access_premium_feature() {
$license_status = get_option( 'my_plugin_license_status', 'inactive' );
return ( $license_status === 'active' );
}
// Example usage:
// if ( my_plugin_can_access_premium_feature() ) {
// // Load premium features
// } else {
// // Show a "Please activate your license" notice
// }
?>
Q: Where do I find my License Key?
A: Your license key is emailed to you immediately after purchase. You can also find it in your “My Account” area on [Your Store URL].
Q: My license won’t activate, what should I do?
A: Double-check that you’ve entered the key correctly (no extra spaces). Ensure your site can connect to [Your Store URL]. If the problem persists, contact support at [Your Support Email/Link].
Q: Will this plugin/theme still work if my license expires?
A: Yes, the plugin/theme will generally continue to function. However, you will no longer receive automatic updates, new features, or support until you renew your license.
Q: How do I get updates?
A: Once your license is activated, you will receive update notifications directly in your WordPress dashboard, just like any other plugin or theme from WordPress.org. Simply click “Update Now” when available.
Q: What if I move my site to a new domain?
A: You should deactivate the license on the old site first (if possible) through the plugin’s settings, then activate it on the new site. If you can’t access the old site, you can manage and deactivate instances from your “My Account” page on [Your Store URL].
Q: My plugin folder has spaces, is that okay?
A: While the licensing code will try to work, WordPress best practices recommend using dashes (-) instead of spaces in plugin or theme folder names (e.g., my-awesome-plugin instead of my awesome plugin). This can prevent unexpected issues.
5. Need Help?
If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding your license or the plugin’s functionality, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team:
Support Email: support@ultimatemultimediaconsult.com, ultimatemultimediaconsult@gmail.com
Support Link: https://www.ultimatemultimediaconsult.com/support or chat with the Agent on the site you will get help or get redirected to human agents
WhatsApp: +256770730170
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