| Type | Duration | vCenter Managed? | Backup API | |------|----------|----------------|------------| | Evaluation (default) | 60 days | Yes (if trial) | Yes | | Free (unlicensed) | Unlimited | No | No | | Fixed (paid, e.g., ROBO/Standard/Enterprise Plus) | Unlimited | Yes (depending on edition) | Yes |
Many users install ESXi and forget to input a perpetual license key, leading to a "License Expired" scenario after 60 days. 2. How to Get a Free VMware ESXi License Key (Updated)
To license and activate your VMware ESXi host, follow these steps to assign your 25-digit license key: vmware esxi license key fixed
Disclaimer: This information is accurate as of the latest updates in 2025/2026. Licensing terms are subject to change by Broadcom. Always refer to the official Broadcom Support Portal and EULA for the most current legal and technical guidelines.
If you have ever seen the dreaded pop-up: “This product is licensed for evaluation mode. You do not have a valid license key. Please enter a license key to continue using this product” , you know the urgency behind the search term. | Type | Duration | vCenter Managed
Your host immediately becomes licensed and full functionality (within free license limits) is restored. There's no need to reinstall ESXi.
The free edition has no limit on RAM or storage capacity—only on CPU sockets and vSphere APIs. How to Get a Free VMware ESXi License
However, once those 60 days expire, the environment stops operating normally. Virtual machines cannot be powered on, vCenter integration fails, and the host enters a "disconnected" state. If you're running a VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation) environment, evaluation license expiration can create a particularly nasty circular dependency: hosts need licenses to power on management VMs, but the VCF Operations appliance must be running to assign those licenses.
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