To see which offline license is active and when it expires, run:
Standard VNC Connect licenses "phone home" to RealVNC servers to verify your subscription. An (usually a .vnc or .vnc-license file) contains all the cryptographic proof needed to authorize the software without ever touching the public web. When Do You Need One?
Navigate to the or Licensing tab in the dashboard.
There are several scenarios where a VNC offline license file becomes essential:
For large-scale enterprise rollouts, you can bake the license into your deployment strategy: Applying an offline license to RealVNC Connect vnc offline license file
Implementation details (file extension, install path, binding method) vary by VNC vendor/product. Always consult the vendor’s licensing documentation for exact steps and required identifiers.
🔐 Best practice: Store offline license files in an encrypted, access-controlled repository.
: You can download your file from the Deployment page of your RealVNC account portal . 🛠️ Applying the Offline License
This is the standard approach for administrators using scripts or deployment tools. To see which offline license is active and
Understanding when to use the offline license file saves hours of debugging. You need this file if:
Unlike a simple cloud login, an offline license must be actively generated and retrieved from your account management portal while you have internet access. This "token" can then be transferred to the offline machine.
RealVNC Viewer only requires a license when you are connecting to a RealVNC Server that uses a . If your subscription is per‑device (the more common model for Enterprise offline licensing), RealVNC Viewer can remain unlicensed or use a free license. Check your subscription details.
Even with careful setup, problems can arise. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them. Navigate to the or Licensing tab in the dashboard
Using an offline license file keeps your network isolated, but remote access tools still require strict internal controls:
In the left‑hand menu, select .
The file formatting was altered during transfer, or characters were dropped during a copy-paste action.
: sudo /Library/vnc/vnclicense -add /path/to/yourlicense.lic Linux : sudo vnclicense -add /path/to/yourlicense.lic ⚠️ Key Technical Considerations