Assign licence keys to a product
Adding keys creates a pool. Attaching that pool to a product is what makes customers receive one. You choose which pool to draw from, or have Filemonk generate a key per order.
Before you begin
Add your keys first, unless you are using auto-generated ones. See Add licence keys.
Set it up
- Click Filemonk in the left menu of your Shopify admin.
- Click Digital products in the app's menu and open the product.
- In its content, choose Add licence key.
- Give it a Licence Key Name, optional but worth doing, since it helps customers understand what the key is for when they see it on the download page.
- Choose the type:
- Specific tag, which takes a key carrying that tag from your uploaded pool. Then pick the Licence Key Tag.
- No tag, which takes a key with no tags from your pool.
- Autogenerated, which creates a key per order rather than drawing from a pool.
- Save.
Customers buying that product now receive a key alongside their files.
Which type to use
| Type | Use when |
|---|---|
| Specific tag | You issue keys from your own licensing system and upload them in batches. The usual choice. |
| No tag | You keep one general pool with no grouping. |
| Autogenerated | You do not have a pool, and your system can check a key through Filemonk's API. |
What customers will see
Their key on the download page alongside their files, labelled with the name you gave it. It is also in their download email.
Check your setup
Place a test order and confirm a key appears, that it is from the pool you expected, and that the Used count for that tag went up by one. See Create a test order.
Troubleshooting
Please select a tag
You chose Specific tag without picking which one. Select the tag, or switch to No tag.
Customers get files but no key
Either the product has no licence key attached, or the pool is empty. Check the tag's Remaining count on the Licence keys tab. See Handle orders without licence keys.
The wrong keys are going out
The product is attached to the wrong tag. Open the product's licence key setup and check which tag it points at.
Autogenerated keys don't work in my software
They are generated by Filemonk, not by your licensing system, so your software has to verify them through Filemonk's API. If it cannot, upload keys from your own system instead. See Get your API key and use the Filemonk API.
FAQ
Can a product deliver several keys?
Yes, add more than one licence key entry to the product, for example one per component.
Can different variants use different pools?
Yes. Licence keys are configured per variant configuration, so a Pro variant can draw from a different tag than Standard.
Is a key reused if the order is refunded?
Not automatically. Unassign it from the order and choose whether it returns to the pool or is marked used. See Assign new keys to an order.
Can I see which key went to which order?
Yes, on the licence list: each key shows its status, its tags, and the order it is linked to. See Check licence key status.
Related guides
- Add licence keys, to build the pool first.
- Check licence key status, to see what has been used.
- Handle orders without licence keys, for an empty pool.

