Jira throws error when pasting a different license type from the current license type

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Platform notice: Server and Data Center only. This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Server and Data Center platforms.

Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Platform Notice: Server, Data Center, and Cloud By Request - This article was written for the Atlassian server and data center platforms but may also be useful for Atlassian Cloud customers. If completing instructions in this article would help you, please contact Atlassian Support and mention it.

Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Problem

Installing a new Jira license type such as Jira Software/Core/Service Management Server or Jira Software/Work Management/Service Management Cloud while you have another license type  installed on one of the other Jira applications. 

For example:

Case 1

  1. You have a Data Center license for Jira Software (expiring or evaluation)
  2. Your organization now only wants Jira Core Server and pays for a server license.
  3. Pasting the new server license into the Jira Core Server application gives you the error message "The license could not be installed" similar to below.

  • Removing the Data Center license for Jira Software (if no other license is present in the other Jira applications) is not an option you will receive the warning "Unable to remove license, Jira needs to contain at least one license to be functional" similar to below.

Cause

Jira application (Software/Core Server/Service Management/Work Management Cloud) requires at least 1 license and adding another license to one of the other Jira applications (Software/Core Server/Service Management/Work Management Cloud) needs to be the same type

  • For example; you have a Jira Software server license and you try to update it with a DC or a Jira Service Management license.

Resolution

You can generate an evaluation license for the Jira Application that currently has the license type A here https://my.atlassian.com 

  1. Paste the evaluation license into the Jira (Software Server) application that has the license type.
  2. Paste your other paid license type into the Jira application (Core/Service Management Server) you require.
  3. Remove the evaluation license type from Jira application (Software Server) or keep until evaluation expires.


Case 2

Cause

Getting a message: This license isn't compatible because it doesn't match your existing license type (Server or Data Center). Enter a compatible license to continue, when updating JSM license.

Resolution

  1. Delete the license for Jira Service Management, by clicking the bin icon.
  2. Edit license for Jira Software, by clicking the pencil icon and entering your new License for Jira Software.
  3. Click on Paste license under Jira Service Management, and paste your Evaluation License.


Case 3

When migrating Jira Server (standalone) to Jira Data Center you need to apply the Data Center license to convert your instance to Date Center mode. 

If you also have Jira Service Management installed and you apply the Data Center license of one Jira product (e.g. Jira Service Management) before applying the license of another Jira product (e.g. Jira Software), you would notice the below error: This license is a Jira Data Center license and is incompatible with the existing installed license configuration. Please install a Server license. For more information please see License compatibility.

Cause & Resolution

Incompatible message when applying Data Center license keys


Last modified on Feb 15, 2024

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