After purchasing a license from the LaunchBox website, you might expect a code or a key card. Instead, LaunchBox handles licensing differently.
How to get your file:
Once this process is complete, you will have immediate access to Premium features. launchbox license.xml
The license.xml file in LaunchBox provides crucial information about the legal use and distribution of the software. Understanding its contents helps users ensure they comply with the terms and conditions, avoiding potential legal issues. Always review the specific license agreement provided with your version of LaunchBox, as details can vary between different releases or types of the software.
Symptom: You purchased a "Forever License" but LaunchBox claims it is expired. After purchasing a license from the LaunchBox website,
Truth: True forever licenses never expire for the version you bought. However, if you are using a very old license (e.g., 2017) on a brand new version (e.g., 2025), you may need to pay an upgrade fee. Check your account page for upgrade eligibility.
LaunchBox operates on a freemium model. The free version offers robust library management, but the paid "Premium" license unlocks a suite of transformative features, including Big Box mode (a controller-friendly, television-optimized interface), drag-and-drop importing, custom themes, MAME high score support, and bezel overlays. The License.xml file is the sole mechanism for authenticating this upgrade. Without it, LaunchBox functions in its free, unregistered state. With a valid License.xml placed correctly, the application instantly unlocks premium features. Critically, this file is not a key that "calls home" to a server every session; it is a cryptographically signed document that LaunchBox validates locally, allowing for offline usage after initial activation. Once this process is complete, you will have
Most users rarely need to interact with the license.xml file directly, but there are specific scenarios where managing this file becomes necessary.
Since your License.xml is small (a few kilobytes), there is no excuse not to back it up.
A typical License.xml file is not meant to be human-edited, but its structure is transparent. Opening it in a text editor reveals a structured hierarchy of key-value pairs. The essential nodes include: