What happens to my node when the license expires

Reference Getting started licenseexpiryphplimits

Sites, mail and DNS keep running. Paid features stop being created, PHP consolidates to one version and resource limits stop applying.

A server that loses its license never stops serving production. After 48 hours without a successful check the node behaves like the Free tier.

What keeps working

• Websites, mail and DNS.
• Paid objects that already exist: a container keeps running, WAF exceptions already loaded keep being published, and a cluster already formed keeps replicating.
• Removing things is never blocked (turning the WAF off, deleting a container).

What changes

• Creating new paid things is blocked with a "paid feature" error (HTTP 402): new containers, WAF configuration changes, the metrics stack and joining another node.
• PHP consolidates to one version: by default the lowest installed one. A site that needed a newer PHP runs on the consolidated one and may break. This is the one case where an expiry can affect running sites.
• Per-account CPU, RAM, IO and process limits stop being applied. That is a loosening, not a cut-off, but plan for it.

Steps to reduce the impact

1. Open the advisor under Server, Recommendations: it tells you before and after.
2. Choose which PHP version stays active under Server, PHP. This works without a license.
3. Renew. When the license validates again the versions each site had requested come back by themselves.

FAQ

Is my data at risk?

No. Nothing is deleted when a license lapses.

Last updated: 2026-10-10