MEC Activation Issue
If you are experiencing an activation issue with the Modern Events Calendar, there could be several reasons for this. This article helps you troubleshoot the problem quickly. You will also find a reference table of every activation message and what it means.
Step 1 — Install the Latest Version
First, make sure you are using the latest version of MEC and of every installed addon by checking the changelog.
Note: If your website does not have the latest version of MEC, please update it manually before continuing.
Step 2 — Check Your Purchase Code
Make sure the characters of the purchase code exactly match the license key in your account. To avoid typos: log in at my.webnus.net, find the product’s panel in your dashboard, and use the copy icon in its License section — then paste the key into the activation field in MEC.
Step 3 — License Already Active on Another Site
The most common cause: your license is already activated on another domain, a previous hosting, an old clone, or a WordPress multisite — and it has no free activations left.
If you still have access to the old site (recommended):
- Log in to the old site’s WordPress admin.
- Go to MEC > Dashboard — the License Activation box shows your active license.
- Click Revoke License. This frees the activation immediately — no waiting.
- Back on your new website, enter the purchase code in MEC and activate.
If the old site is gone or you cannot log in:
- Log in to your account at my.webnus.net.
- In your dashboard, find the product’s panel and click its Manage Sites button.
- On the Manage License page, click Deactivate Site next to the old website address.
- Return to the MEC activation page on your new website and activate again.
For more details, see Change License Domain.
Step 4 — Check Your Host’s Availability
MEC needs to reach our licensing server once, at the moment of activation. Make sure of the following:
- The cURL PHP functions on your host are enabled (outbound HTTPS).
- Your host provider does not block webnus.net or my.webnus.net — ask them to whitelist our domains if needed.
Note: after activation succeeds, a temporary outage of our servers does not affect your site — the license is validated locally and stays active.
Activation Messages Reference
Find the message you see in MEC, and apply the fix.
Current MEC versions
| Message you see | What it means | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Activation failed. Check your purchase code – it must match your license type. | The code was rejected by the license check. | Copy the key again from your account at my.webnus.net and paste it (Step 2). Make sure the key belongs to this product (a MEC key for MEC, an addon key for its addon). |
| The license server could not be reached, so your purchase code could not be checked. Please try again in a few minutes… | A network problem between your host and our server. Your code was never actually checked — this is not a rejection. | Wait a few minutes and try again. If it persists, check Step 4 (cURL enabled, webnus.net / my.webnus.net not blocked by your host). |
| Your purchase code was accepted, but this site could not be licensed. Please contact support… | The code itself is fine and has been saved, but the site could not complete licensing. | Contact support (see below) — or, if your host blocks outbound connections, ask for an offline activation token. |
| This site could not reach the license server. If your host blocks outbound connections… | Your host blocks the connection to our licensing server. | Ask your host to whitelist webnus.net and my.webnus.net, or use Offline Activation. |
| The license server did not recognise this site. Check your purchase code, or contact support for an offline activation token. | The licensing server refused this site (for example, no activation slot free or the code does not apply). | Free an activation on an old site (Step 3), then try again; if it persists, contact support. |
| The theme license that entitles this site to Pro could not be verified… | You are on the bundled (X theme) path and the theme license check failed. | Make sure your X theme license is active, or enter a MEC purchase code instead. See MEC and X Theme Activation. |
| Amber bar: Your purchase code is saved but not activated – Pro features will keep winding down until you activate the license. | A code is stored but the site is not licensed yet — Pro features are ramping down. | Complete activation: fix the underlying error above and activate, or click Revoke License to clear the stored code. |
| Pro has been turned off on this site, but the store did not confirm that your activation was released… | You revoked, but our server could not be reached to free the activation slot. | Contact support with your site address and purchase code, and we will release the activation manually. |
Older MEC versions
| Message | What it means | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Your license key expired. | Your update & support period has ended. | Renew your license in your Webnus account, then activate again. |
| Your license key has been disabled. | The license was revoked or disabled on our side (for example after a refund or a chargeback). | Contact our support team with your order details. |
| Invalid license. | The code does not exist or was typed incorrectly. | Copy the key again from your account at my.webnus.net and paste it (Step 2). |
| Your license is not active for this URL. | The code is valid, but it is activated on a different site and no activation is free. | Free an activation on the old site (Step 3), then activate again. |
| This appears to be an invalid license key for this product. | The code belongs to a different product — for example an addon key entered in the MEC plugin box, or vice versa. | Use the key of the correct product, or activate the addon in its own section. |
| Your license key has reached its activation limit. | All activations of your license plan are in use. | Deactivate a site you no longer use (Step 3), or upgrade your license for more sites. |
| An error occurred, please try again. | A temporary network problem. This is not a refusal — the site will retry. | Wait a few minutes and try again. If it persists, check Step 4 (cURL / whitelist) or ask your host about outbound HTTPS. |
Special Cases
- Activating on localhost or a staging site fails? Staging activations do not consume your license slots, but they do require a valid purchase code. See Staging and Local Activation.
- You are an X theme (Themeco) customer? You do not have (and do not need) a MEC purchase code. See MEC and X Theme Activation.
Still Not Activated?
Contact our technical department and include the following, so we can help you in a single reply:
- Your website address.
- The purchase code (or your order number).
- The exact activation message you see — a screenshot of the license box helps most.
- Your MEC version (MEC > Dashboard shows it next to the edition).
Related articles: Auto Update · Manual Update