RouterOS Guide · Licensing

Upgrading Your RouterOS License Level

Outgrown Level 4’s tunnel or HotSpot user limits? Moving to a higher license level doesn’t mean reinstalling RouterOS or losing your configuration — here’s exactly what changes and what doesn’t.

What Actually Happens During an Upgrade

A license “upgrade” is really a second purchase: you buy the higher level against the same Software ID your device already has, and import the new key over the existing one. RouterOS itself, your interface configuration, firewall rules, routing, and everything else on the device stay exactly as they are — only the feature ceiling changes.

Step by Step

  1. Confirm your current Software ID

    It hasn’t changed since your original purchase — check under System > License to be sure, per our Software ID Guide.

  2. Buy the higher license level

    Choose Level 5 or Level 6 and enter the same Software ID at checkout.

  3. Wait for manual verification

    We verify every Software ID against MikroTik’s licensing records before issuing a key, the same as any first-time order.

  4. Import the new key

    Under System > License > Import Key in Winbox, or via the terminal command below. Full walkthrough in our Installation Guide.

  5. Verify the new level is active

    Run /system license print again — the level field should now show the new tier.

Terminal 
/system license import file-name=your-new-key.key

Does an Upgrade Require a Reboot?

Most level changes apply immediately without a reboot, but RouterOS will tell you explicitly if one is required for your specific case after import — watch the confirmation message rather than assuming either way.

⚠ Important

An upgrade key is generated against your existing Software ID — it will not work on a different device, and importing it doesn’t “merge” with or extend your old key. Keep both key files until you’ve confirmed the new level is active.

Downgrading

MikroTik’s licensing model is designed around moving to a higher level, not downgrading a device to a lower one. If you no longer need a higher tier’s capacity, the existing higher-level license simply continues to work — there’s no mechanism to “return” to a lower level and no reason to, since a higher license already includes everything a lower one does.

Multiple Devices, One Order

If you’re upgrading several routers at once, each device needs its own upgrade key against its own Software ID — a single key can’t cover multiple devices. Contact us for bulk orders; we verify each Software ID individually and can issue one consolidated invoice.

Related guides

Compare License Levels Ask About Bulk Upgrades

Technical reference

MikroTik RouterOS documentation — RouterOS Hardware Licensing. This page is an independent, original explanation written by our team, not an official MikroTik publication.

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