Log in to the Admin Console. From the upper-right corner, search for and apply the organization that has InDesign Server.
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use Admin Console to build license packages for online or offline activation in Adobe InDesign.
Create online and offline activation InDesign Server packages and deploy them. After deploying, you can learn how to remove the licenses, for example, machines that are no longer in use, or if you must redeploy the license. This feature applies to Enterprise (Feature Restricted Licensing - FRL) for Adobe InDesign.
You must have access to the Adobe Admin Console and the new FRL SKUs. If you do not have the FRL SKUs, contact your account manager for assistance.
Create online and offline activation for the InDesign Server package
Navigate to the Packages tab and select the Packages. The history of all packages created by all admins in your organization is displayed.
Select Create a Package.
In the screen that appears, select your activation method as Online or Offline, and select Next. Learn about setting up connected environments with Feature Restricted Licensing - Online or offline environments with Feature Restricted Licensing - Offline.
In the Entitlements step, select the required entitlement, and select Next. The entitlement options will change depending on the Online or Offline activation chosen in step 4.
In the System step, select the required options and select Next.
- Choose a Platform: Select macOS or Windows 64-bit operating system.
- Language: Select the language in which you want to create the package.
- Use OS Locale: Create a package that deploys in the OS language of the client machine. In which case, the OS language is the default fallback language in which the package is deployed.
In the Choose Apps step, you can select whether to build a License-only package, an Apps-only package, or a package that includes both an app and a license.
|
Type of package |
Description |
How to |
|
License-only package |
Create this package if the client machines already have InDesign Server installed. Later, you can simply license the installed application. |
From Available Applications, add only the License File to Selected Applications. |
|
Apps-only package |
Create this package if the client machine is already licensed with a Feature Restricted Licensing - Online or Offline license. Then, install InDesign Server on the machine. |
From Available Applications, add InDesign Server to Selected Applications. Don't add the License File. |
|
Package containing apps and license |
Create this package to install and license InDesign Server. |
From Available Applications, add InDesign Server and the License File to Selected Applications. |
To know what versions are supported for your Creative Cloud plan, review the Creative Cloud Support policy. After you're done with your selections, select Next.
In the Options step, select the required option and select Next. This step is required only for the online activation method.
|
Category |
Option |
Function |
|
License activation options |
Authorize Adobe License server by DNS name (default) |
Allow traffic to https://lcs-cops.adobe.io. This uses non-static IP addresses. |
|
License activation options |
Authorize Adobe License server by fixed IP address |
Allow traffic to https://lcs-cops-proxy.adobe.com and the listed static IPs. This provides more control over outgoing network traffic. |
|
Management Options |
Contact Adobe through a reverse proxy |
Allow license activation through a reverse proxy. Point the proxy to lcs-cops.adobe.io for DNS authorization or lcs-cops-proxy.adobe.com for fixed IP authorization. |
|
Management Options |
Enable Remote Update Manager |
Run updates remotely on client machines as an administrator. |
|
Management Options |
Redirect to internal Adobe update server |
Route package updates through an internal update server configured in Admin Console preferences. |
|
Management Options |
Install package to custom install directory |
Install apps to a custom directory defined in Admin Console preferences. |
In the Finalize step, enter the package name in the Package Name box.
Select Build Package. If the package is built successfully, it displays the Download link in the Availability column.
A package is available in the Admin Console for up to three days. To check the time remaining to download the package, click the package row to display its details.
Install licenses for license-only packages
After you create a license-only package in the Admin Console, follow these steps to install this license to end-user computers (for Online, Offline, or Isolated activation packages):
Download the package from the Admin Console.
Extract the contents of the package. The license-only package contains a .json file (that contains the licensing information) and the Licensing Toolkit utility:
For Windows: adobe-licensing-toolkit.exe
For macOS: adobe-licensing-toolkit
To install the license, run the following commands with admin privileges:
For Windows:
adobe-licensing-toolkit.exe --precondition --install --filePath <absolute path of the .json file>
Short form:
adobe-licensing-toolkit.exe -p -i -f <absolute path of the .json file>
For macOS:
sudo adobe-licensing-toolkit --precondition --install --filePath <absolute path of the .json file>
Short form:
sudo adobe-licensing-toolkit -p -i -f <absolute path of the .json file>
Deploy packages
Once the package is created and downloaded to your computer, select an option to distribute the package and install the packaged apps:
- Install by double-clicking the package file.
- Use third-party tools, such as Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Apple Remote Desktop, or JAMF Casper Suite.
- Deploy using the command line on Windows computers.
- Deploy using the Info.plist file on macOS computers.
For solutions to installation or uninstallation errors, explore troubleshooting steps for fixing Adobe app installation issues.
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