---
id: post/demiliani-com/17470
type: post
title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central license keys: what changes from version 28."
summary: Starting October 1, 2026, Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises and Dual Use Rights licenses no longer use version-specific keys. Instead, a single '28+' key family applies to all versions 28 and later, requiring administrators to download a refreshed license file before each version upgrade to unlock new objects.
tier: community
language: en
tags:
  - licensing
  - on-premises
  - dual use rights
  - license keys
  - version upgrades
  - license management
system: administration
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    title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central license keys: what changes from version 28."
    date: "2026-10-05"
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    title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central license keys: what changes from version 28."
    date: "2026-10-05"
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    quote: new releases of Dynamics 36 Business Central no longer include version-specific license keys for on-premises
  - kind: blog
    url: https://demiliani.com/2026/10/05/dynamics-365-business-central-license-keys-what-changes-from-version-28/
    title: "Dynamics 365 Business Central license keys: what changes from version 28."
    date: "2026-10-05"
    commit: null
    t: null
    quote: you must download a refreshed 28+ key if you want to upgrade to the latest version
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post_id: "17470"
source_id: demiliani-com
source_name: Stefano Demiliani
url: https://demiliani.com/2026/10/05/dynamics-365-business-central-license-keys-what-changes-from-version-28/
published_at: "2026-10-05T13:36:31.000Z"
author: Stefano Demiliani
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words: 473
quotes:
  - text: new releases of Dynamics 36 Business Central no longer include version-specific license keys for on-premises
    why_it_matters: Clarifies the fundamental change in licensing strategy that affects all on-premises deployments starting October 1, 2026
  - text: you must download a refreshed 28+ key if you want to upgrade to the latest version
    why_it_matters: Establishes the new mandatory step in every upgrade process and the ongoing operational burden
code_objects_mentioned: []
systems:
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versions_mentioned:
  - version 28
  - version 30
  - 2026 release wave
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---

# Dynamics 365 Business Central license keys: what changes from version 28.

[Read the post](https://demiliani.com/2026/10/05/dynamics-365-business-central-license-keys-what-changes-from-version-28/) · Stefano Demiliani (Stefano Demiliani, MVP) · 2026-10-05 · 473 words · tier community · reviewed (checked by Opus)

> Starting October 1, 2026, Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises and Dual Use Rights licenses no longer use version-specific keys. Instead, a single '28+' key family applies to all versions 28 and later, requiring administrators to download a refreshed license file before each version upgrade to unlock new objects.

## Key points

- Version-specific license keys are discontinued; '28+' is the unified key for all on-premises editions and DUR licenses
- A fresh 28+ key must be downloaded before upgrading to each new version, with the download date determining which objects unlock
- Dual Use Rights deployments have a separate six-month key renewal requirement independent of the 28+ upgrade rule
- Administrators must add license key download to upgrade checklists and track DUR key expiry dates

## Quotes

- "new releases of Dynamics 36 Business Central no longer include version-specific license keys for on-premises" (Clarifies the fundamental change in licensing strategy that affects all on-premises deployments starting October 1, 2026)
- "you must download a refreshed 28+ key if you want to upgrade to the latest version" (Establishes the new mandatory step in every upgrade process and the ongoing operational burden)

## Context

- Features: 28+ license key family, unified licensing for on-premises, dual use rights licensing, license file downloads, version-specific object unlocking
- Versions: version 28, version 30, 2026 release wave

Source: Stefano Demiliani, community blog. Summary, key points and quotes are derived (CONTENT-NOTICE.md); read the original for the full text.