[DocSpace] DocSpace Enterprise (Docker): License Upload Fails with 'Invalid License' Error

Summary

This article covers the scenario where a customer running ONLYOFFICE DocSpace Enterprise on Docker receives an "invalid license" error when uploading a license.lic file, and also addresses a related question about branding availability per license type.

Product: ONLYOFFICE DocSpace Enterprise
Deployment: Docker (Linux, AWS EC2 or similar)

Problem

After purchasing DocSpace Enterprise and receiving a license file, the customer cannot activate it — the web interface reports the license key as invalid. A secondary issue arises when the customer expects logo/branding customization to be available under their Enterprise license.

Root Causes

• The license file was not correctly placed in the expected Docker volume path before upload.
• The ZIP archive may not have been fully extracted, the file may have been renamed, or its contents may have been modified.
• Branding (logo replacement) is available under the DocSpace Enterprise license for basic customization, but full White Label capabilities require a DocSpace Developer license.

Checklist Before Escalating

Verify the following with the customer:

• The ZIP archive has been fully extracted before uploading.
• The license file is named exactly license.lic — no renaming allowed.
• The contents of the file have not been modified in any way.
• The file was not re-saved or re-encoded by any text editor.

Resolution Steps

Step 1 — Place the license file in the correct Docker volume path

For DocSpace installed via Docker, copy the license file to the data volume on the host:

/var/lib/docker/volumes/onlyoffice_app_data/_data/

Then try uploading it again via the web interface: Menu (lower left corner) → Payments → Upload license file → Activate.

Step 2 — Upload via the Payments page

• Sign in to DocSpace.
• Click the menu in the lower left corner and select Payments.
• Click the Upload license file field, browse for license.lic, then click Activate.

Reference: Activating ONLYOFFICE DocSpace Developer

Step 3 — Capture browser console errors

If the error persists after the above steps:

• Open the license upload page.
• Press F12 to open browser DevTools.
• Reproduce the error.
• Screenshot any errors shown in the Console tab.
• Attach the screenshot to the ticket.

Step 4 — Collect logs for escalation

If the issue is still unresolved, request the following from the customer:

• Output of docker ps
• Full DocSpace log directory as a ZIP archive from:

  /var/lib/docker/volumes/onlyoffice_log_data/_data/

Branding / Logo Customization

DocSpace Enterprise includes standard branding options (color styles, logos, titles, links). However, full White Label customization — including hiding the About section, custom loading screen logos, and deeper UI rebranding — is only available with a DocSpace Developer license.

• If a customer on Enterprise cannot change the logo at all, verify the license has been successfully activated first — branding options only unlock after a valid license is applied.
• If they need full White Label, redirect them to the sales team to discuss upgrading to a Developer license.

Reference: ONLYOFFICE DocSpace Enterprise installation guide

Notes

• Enterprise and Developer license files are not interchangeable — uploading a Developer .lic file to an Enterprise installation (or vice versa) will result in an invalid license error.
• Always confirm the license file came directly from the sales manager unmodified and was extracted from the ZIP without renaming.