How to Debug License Activation Issues with UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG

When you activate your Ultimate Member license, the plugin needs to communicate with our licensing server. Sometimes this request fails because of server restrictions, security plugins, or caching.

Starting in Ultimate Member 2.10.6, we’ve added a special debug constant called UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG. This allows you (and our support team) to see exactly what request was sent and what response was received during license activation.

This guide will show you step by step how to enable debugging, collect the log information, and share it with support.

Step 1 – Update to Ultimate Member 2.10.6+

The debug option is only available in version 2.10.6 or higher.

  • If you’re using an older version, update via WP Admin > Dashboard > Updates.
  • Or download the latest version directly from our GitHub: Download Ultimate Member 2.10.6

Step 2 – Enable WordPress Debugging

  1. Locate your WordPress root folder:
  2. Open the file wp-config.php in a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code).
  3. Add the following lines just above the line: 
     /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */;
	
    define( 'WP_DEBUG', true ); 
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); 
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

More details: Debugging in WordPress

Step 3 – Turn On License Debug Mode

Next, enable the special constant inside the plugin.

  1. Open this file:/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-member/ultimate-member.php
  2. Near the top, find this line: 
    define( 'UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG', false );
  3. Replace it with `true`: 
    define( 'UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG', true );

This tells Ultimate Member to include detailed license request and response information in the WordPress debug log.

Step 4 – Reproduce the License Error

Now, generate the problem so it gets logged.

  1. In WordPress, go to Ultimate Member > Settings > Licenses.
  2. Click Deactivate next to your license.
  3. Then click Activate again.

As soon as you do this, the plugin will make a new license request and write all details into the debug.log file.

Step 5 – Find and Share the Debug Log

  1. Open your site’s /wp-content/ folder.
  2. Download the file called debug.log.
  3. Open it in a text editor and search for all lines between the lines containing `License handler starts below` and `End license handler`

These lines will show:

  • What request your site sent
  • What response the server returned
  • Any errors or restrictions that blocked the request

Send these lines to our support team so we can analyze the issue.

Step 6 – Turn Off Debugging (Important!)

Debug mode is only meant for troubleshooting. Once you’ve shared the log:

  • In wp-config.php, set:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); 
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', false );
  • In ultimate-member.php, remove the UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG line or replace it back with `false`.

Why This Helps

Normally, license errors just say “expired” or “not valid” without explanation. By enabling UM_LICENSE_REQUEST_DEBUG, we can see whether:

  • Your site reached our server successfully
  • A firewall or plugin blocked the request
  • The response from the server contained an error

This saves time and avoids guesswork in fixing license activation problems.

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