In short
Meraki co-term licensing gives every device in a dashboard organisation one shared expiry date. Meraki calculates it as a weighted average of all active licences against the organisation's licence limit, recalculating whenever licences are added. If the date passes or devices exceed the limit, a 30-day grace period starts, then the organisation shuts down.
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What is Meraki co-term licensing?
Co-termination ("co-term") is one of the three Meraki licensing models. Its defining feature is that, however many licences you claim and whenever you claim them, every licence in the organisation expires on the same date. Meraki calls this the co-termination date, and it is shown on Organization > Configure > License info.
Licences are not tied to serial numbers. Each licence you claim raises the organisation's licence limit for a type of device, and you can deploy up to that many devices of that type in your networks. How the device type is defined varies by family:
- Wireless and cameras: MR access point licences are not tied to a model, so one access point licence covers any access point; camera licences work the same way across MV models.
- Switches and security appliances: MS and MX licences are specific to the hardware model and are not transferable between models; even PoE and non-PoE versions of a switch need different licences.
- MX editions: the MX edition (Enterprise, Advanced Security or Secure SD-WAN Plus) applies to every MX in the organisation; you cannot mix editions in one co-term organisation.
Co-term remains the default for a new organisation until a subscription key is claimed, though Meraki now describes it as best for existing customers with simple, static setups.
How the co-termination date is calculated
Meraki works out the date by averaging the time on all active licences across the licence limit. Meraki's own simple example:
- An organisation claims a one-year licence for two access points (365 days each) and a five-year licence for one access point (1,825 days).
- The co-term value is (1,825 x 1 + 365 x 2) / 3 = 851 days for all three access points.
- If the five-year licence had been added halfway through the one-year licence instead, the calculation uses the time remaining, giving (1,825 x 1 + 182 x 2) / 3 = 730 days.
Adding devices part-way through works the same way. Meraki's FAQ example: ten access points on one-year licences; four months in, six more access points are added on one-year licences. The extra four months of value on those six licences (24 access point months) is spread across all 16 access points, adding 1.5 months to the shared date.
Two refinements matter in mixed estates. First, Meraki's detailed method weights each licence by its relative value, so a licence for an expensive appliance moves the date more than an access point licence of the same length. Second, the date depends on the licence limit, not the number of devices actually deployed. The dashboard's License calculator lets you model a purchase before you make it, and we can do the same for you.
Licence limit vs current device count
The License info page shows two columns for every device type:
- Licence limit: the total devices covered by all active licences (invalidated licences, and licences applied before the most recent renewal, are not counted)
- Current device count: the devices of that type actually added to networks in the organisation
Devices claimed into the organisation's inventory but not added to a network do not count. That gives you a simple fix if you are over the limit: move a device out of its network into inventory until extra licences arrive.
Because the co-term date follows the licence limit, removing devices from networks does not change the date. Adding a device only matters if it takes you over the limit, which starts the 30-day grace period.
Adding devices vs renewing
When you claim a co-term licence key, the dashboard asks how to apply it, and the two options behave very differently.
| License more devices | Renew my term | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it when | Adding new devices during the term | Extending licensing for everything in the organisation |
| Effect on licence limit | Adds the key's devices to the existing limit | Resets the limit to exactly the devices on the key |
| Effect on the date | Recalculates the weighted co-term date | Extends the date by the key's term, keeping any remaining time |
| Typical risk | Low | A key that misses devices leaves the organisation over its limit |
Meraki's recommended renewal is a single key that covers every device currently in the organisation for the chosen number of years, applied as a renewal. If budgets mean the renewal comes as several keys, apply one with Renew my term and the rest with License more devices; applying several keys as renewals overwrites each one in turn and leaves you short.
When you confirm either option, the dashboard asks you to type the new expiration date shown on the preview. If a key is applied the wrong way, the undo option on the License info page is available for seven days; after that it needs Meraki support. Our Meraki licence renewal guide walks through the steps.
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When co-term licences start and how long they last
Co-term licences start using time from the date the order is processed, not the date you claim them. Meraki is explicit that holding a key back gains nothing, so claim new and renewal keys promptly.
Co-term licences are prepaid for a fixed term. Meraki's licensing overview lists 1, 3, 5 and 7-year terms and its co-term FAQ also lists 10-year licences, with the terms on offer varying by licence. One-day licences exist only in per-device licensing and cannot be used in a co-term organisation, and co-term licences are not prorated: the averaging is how mid-term purchases are absorbed.
Grace period and shutdown
A co-term organisation falls out of compliance when the co-term date passes or when any device type exceeds its licence limit. It then enters a 30-day grace period in which everything runs normally and clients see no difference. Administrators receive reminder emails, and Meraki offers a one-time grace period reset from the License info page.
If compliance is not restored by the end of the grace period, the organisation is shut down: devices stop passing client traffic, and administrators can only reach the License info and device status pages until licences are added. Unlike subscription licensing, this affects every device in the organisation. See what happens when a Meraki licence expires.
Is Meraki co-term licensing the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Moving licences and moving to subscription
Co-term licences can be moved between organisations, as long as both use co-term; they cannot be moved into a per-device organisation. Licences applied in the last seven days can be undone and reapplied elsewhere, and older licences can be transferred through Meraki support or the dashboard's licence transfer process.
Meraki now recommends moving to Meraki subscription licensing before you renew. Co-term licences normally need to expire before a subscription key can be claimed, though Meraki support can arrange an earlier move within six to nine months of expiry. Within 30 days of expiry, the License info page recommends subscription licences based on the devices you have deployed. The move is organisation-wide and permanent, so it is worth planning rather than leaving to the last week.
How Forever Systems helps
Forever Systems is a Cisco Partner. We can read your License info page with you, model how a purchase or renewal will move your co-term date, put together a single renewal that covers every deployed device, and compare a co-term renewal with a move to subscription.
Ask us for a quote for co-term renewals or additions, or contact us to review your licence position.
Working with us on Cisco Meraki
Forever Systems helps organisations plan, buy and run cloud-managed networks built on Cisco Meraki wireless, switching, security and SD-WAN.
- Plan the network: we look at your sites, users and existing kit, and can arrange a wireless site survey before anything is ordered
- Choose the right products: access points, switches, security appliances, cellular gateways, sensors and cameras sized to what each site needs, rather than a one-size bundle
- Licensing made clear: we explain co-termination, per-device and subscription licensing, check renewal dates and quote the licences you need
- Deployment help: we can set up the Meraki dashboard, organisations, networks, templates and policies, and help move you from older or on-premise kit
- Ongoing help: changes, licence renewals and reviews as your sites grow, with the scope agreed at quote
Ask us for a quote and we will confirm what is included for your organisation.
Frequently asked questions
How does Meraki co-term licensing work?
Co-term gives every device in a dashboard organisation one shared expiry date. Each licence raises the licence limit for a device type, and Meraki recalculates the shared date as a weighted average every time licences are added or renewed.
How is the Meraki co-termination date calculated?
Meraki averages the remaining time on all active licences across the organisation's licence limit, weighted by each licence's relative value. For example, a one-year licence for two access points and a five-year licence for one access point applied together give 851 days for all three.
Do devices in inventory count towards my Meraki licence limit?
No. Only devices added to networks count towards the current device count. Devices claimed into inventory but not in a network do not, which is a simple way to get back under the limit while extra licences are ordered.
What is the difference between 'License more devices' and 'Renew my term'?
License more devices adds a key's devices to your existing licence limit and recalculates the co-term date. Renew my term resets the licence limit to exactly the devices on the key and extends the date by the key's term. Renewing with a key that misses devices puts the organisation over its limit.
Does delaying a Meraki co-term licence claim save time?
No. Co-term licences start using time from the date the order is processed, not the date they are claimed, so there is no benefit in holding a key back.
Can I move from Meraki co-term to subscription licensing?
Yes. Co-term licences normally need to expire first, or be within six to nine months of expiry with Meraki support's help. Claiming the subscription key converts the organisation, and the change cannot be reversed.
Still have a question about Meraki co-term licensing?
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