# Understanding Parallels Desktop Activation Methods

Enterprise Edition uses a hybrid licensing model and is licensed by seat count. You purchase a specific number of seats, and that number determines what you pay, not the number of currently activated seats. Therefore, if active installations drop below the purchased count, billing is unaffected. You can add seats during the subscription term; the purchased count is not reduced based on actual usage.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Example**: If your company commits to purchasing 1,000 Parallels Desktop seats, but ends up actually using only 932, it will continue to be billed for 1,000 seats.
{% endhint %}

### Activation methods

Enterprise Edition can be activated using a license key or through your organization's [identity provider (SSO)](/landing/pd-ag/getting-started/configuring-the-single-sign-on-sso-integration-with-parallels-my-account.md). Both methods are supported on the same license; the choice depends on how you plan to deploy and manage installations.

#### License-key activation

If Single Sign-On is not available, or you wish to activate a copy of Parallels Desktop on a specific device, use this method. To manually activate a copy of Parallels Desktop using a license key:

1. Launch Parallels Desktop or switch to it if it's already running.
2. From the macOS menu bar, go to **Parallels Desktop** > **Account & License**.
3. In the **My Licenses** window, click the **Enter a Key** button in the bottom-left corner.
4. Enter the key as prompted and click **Activate**.

<figure><img src="/files/gucOGGOetVQDJOltM3rI" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### SSO activation

This activation method works on a per-user basis, allowing a particular individual to sign in with their work email address from any computer.

The sign-in window normally appears on first launch. To sign in manually:

1. Launch Parallels Desktop or switch to it if it's already running.
2. From the macOS menu bar, go to **Parallels Desktop** > **Account & License**.
3. In the **My Licenses** window, click the **Continue with SSO** button in the bottom-left corner.
4. Enter the corporate email address and click **Next**. You'll be redirected to your company's sign-in procedure.

<figure><img src="/files/lh9n0FzbQPIdCylMMUeq" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Deployment

For mass deployment, Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition is typically distributed using configuration profiles, which can carry PPPC settings together with activation parameters, including a license key or enforced SSO activation. Deployment is covered in detail in [this chapter](/landing/pd-ag/provisioning-and-activation-of-parallels-desktop/mass-deployment-using-mac-management-tools.md).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.parallels.com/landing/pd-ag/getting-started/understanding-parallels-desktop-activation-methods.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.