VMware ESXi 8.0 Activation: Applying Your License Key

If you have set up VMWare ESXi 8.0 you will find that it defaults to the evaluation version giving you 60 days of unlimited use. But, how do you apply your serial number? We have created a quick video below to help you with this easy process:

Video Walkthrough – How to activate VMWare ESXi Serial

When using this in a lab environment, you could use the stripped-back version of VMWare ESXi with unlimited usage using the serial number below but little functionality (as detailed in the video):

4141K-46K54-M88P0-0T2HK-CEK74

If you need to use the many features VMWare has to offer, then you would need to purchase a correct licence and enter that instead.

Update: Broadcom’s Free ESXi Licensing Changes (2024/2025)

Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, the free VMware vSphere Hypervisor (free ESXi) was pulled from download in February 2024 as part of the move to subscription-only licensing. For over a year there was no official free option for home lab or non-production use.

Broadcom quietly reinstated a free ESXi download alongside the release of ESXi 8.0 Update 3e in April 2025. It’s available from the Broadcom Support Portal, but it comes with real limits: up to 2 physical CPUs per host and 8 vCPUs per VM, no vCenter integration, no vMotion, DRS, or HA, no VADP based backups, and no Broadcom support. It’s intended for home labs and non-production testing only, not for production workloads.

If you need the full feature set beyond that, be aware that Broadcom retired perpetual vSphere licensing in December 2023. vSphere is now sold only as part of a subscription bundle, such as VMware vSphere Foundation or VMware Cloud Foundation, through Broadcom’s partner network. There is no longer a standalone perpetual licence you can simply buy and enter here.

Version 5.5

If you are looking for a key for version 5.5, click the 5.5 activation key.

Version 6.0

If you are looking for a key for version 6.0, click the 6.0 activation key.

Version 6.5

If you are looking for a key for version 6.5, click the 6.5 activation key.

Version 6.7

If you are looking for a key for version 6.7, click the 6.7 activation key.

Version 7.0

If you are looking for a key for version 7.0, click the 7.0 activation key.

FAQ

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Looking for a different VMware version? See the full VMware ESXi / vSphere evaluation key hub for ESX through ESXi 8.0.