---
type: api
title: Start a basic license
description: Start an indefinite basic license, which gives access to all the basic features.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-license-post-start-basic
resource: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-license-post-start-basic
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Start a basic license

Availability: 6.3+

## Paths

- `POST` `/_license/start_basic`

- [Api key auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#apikeyauth)
- [Basic auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#basicauth)
- [Bearer auth](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch/authentication#bearerauth)

## Description

Start an indefinite basic license, which gives access to all the basic features.

NOTE: In order to start a basic license, you must not currently have a basic license.

If the basic license does not support all of the features that are available with your current license, however, you are notified in the response.
You must then re-submit the API request with the `acknowledge` parameter set to `true`.

To check the status of your basic license, use the get basic license API.

## Required authorization

* Cluster privileges: `manage`

## Query String Parameters

- `acknowledge` (boolean · default: false)
  To start a basic license, you must accept the acknowledge messages and set this parameter to `true`.
- `master_timeout` (string Duration · default: 30s)
  Period to wait for a connection to the master node.
- `timeout` (string Duration · default: 30s)
  Period to wait for a response. If no response is received before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.

## Response

`application/json`

- `acknowledged` (boolean)
- `basic_was_started` (boolean)
- `error_message` (string)
- `type` (enum LicenseType)
  Values: `missing`, `trial`, `basic`, `standard`, `dev`, `silver`, `gold`, `platinum`, `enterprise`
- `acknowledge` (map string to string | string[])
## Code Examples

#### Console

```console
POST /_license/start_basic?acknowledge=true
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await client.license.postStartBasic({
  acknowledge: "true",
});
```

#### Python

```python
resp = client.license.post_start_basic(
    acknowledge=True,
)
```

#### curl

```curl
curl -X POST "$ELASTICSEARCH_URL/_license/start_basic?acknowledge=true" \
  -H "Authorization: ApiKey $ELASTIC_API_KEY"
```

#### Java

```java
client.license().postStartBasic(p -> p
    .acknowledge(true)
);
```

#### C#

```c#
var response = await client.LicenseManagement
    .PostStartBasicAsync(d1 => d1
        .Acknowledge(true)
    );
```

#### PHP

```php
$resp = $client->license()->postStartBasic([
    "acknowledge" => "true",
]);
```

#### Ruby

```ruby
response = client.license.post_start_basic(
  acknowledge: "true"
)
```

## Response Examples

#### Start basic license response example1

A successful response from `POST /_license/start_basic?acknowledge=true`. If you currently have a license with more features than a basic license and you start a basic license, you must pass the acknowledge parameter.

```json
{
  "basic_was_started": true,
  "acknowledged": true
}
```