# New website is greyed out

Why New website cannot be pressed, and the quickest ways to make a website anyway.

For: Everyone making a website

## Every website needs a spare licence

New website is greyed out when no licence in the workspace is spare: every licence is already on a website. A note beside it says so, and the New website card on the Websites page shows the same message.

The trial gives one licence, so a trial workspace can make one website. A second website needs a bought licence, even during the trial.

Walkthrough: Checking for a spare licence (The Licences page)

1. **The Spare tile**: 0 means every licence is on a website, so New website has nothing to use.
2. **Where they all are**: Each licence beside its website. A website you no longer need is a licence waiting to be freed.

1. Open Licences and look at the Spare tile.
2. If it says 0, every licence is in use.
3. Choose one of the ways forward below.

## Three ways forward

Buy a licence: owners and admins see Buy a licence beside the note, and after paying, Make the website carries straight on into the new website wizard. Free one up: delete a website you no longer need, and its licence becomes spare. Or move one: Take off this website, on the Licences page, makes a licence spare, though the website it leaves goes offline.

If you are not the owner or an admin, the note names the people in the workspace who can buy licences. In a workspace an organisation pays for, the organisation buys them.

Walkthrough: Getting a licence for the new website (The Licences page, then Buying licences)

1. **Buy a licence**: Owners and admins can buy one here, or from the note beside the greyed out button.
2. **Or free one up**: Take off this website makes a licence spare, and the website it leaves goes offline.
3. **Then carry on**: Once paid, the new website wizard opens with the licence ready.

Warning: Taking a licence off a published website takes that website offline at once. Its draft is kept, but visitors see nothing until it has a licence again.

## Still not there?

A licence that has ended is never spare: it sits under Ended licences, at the foot of the Licences page. Cancelled licences that have not reached their end date are still licences, and a spare one can still take a new website.

If the button is missing altogether rather than greyed out, your role cannot make websites. Ask an owner or an admin to make the website, or to change your role.

- [ ] The Spare tile above 0
- [ ] No licence you were counting on under Ended licences
- [ ] A role that can make websites

## Can I make the website first and buy the licence later?

No. A website is made on a licence. The trial licence is the way to start without paying: it builds and previews, and a bought licence lets that website publish.

## Does deleting a website give me its licence back?

Yes, straight away. Deleting also removes the website and its version history, so download a website file first if you might want it again.

## Related guides

- [Buy and manage licences](/help/plans-and-billing/buy-and-manage-licences)
- [Plans, licences and the trial](/help/plans-and-billing/plans-and-trials)
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CubeSites is a trading name of Cube Systems Limited, part of Crushed Ice Group. Registered in England and Wales, company number 17220899. Registered office: Unit 11, Olney Business Park, Osier Way, Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 5FP. ICO registration number ZC216972.

Contact: hello@cubesites.co.uk | 01234 672 617 | https://cubesites.co.uk/contact