All MATLAB license types permit access to older releases of MATLAB, going back to R11 for most licenses. License files and file installation keys are also backwards compatible, but there is a small difference between how backwards compatibility is implemented between individual and network licenses.
Individual Licenses
For individual licenses, license files and file installation keys are mostly backwards compatible. However, you may encounter an issue where a product that was part of an older release has changed names, been transitioned into another product, or discontinued entirely. If this is the case, the old product might not be present in a newer license file. For this reason we recommend always using a license file and file installation key that matches the release of MATLAB in question.
Network Licenses
For network licenses, license files and file installation keys are backwards compatible. Network license files and file installation keys contain product codes for products on your license that have been discontinued or transitioned. For this reason only the latest version of the license file needs to be present on the license server, and the same file installation key can be used for all releases of MATLAB.
In the event that you need access to a product your network license is eligible for which was discontinued or transitioned before your network license was purchased, please contact MathWorks support.
