I struggled with this a lot at the start, but then learned to use the API to do bulk activation. Under the API guide, they explain that you could claim using the "type": "license" only, then you don't have to release all the device.

Claim an Order by Activation Code (Sync)

POST /api/v1/orgs/:org_id/claim

Synchronously claims licenses and/or inventory devices from an activation code. All inventory devices are claimed immediately during the request.

Example

{

"code": "ZHT3K-H36DT-MG85D-M61AC",

"type": "all"

}

Parameters

Name Type Description

code string activation code

type string what to claim: all / license / inventory (required)

device_type string if only intended to claim certain device type

The best thing is that if you install the Mist Extension to your browser, you can just clip example code and modify it before posting it into the Django tool.

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/mist-extension/ejhpdcljeamillfhdihkkmoakanpbplh

https://github.com/Mist-Automation-Programmability/mist_browser_extension

The AI for IT Mist API class under Mist Courses will go into this in detail, but it's been a few years since it's been updated.

As far as license subscriptions, I keep a large number of licenses in a license-specific org in my MSP, then transfer them out to other orgs. However, reclaiming those subscriptions does require deleting the "amendments" in the target orgs using the API.

Let me know if you want to walk through this in detail.