How to reset license activation for an Autodesk product for stand-alone license with single-user access

Autodesk Support

Jan 16, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

For single-user authentication with a stand-alone license with Autodesk software, reset the activation for the following scenarios:
  • When the product does not start.
  • When the product cannot be activated.
  • When repeated messages appear during activation of the product, such as:
Error 0015.111
Error 0015.301
 
For more information on the activation errors, see Error: "Invalid Serial Number" (Stand-Alone Activation).

Causes:

A subscription license needs to be renewed at regular intervals (e.g., monthly, quarterly, etc.).

Note: Products purchased after August 1, 2016 most likely have a subscription license.

When one the following error message appears, the activation may need to be restarted:
  • "Renew your License"
  • "Your Trial expired" or "Your Trial has ended"
  • "Contact your Administrator to request permission to use this product"

Solution:

Note before beginning:

 


    Reset subscription licenses

    Autodesk 2020 and later releases

    Windows

    To reset the product license, use the Autodesk Licensing Installer Helper tool (AdskLicensingInstHelper) and then delete the LoginState.xml file.

    1. Input "cmd" in Windows search, and right click command prompt to select "run Run as administrator",
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    1. Switch to the AdskLicensingInstHelper installation directory by the command:  "cd  %CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\". The Helper tool is located under the following location:
      • Windows: %CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\
      • macOS: /Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/AdskLicensing/Current/helper/
      • Linux: /opt/Autodesk/AdskLicensing/<version>/helper/
    2. On the Command line, run the following command:
      AdskLicensingInstHelper change -pk 2020_Product_key -pv 2020.0.0.F -lm ""
       
    3. Then when you restart the product, you will be prompted with the Let's Get Started window.
    4. (Windows) Stop the AdSSO service from running:
      • From the Windows Task Manager, select Details > AdSSO.exe.
      • Click End Task.
    5. Delete the LoginState.xml file in the following directory:
      • Windows: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\local\Autodesk\Web Services\LoginState.xml
      • maOS: /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/Web Services/LoginState.xml

     

    macOS

    Follow the steps from this video tutorial to reset the license on macOS (versions 2020 and later).

    1. Open Terminal (Go > Utilities > Terminal).
    2. Type this command followed by ENTER:
    cd /Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/AdskLicensing/Current/helper/
    1. Type one of the following commands depending on your software, followed by ENTER:
    ./AdskLicensingInstHelper change -pk 777M1 -pv 2021.0.0.F -lm ""
    Note: Depending on the specific software, use the corresponding product key. For example, for AutoCAD LT for Mac 2021, the command will be: ./AdskLicensingInstHelper change -pk 827M1 -pv 2021.0.0.F -lm "" See Product Key Look Up.
    1. Run the software.
    2. You will be prompted with the Let's Get Started screen where you can select the correct license authentication method.
     


    Autodesk 2019 and earlier product release

    Windows

    To reset subscription licenses for Windows, do the following:

    1. Navigate to the following locations and delete the specified folders:
    • C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ADUT and delete the ADUT folder.
    User-added image
    • C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet and delete all files that start with adskflex.
    Note: If an older version of Autodesk standalone licensed software is not listed in the Transport Layer Security (TLS): Updates Required to Maintain Software Access resource, do not delete following files.
     
    User-added image
    • C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\CLM\LGS and delete the folder specific to the product <ProductKey_Version> if it exists.
      • For example, 001K1_2019.0.0.F for AutoCAD 2019.
    Note: Do not remove non-Autodesk files as the folder may contain licenses for other companies
     
    User-added image
    • C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Web Services and delete the file LoginState.xml file if it exists.
    User-added image
    1. To reset activation, open the Autodesk product.

     

    macOS

    Reset subscription licenses for macOS:

    1. Stop the Time Machine application.
    2. Go to these locations and delete the following:
      • Home, <username>/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/ADUT and delete the ADUT folder.
      • Root, ​​​​and delete the files that start with adsk.
        • Note: Do not remove non-Autodesk files as the folder may contain licenses for other companies.
        • Example: Macintosh HD)/Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher
      • Home, <username>/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/Web Services delete LoginState.xml file (if it exists).
      • Go to /Library/Application Support/Autodesk/CLM/LGS and delete the folder specific to the product <ProductKey_Version> (if it exists).
        • For example, 001K1_2019.0.0.F for AutoCAD 2019.
        • Note: To get to the Home folder, select Home from the Go menu in the Finder. To get to the Root folder, select Computer.
    3. To reset activation, open the Autodesk product.



     

    Reset perpetual licenses for Windows and macOS

    Note: Resetting perpetual standalone license will reset all your Autodesk standalone licenses.  If you have an older version of Autodesk standalone licensed software that is not listed in Transport Layer Security (TLS): Updates Required to Maintain Software Access article be aware that you will not be able to re-license that software and that software will stop working.

     

    Windows

    Depending on the version of Windows, go to the following folders and remove all files that start with adskflex:

    • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FLEXnet
    • Windows 7, 8, and 10: C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet

    The activation information for all installed Autodesk products is now reset.

    Note: If a message appears stating that the adsk files cannot be deleted, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc and end the LMU.exe process.

     

    macOS

    1. Stop the Time Machine application.
    2. Go to Root, and delete the files that start with adsk.
      • Example: Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher.
        • To get to the Home folder, select Home from the Go menu in the Finder.
        • To get to the Root folder, select Computer.
    3. To reset activation, open the Autodesk product.

    Products:

    All Desktop Products;

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