How to change or reset a license for Autodesk software

Autodesk Support

Oct 21, 2024


Products and versions covered


Have a problem that forces a reset of the license type. To change the license type, first adjust the software licensing option. Or how to change a license type. 

Causes:

  • Changed the license type but didn't update the license setting in the software. For instance, switching from a perpetual license to a subscription license or from a single-user (stand-alone) to a multi-user (network) license.
  • The subscription has expired. Consider obtaining a new subscription instead of renewing the old one.
  • Utilized the software in trial mode and later acquired a subscription using a different email address.
  • Logged in to the Autodesk Access with an email address distinct from the one used for subscription acquisition.
The process for modifying or resetting the license varies based on the software version:
  • Autodesk 2020 or newer versions.
  • Autodesk 2019, 2018, or 2017 versions.
  • Fusion 360.
Note: For versions predating 2017, reinstall the software to alter the license type. During reinstallation, choose the license type, opting for the pre-2017 options: stand-alone or network.

To reset Autodesk product licensing

Autodesk Licensing Support Tool is a cross-platform standalone command line-based and UI-based application that offers visibility and configuration for Autodesk Licensing Components aka CLM used by 2020 and newer products (CLMv2) as well as 2017-2019 products (CLMv1).

If not, please follow the steps below.

For Autodesk 2020 or newer releases

If your software starts

Follow this workflow to reset your license type through the License Manager. If your trial license has expired, click Already Have A License at the bottom of the Expired Trial dialog box.
  1. Start your Autodesk software.
  2. At the upper-right, click the triangle next to the username.
  3. Select Manage Licenses.
  4. In the License Manager dialog box, select Change License Type or Activate. The Let’s Get Started screen appears.
  5. Choose your license type.

If your software doesn’t start

Use the Autodesk Licensing Installer Helper tool (AdskLicensingInstHelper).
 
Before you begin: If you’re signed in to the Autodesk desktop app or Autodesk cloud-based services, sign out. See How to reset local login cache for Autodesk desktop software.
  1. Open a command prompt on Windows (run as administrator) or a terminal in macOS or Linux.
  2. To change the directory to AdskLicensingInstHelper, run following commands:
    • Windows: cd %CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\
    • macOS: cd /Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/AdskLicensing/Current/helper/
    • Linux: cd /opt/Autodesk/AdskLicensing/2020/helper/ (path may vary depending on your software release year)
  3. In the Command line, run the following:
    • Windows: AdskLicensingInstHelper change -pk product_key -pv year.0.0.F -lm ""
    • Mac/Linux: sudo AdskLicensingInstHelper change -pk product_key -pv year.0.0.F -lm ""
Note: In the commands above, replace product_key with your software product key. See here a list of product keys . Replace also year with your release year, e.g. 2020 for AutoCAD 2020.
  1. Start your Autodesk software. On the Let’s Get Started screen, select the appropriate license type.
 

For Autodesk 2019, 2018, and 2017 releases

If your software starts

  1. At the upper right, click the drop-down triangle next to the username.
  2. Click Manage License.
  3. In the License Manager dialog box, click Change License Type.
  4. Close the product and restart it. Follow these directions, according to whether you see the Let's Get Started screen.
A video tutorial of this process can be found here.

You see the Let's Get Started screen

  1. If you see the screen, select one of these options:
    • Single-user
    • Multi-user
    • Enter a serial number
    • Start a trial
  2. If you're not sure, click Help Me Choose.

You don't see the Let's Get Started screen or your software doesn't open

Windows

  1. If you don't see the Get Started screen, delete the following LGS.data file.
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\CLM\LGS\ProductKey_ProductVersion.0.0.F\LGS.data
For example, in AutoCAD 2019, the file may be here: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\CLM\LGS\001K1_2019.0.0.F\LGS.data
  1. For a single-user license, delete the following folders and files:
    • C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ADUT
    • C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ADUT (if it exists)
    • C:\Users\user\AppData\local\Autodesk\Web Services\LoginState.xml

      Note: If the folders and files are hidden, see Show hidden files.
  1. Restart the Autodesk software.

macOS 

  1. If you don't see the Get Started screen, delete the LGS.data file.
/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/CLM/LGS/ProductKey_ProductVersion.0.0.F/LGS.data
For example, in AutoCAD 2018, the file may be here:
/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/CLM/LGS/777J1_2018.0.0.F/LGS.data
Note: Here is a list of all the Autodesk product keys .
  1. For a single-user license, also remove the following folders and files:
    • /Users/username/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/ADUT (if it exists)
    • /Users/username/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/Web Services/LoginState.xml
    • /Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher/FLEXnet all files that begin with "adsk"
      Note: Don't remove any non-Autodesk files from the FLEXnet folder. To make hidden files visible, go to Finder > Go > Go To Folder. Paste in the path, and press Enter.
  1. Restart the Autodesk software.

For Autodesk 2016 and earlier releases

For products earlier than 2017, uninstall the product and then reinstall it to reset the license. 
  1. Uninstall your Autodesk software.
  2. Delete ADUT folders, if any. You can find them here:
  • Windows: C:\Users\YourUserID\ AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ADUT 
  • macOS: /User/username/Library/Application\ Support/Autodesk/ADUT
  1. Sign in to manage.autodesk.com and download the software.
  2. Follow the recommended installation workflow for Autodesk products.
  3. After the software is installed, start it and select the appropriate license type.

Autodesk Fusion 360

Fusion 360 does not use the license manager that is used by other Autodesk products. If you have recently purchased a Fusion subscription, but cannot access the features available with a commercial license, do the following.
  1. Sign out of Fusion 360.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Start Fusion 360 and sign in.

 

Products:

All Desktop Products;


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