The Automation License Manager (ALM) triggers this alert under three specific conditions:
Contact Siemens support or your Siemens distributor if:
If you upgraded a project from older versions like WinCC flexible 2008 to TIA Portal, the project might carry over the "OPC Server" service setting or legacy "SmartServer" services. Even if you don't need the feature, the presence of these activated services in the project settings triggers the check for a valid license. The Automation License Manager (ALM) triggers this alert
Licenses on USB dongles (e.g., Siemens USB Hardkey) can become corrupted.
To avoid seeing "License key not available for WinCC logging" again: To avoid seeing "License key not available for
The message often appears intermittently (for example, every 5 minutes), and while it can be temporarily dismissed, it will keep coming back. In some cases, the alarm logging may still function during a grace period before eventually switching to a "Demo Mode," which can be catastrophic for production environments.
"License key not available! WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced." Why It Happens WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced
Siemens uses a modular licensing structure. The base license for WinCC Runtime Advanced covers standard HMI functionalities like graphics, animations, user administration, and basic communications. However, advanced functionalities require supplemental licenses.