The core issue lies in the distinction between the and option licenses within Siemens TIA Portal.
In Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) environments, particularly when using , engineers frequently encounter the frustrating error message: "License key not available! WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced."
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes. Always refer to Siemens official documentation and licensing terms. Ensure your software is used in compliance with the license agreements.
If the license appears in ALM but is marked with a red/yellow icon, it may be "defective". This often happens if the PC was shut down improperly. You can try to restore defective licenses through Siemens Technical Support. Accidental Simulation Error license key not available wincc logging for runtime advanced
Disclaimer: License models and article numbers are subject to change by Siemens. Always refer to the official Siemens Industry Online Support for the latest licensing terms and part numbers relevant to your specific software version.
If you are running a simulation directly from your TIA Portal engineering workstation, the simulator checks the engineering PC for licenses. Your engineering PC must possess either a temporary trial license, a comprehensive WinCC Advanced Comfort Engineering license that covers basic simulation, or the explicit Logging option license to avoid the pop-up during testing. Trial License Expiration
requires a separate optional license to archive tags and alarms. Siemens SiePortal Core Causes and Solutions Missing Optional License The core issue lies in the distinction between
If you are working with Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) Runtime Advanced and have encountered the frustrating popup message: you are not alone. This error often arises when configuring historical data logging (trends or alarms) and indicates that the software cannot find the necessary licensing to activate the logging functionality.
If you require logging capabilities or cannot remove the features from your project, the definitive solution is to acquire the dedicated license.
typically occurs because the base Runtime license (e.g., for 512 PowerTags) does not include historical data archiving. Unlike Comfort or Mobile Panels, where logging is included, the PC-based WinCC Runtime Advanced Always refer to Siemens official documentation and licensing
If you don't actually need historical logs, you can remove the error by deleting the logs in your project: Go to "Historical Data" in the project tree. Check "Data logs" and "Alarm logs." If these lists are not empty, WinCC expects a license. Delete them if they were created by mistake. Troubleshooting Tips
occurs because Siemens treats logging (archiving) as an optional add-on, requiring a separate license in addition to the base WinCC Runtime Advanced license
Damaged license cache files are a known issue in older TIA versions.
If the IPC/PC was not shut down correctly (e.g., power loss), the license might be marked as "defective" in ALM. Check the license status in the Automation License Manager SmartServer Conflict: