If your project does not require data archiving, you can eliminate the error by disabling logging in your TIA Portal configuration. This saves you from having to purchase an unnecessary license. Open your project in . Navigate to your HMI project tree and open HMI tags .
To proceed with fixing your runtime application, please let me know:
Ensure SIMATIC WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced is listed and not marked as "defective". Step 2: Acquire and Transfer the License
on your engineering PC, you can often click "Ignore." The simulation will usually continue to function, but the pop-up will recur periodically. Trial Period If your project does not require data archiving,
Licenses can become corrupted. This often happens when an industrial PC (IPC) is improperly shut down. When WinCC Runtime Advanced starts, it assigns a license. If the PC loses power abruptly or the operating system is not closed correctly, these licenses are not released and can be for the next startup, triggering the "License Key Not Available" error. This is a common scenario in industrial environments with unstable power grids.
: Check if you own the WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced license (e.g., Article No: 6AV2107-0GA00-0BB0 ). A standard "WinCC Runtime Advanced PowerTags" license only covers basic HMI operation, not archiving.
If you are onsite and need a quick fix while waiting for the permanent license, here are a few stop-gaps: Navigate to your HMI project tree and open HMI tags
A very common trap involves project migration. If you created a project for a (where logging is free) and later migrated that project to a PC-based Runtime Advanced station, the project retains the logging configuration. However, because you moved to RT Advanced, the software now checks for a license that wasn't needed before. This triggers the pop-up even if you never intentionally "turned on" logging.
: This error will appear even during simulation in TIA Portal if the engineering PC lacks the license. You can usually acknowledge and ignore this for testing purposes, but it must be resolved for production.
Open your WinCC project in the TIA Portal: Trial Period Licenses can become corrupted
Identifying the underlying cause is essential for applying the correct fix. The error can stem from a simple missing license to more complex licensing conflicts or configuration issues.
: The message may trigger if logging features are accidentally enabled: Historical Data : Check the "Historical data > Data logs"
typically appears because WinCC Runtime Advanced requires a dedicated, separate license for any historical data logging. Unlike Comfort Panels where logging is often included, PC-based Runtime Advanced systems treat logging (Tag Logs and Alarm Logs) as an optional package. Siemens SiePortal Common Scenarios and Fixes Missing Optional License : Even if you have a valid WinCC Runtime Advanced PowerTags license, you must also purchase and install the "WinCC Logging for Runtime Advanced"
