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I have just updated/installed a new Operating System. Why is my license failing to activate?

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ActivationsLicense is InvalidLicenseactivationWindows 10Errorlicenseupdateactivationswindows 10failing to activateFailing to activatelicense is invalidosoperating systemreformat

Symptoms

  • I have just installed Windows 10 on my computer.
  • I just updated my Operating System
  • On opening Unity, I receive an error and it will not activate.

Cause

Unfortunately, sometimes our licenses are confused by a change in OS - essentially, it tricks the license file into thinking it is being activated on a new machine, which can cause problems if you have already maxed out your activations.

Resolution

Please follow this process:

1) Uninstall Unity

2) Delete this file:

* Windows: C:ProgramData/Unity (If the files are hidden, you need to click View and tick the Hidden Items check box.)

* Mac: Library/Application Support/Unity

3) Restart

4) Download Unity again from our website

5) Reinstall, remembering to select ‘activate free version’ when prompted for Personal, or enter your serial number for Plus or Pro.

 

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7 Comments

Date Votes
  • 0
    Avatar
    mgear

    It was enough to delete the license file *.ulf, then activate free, run unity, and activate pro/plus (license check still hanged, but you can close it)

  • 0
    Avatar
    Sergio Carneiro

    I'm using Windows 10 and this happened after an update.

    I tried everything and more than everything, nothing worked, the only solution I got was to revert the update. This is easily done in the "Recovery" settings.

  • -1
    Avatar
    Lily

    Hi Sergio,

    If you have a Plus or Pro license activated on your machine, it may be that you need to return this activation in order to activate on your new OS version.

    You can return your activations when logged in at id.unity.com and under the 'My Seats' tab. Alternatively, you can return them from within the Unity Editor.

    - Click 'Help'

    - Click 'Manage License'

    - Click 'Return License'

  • 0
    Avatar
    Unity Builds 4

    Is there a programmatic way to free our licenses? Having to manually sign into the webpage is a problem. Do you have a web API that we could use to release/return licenses?

  • 0
    Avatar
    Maru

    Hi there,

    We do have some command line arguements to release licenses which you may find useful: https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/CommandLineArguments.html

  • -1
    Avatar
    Paul Bronowski

    This will do the trick...

    - Close Unity and Unity Hub app
    start cmd.exe as admin
    for /f %i in ('tlist ^| findstr /i unity') do (kill -f %i)

    - Delete (or back up) the local license cache files
    C:\ProgramData\Unity>del *.ulf

    - Delete any appropriate activations on the service side
    Online: https://id.unity.com/en/serials

     - Restart Unity Hub app. Provide product key. The last button will be "Install Unity", which is misleading - you already have Unity installed. It's should just be a success message with a Continue button. Clicking it will take you home.

    - Keep calm and go about your business. ;)

    Edited by Paul Bronowski
  • 0
    Avatar
    JoeCool

    Sorry not working for me. Also you should update this page as it is not saying anything about Unity Hub which is actually managing the licenses. I have contacted support now, as I am not able to solve the problem.

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