Resolving TP1900 HMI Runtime Not Active in TIA Portal V13

Problem Description

When configuring a Siemens TP1900 Comfort Panel in TIA Portal V13, engineers frequently encounter a situation where the Runtime icon in the toolbar is greyed out / not active, the Start Runtime context-menu command is unavailable, and the HMI cannot enter runtime mode. The project compiles (or appears to compile), but the user interface gives no way to load the configuration to the panel or to start the on-screen simulation.

The condition is not a single fault. It is a symptom cluster with at least four distinct root causes that must be ruled out in sequence:

1. The installed TIA Portal version does not match the device firmware generation of the configured TP1900.
2. The required WinCC engineering package (Comfort, Advanced or Professional) is not installed on the engineering station.
3. The HMI project contains compilation errors that prevent a valid runtime image from being produced.
4. The HMI device was added with a device-version that the active SP/HSP level of TIA Portal cannot compile.

This article documents the diagnostic procedure, the exact menus to use, the version matrix, and the verification steps required to bring the TP1900 Runtime icon back to an active state on TIA Portal V13 (and the upgrade path to V13 SP1 / V14 SP1 / V15.x for newer firmware panels).

Affected Components and Versions

Root Cause Analysis

When TIA Portal cannot produce a valid runtime image, it disables every command that would attempt to load or simulate that image. The Runtime button is therefore a dependent UI element: it stays inactive as long as one of the following conditions is true.

Cause 1 - Device version / SP mismatch

The HMI device inserted into the project tree carries a device version (e.g. V14.0.0.0, V15.1.0.0). If the active installation of TIA Portal is older than the version that originally introduced this device, the compiler refuses to build the project and silently disables the Runtime icon. This is the situation described in the originating case report: TIA Portal V13 was used to configure a TP1900 Comfort that requires at least V13 SP1 / V14 SP1.

Cause 2 - Missing WinCC package

TIA Portal is a modular installer. Installing only STEP 7 gives the user PLC programming, but no HMI engineering capability. The WinCC component that matches the panel family is mandatory:

• WinCC Comfort - for KTP400..TP1500 Basic Panels and TP700..TP2200 Comfort Panels (incl. TP1900).
• WinCC Advanced - extends Comfort with PC-based Runtime Advanced.
• WinCC Professional - required for RT Professional on PCs.

If the WinCC package is absent, TIA Portal will not even create a usable HMI node. In some installation states a node is created but the Runtime icon is permanently disabled.

Cause 3 - Compilation errors

The Runtime icon only becomes active after a successful Rebuild all. Compilation errors in any screen, in tag connections to the PLC, in alarm configuration, or in the HMI device properties prevent a runtime image from being generated, and the Start Runtime command is consequently disabled.

Cause 4 - Wrong project HMI target or empty project

If the active editor in the project tree is a PLC, the Runtime icon in the HMI toolbar still reflects the status of the HMI, but the user may inadvertently attempt to start Runtime from a context where the HMI is not the focus. Always select the HMI node before checking the icon state.

Diagnostic Procedure

Run the following checks in order. Each step verifies a different layer of the engineering stack.

1. Identify the installed TIA Portal version. Open TIA Portal and navigate to Help > Installed Software > Details. Capture the build number and the exact product designation, e.g. SIMATIC TIA Portal V13 Update 9 vs V13 SP1 Update 4.
2. List every installed WinCC component. In the same dialog, verify that WinCC Comfort (or Advanced / Professional, depending on panel family) is listed and shows the same version as STEP 7.
3. Check the panel firmware / device version. Right-click the HMI in the project tree, choose Properties > General > Device version. Cross-check this version against the official TIA Portal compatibility list for the TP1900 Comfort.
4. Compile the entire HMI project. Right-click the HMI in the project tree, choose Compile > Rebuild all. Note every error and warning in the Info > Compile editor.
5. Inspect the Runtime button state. With the HMI node selected in the project tree, observe the toolbar. If the Start Runtime icon is still greyed out, the cause is either the SP-level mismatch (Cause 1) or the missing WinCC package (Cause 2).
6. Check panel availability in the device catalog. Devices & Networks > expand the catalog and search for 6AV2 124-1UC02-0AX0. If the catalog does not list the TP1900 Comfort at all, the engineering software is older than the device's introduction version.

Solution 1 - Upgrade the TIA Portal Installation

The TP1900 Comfort panel is supported starting with TIA Portal V13 SP1 (with the matching Hardware Support Package). Siemens recommends upgrading to TIA Portal V14 SP1 or later to obtain a fully maintained engineering environment.

1. Run the TIA Portal installer as administrator.
2. Select Modify installation.
3. Add the missing WinCC component: SIMATIC WinCC Comfort (or Advanced).
4. When the installer offers Service Packs and Updates, accept the highest available for V13 (e.g. V13 SP1 Update 9). If the panel requires a newer generation, switch to V14 SP1 Update 7 or higher.
5. Complete the installation and restart Windows.
6. Reopen the project in TIA Portal. The device catalog should now list the TP1900 Comfort.
7. Right-click the HMI in the project tree and choose Change device if the originally inserted device is shown with a red warning marker. Replace it with the correct TP1900 Comfort variant matching the hardware on the machine.

Solution 2 - Repair a Missing WinCC Package

If STEP 7 is installed but WinCC is not (or a partial WinCC was installed):

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Locate SIMATIC TIA Portal in the list.
3. Select Change / Repair.
4. From the product tree, tick WinCC Comfort (and WinCC Advanced if PC-based Runtime is also used).
5. Accept the licence transfer for each newly ticked component.
6. Let the installer complete, then reboot the engineering PC.

After this change, the Start Runtime icon will become available the next time the project is opened in TIA Portal.

Solution 3 - Resolve Compilation Errors

If a Rebuild all produced errors, the Runtime icon is disabled until the compiler produces a clean build. Typical error classes and their remedies are summarised in the table below.

After fixing the errors, repeat the Rebuild all command and confirm the Info editor reports 0 errors, 0 warnings related to the HMI.

Solution 4 - Align the Device Version with the Installed SP

According to the official Siemens TIA Portal documentation, "If the device version of the target HMI device does not correspond to that of the configured device version, Runtime cannot be started after loading." (see Downloading the project to an HMI device (RT Professional)). The same logic applies to WinCC Runtime Advanced on Comfort Panels.

Procedure to align the device version:

1. Right-click the HMI device in the project tree.
2. Open Properties > General > Device version.
3. Compare the entry with the highest device version supported by the installed TIA Portal (the catalog displays the maximum version as bold).
4. If the project contains a newer version, choose Change device > TP1900 Comfort and select the highest version that is not bold (i.e. the version that is installed on the engineering station).
5. Recompile the HMI. The Runtime icon should now activate.

Solution 5 - Download the Project to the HMI

Once the Runtime icon is active, the configuration must be transferred to the TP1900 Comfort for it to enter Runtime:

1. In the project tree, right-click the HMI node (the topmost item under the HMI station).
2. Select Download to device > Software (all). If the project has not been compiled, TIA Portal will compile it first and then start the transfer.
3. Confirm the target interface. For an Ethernet-attached panel, select the NIC that is connected to the panel's PROFINET port. The default IP of a Comfort Panel is 192.168.0.1 (X1) or 192.168.1.1 (X2) with subnet mask 255.255.255.0.
4. If the panel is in Transfer mode, the download proceeds automatically. If not, press the panel's Settings button on the loader, navigate to Transfer > Enable, then return to the loader. Repeat the download.
5. After the download completes, the panel restarts and enters Runtime automatically.

Verification

After applying the fix, perform the following checks to confirm Runtime is functional.

1. Runtime icon active: In TIA Portal, select the HMI node. The Start Runtime icon in the toolbar is no longer greyed out.
2. Online diagnostics: Open Online > Online & diagnostics, select the TP1900 Comfort, and read the device diagnostics buffer. The most recent entry should report a successful restart in Runtime mode.
3. Tag live values: On the panel screen, navigate to a screen containing a tag that is linked to the PLC. The displayed value should update in real time, confirming the HMI-PLC connection is operational.
4. Alarm test: Force a discrete alarm from STEP 7 (PLC tag = 1). The corresponding alarm should appear in the panel's alarm view within one polling cycle.
5. Simulator test (offline): With the engineering PC disconnected from the panel, click Start Runtime in TIA Portal. WinCC Runtime Advanced should launch as a PC window using the same configuration. This isolates whether the fault is on the panel or in the project.

TP1900 Comfort Hardware Reference

Compatibility Matrix - TIA Portal vs TP1900 Comfort

Field-Proven Tips

• Always pin one TIA Portal version per machine. Different TIA Portal versions emit different runtime image formats. A project compiled with V15.1 cannot load on a panel that was configured for V13 SP1 even if the panel hardware is identical.
• Export the project to a TIA Portal versioned archive (Project > Archive) so the original configuration is reproducible on any engineering PC.
• Use the TIA Portal Compatibility Tool to verify that the project can be opened and compiled on the current installation before running a long debug session.
• On locked-down engineering PCs, the WinCC installation is often missing because the licence key has expired. Renew the licence via the Automation Licence Manager and re-install the affected WinCC components.
• If the Runtime icon activates but the panel stays in Transfer mode, verify the IP routing between the engineering PC and the panel. Open a command prompt on the PC and execute ping 192.168.0.1. If the ping fails, the panel and the PC are not on the same subnet - the transfer will hang.

FAQ