Troubleshooting STEP 7 License Inactive Error in ALM 5.0+SP1

Problem Overview

Engineers running STEP 7 Professional V5.5 on Windows 7 32-bit frequently encounter an Automation License Manager (ALM) error when relocating a STEP 7 license from the local hard disk to a Siemens USB license stick. The console displays the message:

License key STEP 7 (00411000345101752093) could not be transferred because it is inactive.

The error fires during a drag-and-drop operation between the C:\ drive panel and the USB target in the ALM viewer, or when the engineer selects Transfer... from the right-click context menu. The license is listed, but its flag prevents relocation even though no other workstation is currently consuming the seat. The contradiction between the visible license and the "inactive" status is the source of the confusion.

This reference documents the root cause, the diagnostic sequence ALM 5.0+SP1 actually performs, the field-proven workarounds, and the escalation path when the local license container is unrecoverable.

Environment and Versions

Root Cause Analysis

ALM 5.0+SP1 maintains four canonical license states and one transitional state. The active flagging logic determines whether a license can be moved between containers.

The error wording "inactive" in the transfer dialog is misleading. The dialog actually reports a failure detected by ALM during the relocation attempt, not the initial inventory status. Three root causes dominate field reports:

1. Container header checksum mismatch - the .LIC file on the hard disk is physically present but its CRC no longer matches the value signed into the license payload. ALM rejects the move because it cannot verify that the license is genuine.
2. USB stick write protection or firmware lock - older Siemens sticks manufactured before 2012 refuse write commands once the write counter (256 cycles) is exhausted. ALM returns an inactive error when the destination cannot be written.
3. ALM service not running or running under wrong account - the almsrv.exe service must be active and started by a user with write access to C:\Program Files\Siemens\Automation\WinCC\Bin\License. If the service is stopped, the GUI falls back to read-only inventory and every transfer is reported as inactive.

License Key Structure

The 20-character key printed on the certificate (and reported in the error) carries structural information that helps Siemens support identify the SKU instantly:

When contacting Siemens support, supplying the full 20-character Coater+Product+Sequence number lets the agent pull the entitlement record without requiring the CoL (Certificate of License) PDF.

Diagnostic Procedure

Run the following checks in sequence. Each step is non-destructive and can be repeated.

Step 1 - Verify ALM Service State

1. Open Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
2. Locate Automation License Manager Service (display name) / almsrv (service name).
3. Confirm Status = Started and Startup Type = Automatic.
4. If stopped, right-click and select Start. Verify no Error 1053 or Error 7000 in the system event log.

Step 2 - Inventory the License

1. Launch Start > Siemens Automation > Automation License Manager.
2. In the left tree, expand Local > Hard Disk (C:).
3. Right-click the STEP 7 entry and select Check License.
4. Read the resulting status: OK, License damaged, or License not bound.

Step 3 - Validate the USB Stick

1. Insert the Siemens USB stick. Windows should detect ALM USB device and allocate drive letter.
2. Open ALM and verify the stick appears under Local > USB stick.
3. Right-click the stick node and select Properties. Confirm the firmware revision and free slots (the stick has 8 logical slots of which 1 is reserved for ALM).
4. If the stick is not visible, run almdiag.exe /scan (located in C:\Program Files\Siemens\Automation\WinCC\Bin) to force a rescan.

State Machine for License Transfer

The transfer logic implemented in ALM 5.0+SP1 follows the deterministic state machine below. Any deviation triggers the "inactive" error path.

Path A->B->C: License passes CRC verification and the USB commit completes - this is the happy path. Path A->B->D->E: License was previously bound to another host; ALM forces a return-to-pool operation before allowing the move. Path A->F->ERROR: CRC fails or USB write fails; ALM reports the license as "inactive" even though the inventory view still lists it.

Step-by-Step License Transfer (Healthy State)

1. Close all SIMATIC applications (STEP 7, WinCC flexible, PLCSIM).
2. Open ALM 5.0+SP1.
3. Expand Local > Hard Disk (C:). The STEP 7 entry should display a green icon (licensed) or yellow icon (in pool).
4. Insert the Siemens USB stick and wait for it to appear under Local.
5. Drag the STEP 7 license from the C: entry to the USB stick node. Alternatively, right-click the license and select Transfer..., then choose the USB target from the dropdown.
6. Confirm the dialog. ALM copies the license, removes it from C:, and writes the encrypted container to the USB stick.
7. Verify the result: the license now appears under the USB node in the left tree, and the C: node no longer lists it.

Resolution Paths

Path A - Service Restart

Applicable when the ALM service has stopped or lost its signature.

1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Run net stop "Automation License Manager" followed by net start "Automation License Manager".
3. If the service refuses to start, run almsrv.exe -register from the ALM install directory.
4. Retry the transfer.

Path B - License Container Repair

Applicable when the C:\ container is intact but its activation table has drifted.

1. Stop the ALM service.
2. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Siemens\Automation\WinCC\Bin\License.
3. Locate the file matching the license sequence (e.g., 00345101752093.LIC).
4. Move the file to a temporary backup folder; do NOT delete it.
5. Restart the ALM service. The license will disappear from the inventory.
6. Re-import the original CoL certificate using ALM's File > Import License menu. This forces ALM to re-validate the license against the Siemens online activation server (if reachable) or to accept the offline signature.

Path C - USB Stick Recovery

Applicable when the destination media fails the write phase.

1. Open ALM, right-click the USB node, and select Format USB Stick. Confirm the warning - this erases all licenses on the stick.
2. After format completes, re-insert the stick and verify it appears with zero licenses.
3. Drag the STEP 7 license from C: to the freshly formatted stick.
4. If the format itself fails, the stick firmware is exhausted - replace with a new Siemens USB license stick (Siedle part number 6ES7 652-0XX04-1XC0 for legacy V5.5 era).

Path D - License Replacement by Siemens

Applicable when the local container is unrecoverable (the field-proven outcome reported by users in this scenario).

1. Open a support request at the Siemens Industry Online Support portal: Siemens Support Request.
2. Provide the 20-character license key, the STEP 7 version, the host operating system, and a screenshot of the ALM inventory view.
3. Request a reissue of the license on a new USB stick. Siemens will void the damaged key and ship a replacement tied to the same entitlement record.
4. On arrival, install the new stick, run ALM, and transfer any remaining licenses from C: to the new stick.

Verification

After completing the transfer (regardless of path), validate the result with the following checks.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Compatibility and Migration Caveats

Engineers moving from STEP 7 V5.5 to TIA Portal V13-V18 frequently encounter the same error because ALM V5.0+SP1 cannot coexist with ALM V6.0+. The official Siemens migration procedure is:

1. Export all STEP 7 V5.5 licenses to USB sticks using ALM 5.0+SP1 (the procedure documented above).
2. Uninstall ALM 5.0+SP1.
3. Install TIA Portal, which installs ALM V6.0.
4. Import the USB sticks into ALM V6.0. The V6.0 reader accepts the V5.0+SP1 container format but will not move it back to a V5.x machine.

If the V5.5 licenses are still on the C:\ drive when ALM V6.0 installs, V6.0 ignores them and reports them as inactive. The engineer must reinstall ALM 5.0+SP1 temporarily, move the licenses to USB, then upgrade.

Related Siemens References

• Automation License Manager V5.0 + SP1 - Operating Manual
• FAQ: Automation License Manager (ALM)
• STEP 7 V5.5 - Function Manual
• Entry ID 67585299 - License transfer between local hard disk and USB stick
• Siemens Industry Online Support - Support Request

Frequently Asked Questions