Autodesk Licensing Service: Known Conflicting Applications

Solution:

In the majority of cases, updating the antivirus/anti-malware application or adding the Autodesk software (including the above paths) to the exception rules will resolve the issue.

Below is a list of workarounds that have been confirmed to help resolving issues between third-party antivirus applications/devices and Autodesk software.

Third-party Applications

• AVAST antivirus 
  • Make sure the Autodesk application does not show up under the "The following applications will always run virtualized" list. 
  • Fusion 360 may not function correctly until the Sandbox for Fusion is disabled within Avast antivirus:
  1. In Avast, to access the Sandbox settings, click the "Settings" gear icon: . 
  2. Then in the "Settings" icon in the top-right of the Sandbox screen, adjust the settings by going to: Menu icon: ☰ >  Settings > Protection > Sandbox.
• Avast Business Management Console
  • The firewall settings/application rules the default might be on "Auto-Decide".
    • Change it to "Ask User" and see if it flags Autodesk services, and if the Autodesk services can be allowed to resolve.
    • It can also be changed to "all connections" to resolve.
• Avast Business Pro
  • Change firewall settings from "Auto-decide" to "Allow" for Autodesk software as per: Which URLs/Protocols need to be allowed for Autodesk Subscription Licensing.
• Blue Coat K9 Web Protection  
  • It can block the communication of the Autodesk Licensing Service.  Disable the drivers used by K9 (bckd and kckwfs) and reboot the computer.
• Fortinet 
  • If using "Application Control" to block updates, allow the sub-category Root.Certificate.URL. When authorizing the license, Autodesk software checks the Certificate Revocation List. If this is blocked, then the authorization will fail.  More info on the Fortinet webpage.
• Ivanti Workspace Manager 
  • Environment Variable "ALLUSERSPROFILE" (which should usually be set to C:\ProgramData, the same as of ProgramData) is set to the user's own profile directory. The standard variable is used to use the Autodesk configuration file AdskLicensingService.data.
    • When the default location is changed in the Environment Variable for the client PC, the Autodesk Licensing Service is unable to discover the configuration and the service cannot work as intended.
    • May cause: "License checkout timed out. What do you want to do?" When launching Autodesk 2020 or newer software on Windows.

    • Configuring the following Registry value will solve the issue and create the environment variable (refer to: How to specify license servers using the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable) as per the following list:

      32-bits OS: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RES\Workspace Manager
      64-bits OS: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\RES\Workspace Manager 

      Value: DisableWDSFix
      Type: REG_SZ
      Data: new
      
      Create an environment variable with the name ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE with the value of the AutoCAD License Server IP Address or FQDN.
      ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=<LICENCESERVER IP OR FQDN>

• Kaspersky (certain customized configuration) 
  • Using default standard setting the application does not cause any issue. However, some customized settings can cause the Current folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing not to be created properly.
    • Change settings in AV software in Network Parameters and disable the option to analyze the connection over HTTPS to resolve: Single-user or Sign In option is missing from the Let's Get Started Screen when activating an Autodesk Single-user license.

• Killer Network Service (Killer App)

May cause the following issues: 

• • "Requested service not available..." when launching an Autodesk product. 
  • "You have <#> day/s remaining to connect to the Internet" when launching an Autodesk desktop product
  • "You currently don't have access to Revit cloud models" when launching a cloud model in Revit.

• If the "Killer App" is installed on the client PC perform the following:

1. Launch the "Killer App".
2. In the "Dashboard" tab under the "Quick Settings" section, disable both the "Prioritization Engine" and "Auto Bandwidth" options (refer to the following image for reference).
3. Launch the Autodesk product and sign in. 

• If the "Killer App" is not installed on the client PC perform the following:

1. In Task Manager use "End Task" for background process "KillerNetworkService.exe" and any related "Killer" services. 
2. In the Windows Search bar, type in and launch "Services.msc"
3. Scroll down to "Killer Network Service" and right clicked on it and select "Properties".
4. Change "Startup type:" to "Disabled" and select "Apply".
5. Launch the Autodesk product and sign in. 

• McAfee Security
  • In some environments, Licensing SDK and AdskLicensingInstHelper is blocked from connecting the Service and licensing. The port set in the %ProgramData%\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\AdskLicensingService.data needs to be unblocked on McAfee Endpoint Security.
• PaperPort 
  • May cause the following error:"The License manager is not functioning or is improperly installed" with Autodesk 2020 and later version.
    • Resolve by checking if the following registry key exists: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Folders\Common AppData].
    • If the key does not exist, add a Common AppData string value key with the value from step 2 (for example, C:\ProgramData).
• Quick Heal Total Security 
  • It can block the access to the Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service ports. Explicitly allow the actual versioned path of AdskLicensingService.exe, for example, C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\<highest version number folder>\AdskLicensingService\AdskLicensingService.exe in Total Security firewall rules. Adding the path with the "Current" junction does not work.
• SearchInform
  • It may break Cert Revocation List. It can be identified on machine by presence of the process SIFilterSvc.exe running as a system service.
    • On ISA Server: Searchinform: consists of EndpointSniffer component and SIFilterSvc.exe agent (service under LocalSystem). Features: It spoofs certificate already on PC (CN = Generic Root CA, C = EN), it is not shown in NetWorkMonitor logs.
    • Solution: Disable SIFilterSvc.exe service. 
• Sophos Antivirus 
  • Security software may cause the following warning message for "Download Protection". "Trust and download" should be selected. 
• WatchGuard Panda Adaptive Defense 360
  • May cause "License checkout timed out. What do you want to do?" When launching Autodesk 2020 or newer software on Windows.
  • Update Panda Antivirus to version 8.0.23.0001 or higher and the Adaptive Defense 360 administrator console to version 4.40.00 or higher.
• Windows Defender Firewall 
  • May block an application from launching. Warning message may indicate that it requires a network administrator to unblock the application. For reference: When trying to launch Revit and utilize Twinmotion a Windows Security Alert-appears.
    1. Go to Control Panel.
    2. In the Windows Defender Firewall section, select "Allow an app to through Windows Defender Firewall". 
    3. Select "Change settings".
    4. Select "Allow another app..."
    5. Browse to the affected application's .exe and then select "Add".
    6. Repeat these steps for the Domain, Private, and Guest or public networks. 
    7. Launch the application the first time under Administrative rights and verify it works as intended.
    8. Then close the application and launch it as a standard user to verify the issue has been resolved. 

Third-party devices

• Dell Docking Station. Install the latest drivers for the station: Dell Support. If updating the drivers is not an option, remove the laptop from the docking station to restore functionality.
• HP Thunderbolt 3 dock. Launch the program first and then connect the machine to the dock.
• Kensington USB Video Dock. Disconnect the device to activate the Autodesk software.
• Lenovo Docking Station. Launch the program first and then connect the machine to the dock.
• LogMeIn display adapter. Disable the adapter or contact LogMeIn Support for assistance.
• Verizon router Model E3200: May block activation after signing in. Connect to another network to activate first (such as a smartphone hotspot (internet sharing)) and then reconnect to the router.