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Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Network License Connection Issues

A Step-by-Step Guide to Diagnosing and Resolving SOLIDWORKS Network License Connection Issues

If SOLIDWORKS cannot obtain a network license, the issue is usually caused by one of the following:

  • The license server is not running.
  • The license server does not show available licenses.
  • The workstation cannot communicate with the license server.
  • The client is pointed to the wrong server.
  • Required license ports are blocked.
  • The SolidNetWork License Manager is older than the SOLIDWORKS client version.

This article walks through the recommended troubleshooting steps.

 

Step 1 – Verify the License Server is Operational

Start on the license server before troubleshooting the client workstation.

  1. On the license server, open SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
  2. Go to the Server Administration tab.
  3. Confirm the license server is started.
  4. Go to the License Usage tab.
  5. Confirm the expected SOLIDWORKS licenses appear and at least one is available.

 


If the service is not running:

  1. Select Start on the Server Administration tab.
  2. Wait a few seconds.
  3. Recheck the License Usage tab.
  4. Try launching SOLIDWORKS again from the affected workstation.

If there are no licenses appearing on the License Usage tab:

  1. Select the Modify command on the Server Administration tab, then select Next.
  2. Select Activate/Reactive your product license(s), then select Next.
  3. Proceed through the activation prompts, selecting the relevant licenses for activation.
  4. Recheck the License Usage tab.
  5. Try launching SOLIDWORKS again from the affected workstation.

If the SolidNetWork License Manager Server service is running and the licenses appear available on the server, continue to the next step.

 

Step 2 – Verify License Availability

If the service is running and licenses appear on the server, confirm whether the issue is caused by license availability.

  1. On the license server, open SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
  2. Go to License Usage.
  3. Select the relevant SOLIDWORKS product.
  4. Confirm that at least one license is available.

If all licenses are in use:

  • Ask the user to wait until another license is released.
  • Review whether any users have borrowed licenses.
  • Confirm whether inactive sessions are consuming seats.
  • Consider whether additional licenses are needed.

If licenses are available, continue to the next step.

 

Step 3 – Verify the Client Server List

  1. On the affect client workstation, open SolidNetWork License Manager Client.
  2. Select the Server List tab.
  3. Confirm the correct license server is listed.
    1. The default format is: 25734@SERVERNAME

 

If your organization uses a custom port, confirm the correct port with IT. When entering the server port and name, ensure there are no spaces at the beginning or end of the text string.

If the listed server is incorrect:

  1. Remove the incorrect server.
  2. Add the correct server.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Relaunch SOLIDWORKS.

If the server is entered correctly, continue to the next step.

 

Step 4 – Test Basic Network Connectivity

Confirm the user is connected to the company network. If working remotely, connect to the company VPN. The following steps can be used to validate a proper network connection.

  1. On the affected client workstation, open Command Prompt and run: ping SERVERNAME

    1. Exchange SERVERNAME with the name of your server machine.

If the ping succeeds, you will see packets sent and received and the workstation can resolve and reach the server.

If the ping fails:

  • Confirm the server name is correct.
  • Confirm the workstation is connected to the correct network or VPN.
  • Try pinging the server IP address.
  • Contact IT if the server cannot be reached.

A failed ping does not always prove the license ports are blocked, but it does indicate a basic network, DNS, VPN, or server reachability issue.

If the ping test succeeds, continue to the next step.

 

Step 5 – Test License Port Connectivity

By default, SOLIDWORKS network licensing commonly uses ports 25734 and 25735. PowerShell can be used to verify the client computer’s ability to communicate through these ports.

  1. On the client workstation, open PowerShell and run: Test-NetConnection SERVERNAME -Port 25734

    1. Exchange SERVERNAME with the name of your server machine.
  2. Next, run: Test-NetConnection SERVERNAME -Port 25735
    1. Exchange SERVERNAME with the name of your server machine.

A successful result should show: TcpTestSucceeded : True

If either port fails:

  • Verify Windows Firewall rules on the server using the following steps.
  • Confirm endpoint security software is not blocking traffic.



Configure Windows Firewall on the License Server

If ports are blocked, configure inbound firewall rules on the license server:

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
  2. Select Inbound Rules.
  3. Click New Rule….
  4. Choose Port, then click Next.



  5. Select TCP and specify ports: 25734, 25735.



  6. Click Next, then select Allow the connection.



  7. Click Next and apply to the appropriate profiles (generally Domain and Private).


  8. Provide a name such as SOLIDWORKS Network License Ports (Inbound), then click Finish.
  9. Select Outbound Rules.
  10. Click New Rule….
  11. Choose Port, then click Next.
  12. Select TCP and specify ports: 25734, 25735.
  13. Click Next, then select Allow the connection.
  14. Click Next and apply to the appropriate profiles (generally Domain and Private).
  15. Provide a name such as SOLIDWORKS Network License Ports (Outbound), then click Finish.

After configuring firewall rules, rerun the port tests to confirm connectivity. If issue persists, repeat the firewall configuration steps to create inbound and outbound rules for the same ports with UDP.

If the port test succeeds, continue to the next step.

 

Step 6 – Verify Version Compatibility

The SolidNetWork License Manager must be the same major version or newer than the SOLIDWORKS clients using it.

Examples:

SOLIDWORKS Client Version

Required License Manager Version

SOLIDWORKS 2025

SolidNetWork License Manager 2025 or newer

SOLIDWORKS 2026

SolidNetWork License Manager 2026 or newer

If the SOLIDWORKS client is newer than the License Manager:

  1. Upgrade the SolidNetWork License Manager on the server.
  2. Reactivate the licenses.
  3. Restart the license service.
  4. Try launching SOLIDWORKS again.

If the versions are correct, continue to the next step.

 

Step 7 – Collect Information for Support

If the issue is still unresolved, collect the following log for further support.

From the License Server

  1. Open SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
  2. On the Server Administration tab, select View Logs.
  3. Save the log file.

Share the log file and any additional relevant information with support@swyftsol.com for further assistance.