Installation & Licensing Center
HOW TO - Borrow & Return an Ansys License
Authored by Caleb Scharf
April 11th, 2025
11643 views
2 likes
KB956039
Description
For situations where the client workstation will not be able to directly communicate with the license server for a period of time, such as a laptop going to a remote worksite, or someone working from home temporarily without a VPN and or potentially internet, Ansys allows a user to borrow licenses (when connected to the license server), that can then be used without their computer having to contact the license server.
Solution
FlextNet License Server
Key Considerations
- Not all licenses allow borrowing. In the license file, the term "borrowable" must appear after the product bundle name. A license being borrowable is setup at the time the license is issued. If you're license is not borrowable, you can contact your SimuTech account manager and request this feature be added.
- A license can be borrowed for 30 calendar days at a time, and a maximum of 90 days in a calendar year. These limitations are on a per license basis, not per user.
- Please note, individual HPC licenses (1core) are not borrowable, however, you may borrow 1 HPC pack (8core) at a time.
- Keep in mind, when you borrow a license, you have sole access to it and no one else can use until you return it or the borrow duration expires. For this reason, it is recommended to only borrow a license for the minimum time period necessary to prevent usage conflicts with other users.
- If you have borrowed a license and attempt to use the software while still connected to the license server, the software will attempt to pull licenses from the license server and not use the borrowed licenses.
Borrowing Over VPN (Not Recommended)
Whenever possible, borrowing should be performed over a local network for reliable results. While it is possible to borrow a license while connected via VPN to the license server, there is a higher likelihood for error due to several factors:
- Higher Latency Home/Wi-Fi Connections - This can lead to noticeable delays when borrowing /releasing licenses or even errors that can cause the license to get stuck and unable to be borrowed or returned or even used. Please make sure you have a stable and strong internet connection when borrowing a license for the best results.
- License Checkout Limitations - The borrow and return functionality tries to match some network connection properties when returning a license. If you attempt to return the license using a different network adapter than the one you used at the time of checkout, (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and VPN connections are considered different adapters), you may experience an error. Even if using the same VPN to borrow and return, if you disconnect between these tasks (as would be normal), the adapter properties can appear different, and you may experience errors. If this occurs, see ERROR - Cannot return a borrowed license
Borrowing a License
2021 R1 and Later
- Verify you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
- On the client workstation > Windows Search > search for Ansys Client Licensing Settings
- From the menu on the left, click Borrow
- From the drop down menu, select the increments you wish to borrow. Then, set the return date appropriately.
- Click the Borrow button in the lower right.
- When the process is finished, the borrowed increments will appear under the Borrowed Increments header. You can close the Ansys Client Licensing Settings utility.
2020R2 and Prior
- Verify you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
- On the client workstation > Windows Search > search for Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility
- Select Run Borrow Utility from the left hand side.
- In the Borrow Criteria on the Borrow tab > choose the version you wish to work with, and enter a return date and return time.
- In the Select Feature(s) to Borrow pane, select the appropriate features you wish to borrow
- It is important to note that this window can take time to populate depending on how many features it needs to load from the license file for display
- Click the Borrow button at the bottom of the "ANSYS Borrow Utility"
- When the process has finished, you may close the "ANSYS Borrow Utility" and the "Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility"
Ansys Electronics
- Verify you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
-
In File Explorer navigate to:
- C:\Program Files\AnsysEM\v231\Win64\licensingclient\winx64\LicensingSettingsUtility
- Click on LicensingSettingsUtilityWindows.exe
- Select Run Borrow Utility from the left hand side.
- In the Borrow Criteria on the Borrow tab > choose the version you wish to work with, and enter a return date and return time.
- In the Select Feature(s) to Borrow pane, select the appropriate features you wish to borrow
- It is important to note that this window can take time to populate depending on how many features it needs to load from the license file for display
- Click the Borrow button at the bottom of the "ANSYS Borrow Utility"
When the process has finished, you may close the "ANSYS Borrow Utility" and the "Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility"
Returning a License
2021 R1 and Later
- Ensure you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
- On the client workstation > Windows Search > search for Ansys Client Licensing Settings
- From the menu on the left, click Borrow
- In upper right of the dialog, click Return All
- When the process is finished, you will no longer see increments under the "Borrowed Increments" header, and you can close the Ansys Client Licensing Settings utility.
2020R2 and Prior
- Ensure you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
- On the client workstation > Windows Search > search for Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility
- In the "Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility" > choose the Run Borrow Utility from the left hand side
- In the "ANSYS Borrow Utility" > select the Return tab
- At the bottom of the dialog select Return All.
- When the process has finished, you may close the "ANSYS Borrow Utility" and the "Client ANSLIC_ADMIN Utility"
Ansys Electronics
- Verify you on are on the same network and can communicate with the license server.
-
In File Explorer navigate to:
- C:\Program Files\AnsysEM\v231\Win64\licensingclient\winx64\LicensingSettingsUtility
- Click on LicensingSettingsUtilityWindows.exe
- From the menu on the left, click Borrow
- In upper right of the dialog, click Return All
- When the process is finished, you will no longer see increments under the "Borrowed Increments" header, and you can close the Ansys Client Licensing Settings utility.
Error
If you are having trouble returning a borrowed license please see - ERROR - Cannot return a borrowed license
Shared Web License Server
- Windows Search > search for Ansys Licensing Settings
- Select Shared > Roaming > then check in/check out licenses as needed.
Not sure what type of License Server you have?
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