This is the most common cause for engineers working remotely or on laptops. ETABS is configured to look for a license server at a specific IP address. If your network connection changes, the software gets lost.
The Scenario: You usually work in the office (Ethernet). You go home, connect to Wi-Fi, or turn on your company VPN. Now ETABS cannot find the license.
The Fix:
| Scenario | Probable Cause | Quick Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Error occurs only after Windows Update | Driver signature enforcement | Disable Secure Boot in BIOS or reinstall HASP driver with admin rights. | | Works on other PCs, not on mine | USB selective suspend | Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > USB settings > USB selective suspend setting = Disabled. | | Error when using Remote Desktop (RDP) | USB redirection failure | Use a third-party tool like TeamViewer or VNC, or install the dongle directly on the remote machine. | | "No license found" even with dongle blinking | Conflicting driver (e.g., older SAP2000) | Uninstall all CSI software, reboot, install ETABS 18 only. | unable to find a license etabs 18
If you have tried everything above and still see "unable to find a license ETABS 18," the issue is likely hardware failure or a broken license file.
1. Test the Dongle on Another Computer
2. Contact CSI Technical Support
3. Reinstall Windows (Nuclear Option)
Based on the diagnosis, the following solutions were applied:
Date: [Current Date] Software: CSI ETABS v18 (Build [Unknown]) Issue Category: Licensing / FlexNet This is the most common cause for engineers
At its core, the "Unable to find a license" message indicates a failure in the communication chain between the ETABS application and the licensing mechanism. ETABS 18, like most professional engineering software, does not operate on a simple "one-time purchase" model. Instead, it uses a license management system—typically the industry-standard FlexNet Publisher from Flexera Software. When a user launches ETABS 18, the software broadcasts a request across the network (or to a local license file) for a valid license token. If that request times out, is blocked, or receives a negative response, the error is triggered.
The error is ambiguous by design, as it can stem from several distinct sources. These include: