Troubleshooting Qt License Service

If users have problems with fetching licenses when starting Qt and QA products, such as Qt Creator or Squish, Qt License Service and the products might show them error messages and codes. The following sections describe typical problems and suggest possible solutions to them.

Note: If you're having issues with license reservations, you can contact Qt Support. In Qt Customer Portal, select Support Center and Create a request.

Qt License Service issues

Issue	Possible cause	Solution
The user cannot access all the licensed features.	The local cache on the computer might have an old version of the license.	Clear the license cache, and then start the Qt or QA product to fetch a new license.
Qt License Service running in on-demand mode does not shut down automatically.	An association to a TCP connection or port might keep the Qt or QA product process alive after the product stops responding or shuts down, which prevents Qt License Service from shutting down.	Use the tools of the operating system to stop the `qtlicd` process. For example, on Linux and macOS, enter: `killall qtlicd`. On Windows, enter `taskkill /IM qtlicd.exe`, or locate and end the task in Task Manager > Processes.
The firewall blocks Qt License Service.	Firewall settings block Qt License Service upon first usage.	For the license checks to work, allow `qtlicd(.exe)`.
You installed Qt License Service or Qt as root and now the license checks don't work.	The file permissions might be incorrect.	Ensure you have set the following file permissions: Read for file: `installations.ini` Write for folder: `<Qt SDK>/Tools/LicenseService` Read and write for: `qtlicd.ini` `qtlicd/` (See Configuration file locations.) Execute for: `<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicd(.exe)` `<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicensetool(.exe)`
A proxy server is blocking Qt License Service traffic.	Qt License Service doesn't use the local proxy configuration.	Configure Qt License Service to honor the proxy configuration. In Qt License Service version 3.5.0 or later, configure the proxy settings in the Qt License Service configuration file. For more information, see `proxy_url` in Configuration file: qtlicd.ini.

Qt License Service error messages

Error message	Issue	Possible cause	Solution
"Not able to read settings" (in Qt License Service version 3.3 or earlier)	Qt License Service does not start.	The user might have deleted the settings file that has the Qt License Server address.	Create a new qtlicd.ini file and set the Qt License Server address as described in Configure the server address.
"Not able to get the executable path for license service"	The Qt or QA product can't fetch a valid license.	The `tools.licenseservice` installer component might not be installed correctly.	Install the qtlicd executable in the correct place and set its location as the value of `path` in the installations.ini configuration file.
"Could not initialize client socket: TCP: Error while resolving the hostname: <reason>"	The Qt or QA application can't connect to Qt License Service.	The host computer's configuration does not allow access to localhost.	Check that your network configuration allows connections to `localhost/127.0.0.1`. This is where Qt License Service is running and the client application attempts connecting to in order to acquire a license. Check that your firewall configuration does not block connections to `localhost/127.0.0.1`.

Qt or QA product error codes

When users try to start a Qt or QA product, it might fail with the following error codes.

Error code Issue Solution

202

Qt License Service cannot connect to Qt License Server.

Error code	Issue	Solution
202	Qt License Service cannot connect to Qt License Server.	If Qt License Service cannot fetch licenses, check that: The computer is connected to the internet. Firewalls don't block the connection. Qt License Server certificate is available on the computer. For more information, see SSL certificates. If this does not help, check the Qt License Service logs.
203	The product does not accept the user's credentials.	Check that the qtaccount.ini file has the user's Qt Account login information. If the login information has expired, log in again with Qt Online Installer, Qt Maintenance Tool, or `qtlicensetool(.exe) --login`.
208 - SslVerifyError	Qt License Server might be configured to use HTTP instead of HTTPS.	If On-Prem Qt License Server or Offline Qt License Server is configured to use plain HTTP, use HTTP in the `server_addr` value in qtlicd.ini, too.

If Qt License Service cannot fetch licenses, check that:

The computer is connected to the internet.
Firewalls don't block the connection.
Qt License Server certificate is available on the computer. For more information, see SSL certificates.

If this does not help, check the Qt License Service logs.

203 The product does not accept the user's credentials. Check that the qtaccount.ini file has the user's Qt Account login information. If the login information has expired, log in again with Qt Online Installer, Qt Maintenance Tool, or qtlicensetool(.exe) --login.

208 - SslVerifyError Qt License Server might be configured to use HTTP instead of HTTPS. If On-Prem Qt License Server or Offline Qt License Server is configured to use plain HTTP, use HTTP in the server_addr value in qtlicd.ini, too.

Debugging Qt License Service operation

Start Qt License Service in the current shell in debug mode to see service operation details when you start Qt or QA products to trigger a license reservation. This might help you to pinpoint potential issues. If you create a support request to Qt support, attach the full report to it.

To start Qt License Service with the log level silly:

Linux macOS Windows

qtlicd --mode cli --log-level silly

qtlicd --mode cli --log-level silly

qtlicd.exe --mode cli --log-level silly

Copying a Qt or QA installation to another computer

If you copy a Qt or QA installation to another computer, the commercial license checks fail unless you do the following steps:

Linux macOS Windows

Copy the <QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService folder to the target computer.

Run:

<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicd --register

Ensure correct server address:
- With Qt License Service 3.4.0 or later, Qt License Service creates the qtlicd.ini file in the correct location automatically if it's missing.
  To override the default server address (Cloud Qt License Server), use:
```
qtlicensetool --set-server-address=https://my.server.addr:8080
```
  To verify the server address, use:
```
qtlicensetool --get-server-address
```
Test the Qt License Service installation by pinging Qt License Server:
```
<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicensetool -S
```

Copy the <QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService folder to the target computer.

Run:

<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicd --register

Ensure correct server address:
- With Qt License Service 3.4.0 or later, Qt License Service creates the qtlicd.ini file in the correct location automatically if it's missing.
  To override the default server address (Cloud Qt License Server), use:
```
qtlicensetool --set-server-address=https://my.server.addr:8080
```
  To verify the server address, use:
```
qtlicensetool --get-server-address
```
Test the Qt License Service installation by pinging Qt License Server:
```
<QtSDK>/Tools/LicenseService/qtlicensetool -S
```

Copy the <QtSDK>\Tools\LicenseService folder to the target computer.

Run:

<QtSDK>\Tools\LicenseService\qtlicd.exe --register

Ensure correct server address:
- With Qt License Service 3.4.0 or later, Qt License Service creates the qtlicd.ini file in the correct location automatically if it's missing.
  To override the default server address (Cloud Qt License Server), use:
```
qtlicensetool --set-server-address=https://my.server.addr:8080
```
  To verify the server address, use:
```
qtlicensetool --get-server-address
```
Test the Qt License Service installation by pinging Qt License Server:
```
<QtSDK>\Tools\LicenseService\qtlicensetool.exe -S
```

Warning: Qt does not recommend manually copying Qt License Service to another computer. If Qt License Service is manually copied to another computer, Qt Maintenance Tool is not present, which prevents automatic updates for Qt License Service.

Troubleshooting Qt License Server

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