This procedure does not apply to: Linux SL / Control Win SL / Control RTE SL / Linux Arm SL !


After activating the license on the device, the license should be backed up in case the SD/OS image needs to be restored in the future.


A soft-license can only be restored on the same device and not transferred to another. 
Alternatively, a license can be installed on a CODESYS dongle that can be used on any Raspberry Pi's.


There are differences to versions, before and after CODESYS 3.5 SP17 or SL runtime, smaller than v4.1.0.0 - see information notices.


Quick links:

How to back up a license file

There are two ways to do this:

  1. Back up from the device via the CODESYS file manager 
    After establishing a connection to the device,
    1. Select the Files tab of the Device window
    2. Choose a location to save the file in your PC or an external drive
    3. Click on the Refresh button on the Runtime side
    4. Select the "CMLicenseNew.WibuCmRaU" file in the Runtime's file system
    5. Click on the "<<" button




  2. Only when using CODESYS >= 3.5 SP13: There should be a back-up already on the PC where the license was activated from
    If the license was originally activated using CODESYS V3.5 SP13 or newer, the license backup file can be found under:

    "C:\ProgramData\CODESYS\Licenses\<license ticket number>" (there will be a folder for every license ticket)

    The license file will have the following naming format: "<Hardware serial number of the device>.WibuCmRau". For example:


How to restore a license

There are two ways to do this:


From version CODESYS 3.5 SP17 (4.1.0.0) on forward, the content can only be deleted using the command:


sudo rm /var/opt/codesys/.cmact_licenses/**

  • rm *file*
    Used to delete files with certain names in their names. The asterisks cause all files to be deleted that contain the designation in the file name and any characters before and after it.
  • rm -r foldername/*
    Delete all files and subfolders in the specified folder.
  • rm -r foldername
    Delete all files and subfolders, including the folder itself.



In older versions, the path is " /var/opt/codesys/cmact_licenses/ " without the dot at the beginning of the last folder name.

If you are using an image or another license had already been activated on the device, delete the cmact_license folder from the Runtime's file system,
and restart the device before proceeding to restore the license.



The Codesys File manager does not show the dot for the " .cmact_licenses " folder name!


  1. Restore the license with the activation ticket
    Using the License Manager (Tools>License Manager...),
    1. Click on Additional Functions
    2. Enter the license activation ticket
    3. Click Restore




  2. Restore the license from the license file
    Open the License Manager (Tools>License Manager...) and
    1. Click on Install Licenses...
    2. Select Install license and click Next >
    3. Select the license file and click Finish



      If using CODESYS V3.5 older than Service Pack 13, instead of the License Manager,
      there is the Edit Licenses option found in the PLC Settings tab of the Device window: