Error: "Licensing has stopped working" | Windows

When you try to start an Adobe application, do you receive a "Licensing for this product has stopped working" error message? If so, try the solutions on this page to resolve the issue.

  Solution 1: Apply the Licensing Service Update. 
  Solution 2: Set the FLEXnet Licensing Service to Manual and start the service.
  Solution 3: Rename the FLEXnet folder.
  Solution 4: Reset your permissions on the licensing service data folder.
       On Windows XP Professional
       On Windows XP Home
       On Windows 7 or Windows Vista
  Solution 5: Reset your permissions on the Adobe PCD folder. 
  Solution 6: Remove the SQLite journaling file.
  Solution 7: (Vista only) Synchronize the virtualized and non-virtualized PCD and caps files.
  Solution 8: Reinstall.
 Additional Information

Important: Perform the solutions below in order. Do not continue to the next solution if a prior solution resolves the problem. After performing some of these solutions, sometimes you will be required to reenter licensing data or activate your product. Furthermore, trial editions of Adobe software can be prevented from starting.

Note: If you receive the error, "Error 5, access denied," when you try to start the FLEXnet Licensing Service, do the following:

Rename the FLEXnet folder to FLEXnetold in the following location:

• On Windows XP:
  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FLEXnet

• On Windows Vista or Windows 7:
  C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet folder

Important: Deleting this file discontinues any active Adobe tryouts and you lose any remaining days. 

Close all Adobe applications. The FLEXnet folder contains the licensing data for the installed Adobe Applications. Adjusting the file permissions for FLEXnet folder may allow the licensing information be written properly. Follow the instructions below for your operating system to modify permissions to the FLEXnet folder (which contains the licensing service data).

Note: This solution requires administrative privileges on your computer. On Windows XP, log in using an administrative account. On Windows 7 and Vista, provide administrative credentials.

• On Windows XP Professional
• On Windows XP Home
• On Windows 7/Vista

Follow the instructions in Solution 4, but apply it to the following folder:

C:/Program Files/Common FIles/Adobe PCD

The journaling file exists only under specific circumstances where a client is accessing the database file with certain options enabled. If the file does not exist, continue to the next solution.

Having both Vista-aware and Vista-unaware applications can cause files to be out of sync in C:\Program Files and in the virtual store location. To synchronize the folders, do the following:

Note: This solution can lead to the problem application, as well as other Adobe applications, asking for the serial number again.

Alternatively, you can rename or delete the folders in the virtual store and relaunch the application:

If the above suggestions fail to provide a solution, delete the virtual store\Adobe registry key:

Note: This solution can lead to the problem application, as well as other Adobe applications, asking for the serial number again.

WARNING! This process requires you to completely uninstall and reinstall all Adobe CS3 and CS4 branded software, as well as Acrobat 8 and 9. Administrator privileges are required to install Adobe software. Log in to an administrator account to perform the steps below. See the operating system documentation for additional information.

Various issues can cause this error, including the following:

• If the error occurs immediately after installation, a component sometimes requires an update to be compatible with your operating system. Or, the component requires a slightly different configuration for your system.
• If the application previously started successfully at least once, or if it has been in heavy use, the issue is likely related to a system resource.  (Causes include low memory, low disk space, or simultaneous launch of several programs.) The result could be a temporary failure in the licensing system or corruption of the permanent licensing data.
• If an interruption occurred during the installation process, it can prevent the licensing system from functioning correctly.
• If you previously had participated in a pre-release program, it's possible that you have a temporary serial number which was set to expire. If so, see Error "Licensing for this product has expired" | CS4, CS5.