Overview

The Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper is a cross-platform standalone command line-based and UI-based application that offers CLMv2 and CLMv1 component visibility and configuration. This tool simplifies the process of retrieving information that are often obscure or difficult to locate such as licensing and sign-in component versions and registered Autodesk products. Furthermore, this tool aids in the debugging process by easing the configuration of log levels as well as collecting and zipping relevant log files and system data to a desired location (log level and log file collections is for CLMv2 only).

Overall, the Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper is designed to allow Autodesk internal development and support teams to query and retrieve debugging related information and files efficiently.

What’s new?

In this release, the tool is updated to support the latest version of Autodesk products and internal components:

KNOWN ISSUES

Validating Installation

All applications are signed with Autodesk certificates.

Validating GPG certificate on Linux

Two files are needed to validate the GPG signature:

Then run the following commands to de-armor the public key file to .asc.gpg format. Then using the public key, verify the detached signature file is correct for the .tar.gz file.

$ gpg --dearmor --yes AdskLicensingSigninHelper-*-Public.asc
$ gpgv --keyring ./AdskLicensingSigninHelper-*-Public.asc.gpg AdskLicensingSigninHelper-*-linux.tar.gz.sig AdskLicensingSigninHelper-*-linux.tar.gz
gpgv: Signature made Thu Jun  5 16:48:00 2025 PDT
gpgv:                using RSA key 74EFCA6B48B7E2E696563AFC8F0DA98C1D9DB31F
gpgv: Good signature from "Autodesk Inc. <security.codesigning@autodesk.com>"

How to launch the Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper UI

Platform Instruction
Windows 1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Navigate to the folder that the tool has been extracted to
3. Double click on AdskLicensingSupportToolUI.exe
4. Depending on your windows settings, a User Account Control dialog may pop up asking to allow the app to make changes to your device

5. Click the Yes button
Mac 1. Launch terminal
2. Change to the directory that contains the tool
3. Then enter:
sudo -E ./AdskLicensingSupportToolUI.app/Contents/MacOS/AdskLicensingSupportToolUI
Linux The UI version of the AdskLicensingSupportTool is not available on Linux

Using the UI

The UI consists of 5 tabs:

Installed Products tab

Shows a list of installed products, their versions, the current license method and the product key. Allows the user to change the license method of selected products

To change one or more products:

A dialog will pop up letting the user know what products were changed, which were not changed and which were skipped.

The Command line actions section below will show the command line parameters to use for those wishing to change the license method using the command line.

NOTE: Pre-Release products cannot have their license methods changed. This is by-design.

Logging tab

Set the following environment variables before launching any Autodesk products

Enable verbose logging in the Licensing SDK and ADLM log files

Windows

Set the following system-wide environment variable:

Mac/Linux:

Use a terminal to set current session environment variable as below.

export ADLSDK_LOG_LEVEL=T
export ADLSDK_LOG_DIR=<path>
export ADLM_DEBUG_MODE=1

The <path> could be /tmp/sdklog (ensure this folder path has writeable permissions)

Remember to use the same terminal window for further operation to inherit environment variables, once you close the terminal/console the shell’s variables are removed.

Collects logs and system data for the licensing related processes/services into a zip file info-and-logs.zip into user specified folder

The log collector requires that logs be verbose so that Licensing developers can troubleshoot any issues that a customer may have with licensing. As such a wizard will walk the user through the process of collecting logs.

The wizard will do the following:

Connections tab

Checks that all the necessary URLs required for named-user licensing to operate properly are accessible.

To see a list of URLs that are not accessible from the computer, click on the Check URLs button. After a minute or so, a list of URLs will be displayed along with whether they are accessible.

Below, is a sample result of clicking the Check URLs button. “N/A” value means that the corresponding check was not performed for the URL by design, it does not imply a failure.

By default, it will allow you to check URLs used by CLMv2. This method closely matches how CLMv2 would check for connectivity via the proxy server. Some URLs that the Identity Manager communicates with are also checked using cURL, it is to help determine if an Identity Manager issue was caused by cURL.

If there are issues connecting with the proxy server using the above method, the following environment variables may be used as an alternative to configure the proxy environment.

set HTTP_PROXY=http://<hostname or ip address of proxy server>:<port no>
set HTTPS_PROXY=http://<hostname or ip address of proxy server>:<port no>

Set these environment variables, then restart AdskLicensingSupportTool and check the URLs again by clicking Check URLs button.

More information is documented here.

Self-Service tab

Deletes the LoginState.xml and Identity Manager cache files or re-installs Identity Manager in case the user is unable to Sign into Autodesk when launching the Autodesk product

In some cases, users are unable to login to Autodesk to authorize their products. Deleting the LoginState.xml and Identity Manager cache files usually solves the problem.

After clicking on the Reset login state button, the user is asked to shutdown all Autodesk products before continuing. This also includes programs like Autodesk Access.

if successful, the files will be deleted and the following sample messages will be shown

In some cases, reinstalling Identity Manager could address hidden installation issues and apply the latest patches. The Install Identity Manager button will open the installer download page for Identity Manager in their default browser. The Uninstall Identity Manager button will launch the uninstaller of the Identity Manager.

Components Info

Shows the version of each licensing related component and whether or not the AdskLicensingService is running

Shows the version of identity related component if installed, and whether or not the AdskIdentityManager is running

Using the command line

Platform Instruction
Windows 1. Launch command prompt as an administrator
2. Switch to the directory that contains the tool
3. Enter AdskLicensingSupportTool.exe -v to verify the Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper version
Mac 1. Launch terminal
2. Switch to the directory that contains the tool
3. Enter ./AdskLicensingSupportTool.app/Contents/MacOS/AdskLicensingSupportTool -v to verify the Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper version
Linux 1. Launch terminal
2. Switch to the directory that contains the tool
3. Enter ./AdskLicensingSupportTool -v to verify the Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper version

For Mac/Linux enter sudo -E AdskLicensingSupportTool [parameter] if admin privilege is required.

This tool partially supports Clic releases that were made between FY17 and FY19 (CLMv1). It supports resetting LGS via (-r), but it does not collect CLMv1 log files or change the log file verbosity.

Current list of supported parameters

usage: AdskLicensingSupportTool [-h] [-v]
                       [-r product_key:license_method | comma separated list of product keys[:license_method]
                       | ALL[:license_method]] [-i] [-sdl] [-svl] [-u]
                       [--clean-cache] [--install-identity]
                       [--uninstall-identity] [-l [DIR]]

AdskLicensingSupportTool

options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -v, --version         View current Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper version.
  -r product_key:license_method | comma separated list of product keys[:license_method] | ALL[:license_method], --resetlicensemethod product_key:license_method | comma separated list of product keys[:license_method] | ALL[:license_method]

                        Change the licensing method for a product_key to a specified licensing method.
                        product_key can be a single product key, a comma-separated list of products,
                        or keyword ALL.

                        At least one product key, or the keyword ALL, must be specified.
                        Possible license methods are: USER, NETWORK, STANDALONE, NONE.
                        If no method is supplied, NONE will be used.
                        NONE will result in the "Let's Get Started" screen appearing on
                        next launch of the product.

                        # Set all products to USER licensing method
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod ALL:USER

                        # Set product key 128L1 to USER licensing method
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod 128L1:USER

                        # Set product keys 128L1, 426I1, and 829L1 to USER licensing method
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod 128L1,426I1,829L1:USER

                        # Clear the licensing method for all products
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod ALL

                        # Clear the licensing method for product key 128L1
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod 128L1

                        # Clear the licensing method for product keys 128L1, 426I1, and 829L1
                        AdskLicensingSupportTool --resetlicensemethod 128L1,426I1,829L1


CLM v2 [FY20]:
  -i, --info            View Licensing v1 and v2 component versions and registered products.
  -sdl, --setdefaultlogging
                        Set service and agent log levels to default.
  -svl, --setverboselogging
                        Set service and agent log levels to debug mode.
  -u, --checkurls       Check for inaccessible desktop subscription URLs.
  --clean-cache         Delete Identity Manager cache files. Please ensure all Autodesk applications are closed before running this command.
  --install-identity    Open the download page for Identity Manager Installer.
  --uninstall-identity  Launch the Identity Manager uninstaller.
  -l [DIR], --getlogs [DIR]
                        Collect and zip log files. Provide a directory
                        to contain the zipped folder. (for example, '--getlogs C:\temp').
                        If no directory is provided, the zipped folder will be
                        stored at the current working directory.
                        Logs and files that will be collected:
                        * *.log
                        * AdlSdk-*.log
                        * AdskLicensing-*-mac-installer_postinstall.out
                        * AdskLicensingUpdateSupport.log
                        * LoginState.xml
                        * WebServices.log
                        * adlm-err*.log
                        * agent-std*.log
                        * install.log
                        * nlm-server-info.json
                        * pubnub_sdk-*.log

Step-by-step guide to collecting licensing related log files

First, must set environment variables before launching any Autodesk products.

  1. Download AdskLicensingSupportTool (see link above).

  2. Open an Administrator Command Prompt on Windows, or for Mac/Linux open a terminal window and use sudo -E for commands.

  3. In the same terminal, use the Support Tool SetVerboseLogging command to configure verbose logging for AdskLicensing service and agent. Note the -E between sudo and ./AdskLicensingSupportTool on mac and linux. This passes the user environment variables to the sudo user so that the Support Tool can correctly capture the SDK log files.

    Windows:

    AdskLicensingSupportTool.exe --setverboselogging

    Mac:

    sudo -E ./AdskLicensingSupportTool.app/Contents/MacOS/AdskLicensingSupportTool --setverboselogging

    Linux:

    sudo -E ./AdskLicensingSupportTool --setverboselogging

  4. If the issue can be reproduced with simple steps, please stop the service, remove the existing agent log, service log files, then start the service again.

    Service and Agent Log File locations

    Windows:

    • Service: %PROGRAMDATA%\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\Log\AdskLicensingService.log
    • Agent: %PROGRAMDATA%\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\Log\AdskLicensingAgent.log

    Mac:

    • Service: /Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AdskLicensingService/Log/AdskLicensingService.log
    • Agent: /Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AdskLicensingService/Log/AdskLicensingAgent.log

    Linux:

    • Service: /var/opt/Autodesk/AdskLicensingService/Log/AdskLicensingService.log
    • Agent: /var/opt/Autodesk/AdskLicensingService/Log/AdskLicensingAgent.log

    Engaging in this practice of deleting log files reduces the log file size to a minimum and facilitates easier identification of the issue’s location by our DEV team. If the issue is time-consuming or difficult to reproduce, this step may be skipped, but then please provide a comment with the timestamp for when the issue occurred.

  5. In the same terminal, launch the product and reproduce the issue For Mac: In the same terminal window where the environment variables were set, launch the product: e.g

    /Applications/Autodesk/AutoCAD\ 2022/AutoCAD\ 2022.app/Contents/MacOS/AutoCAD &

    Note: & at the end so that it would run as a background process

  6. In the same terminal, use the Support Tool GetLogs command to collect the logs into a single zip file Windows:

    AdskLicensingSupportTool.exe --getlogs

    NOTE: For Mac/Linux, run this command without sudo. If that fails, then use sudo -E Mac:

    ./AdskLicensingSupportTool.app/Contents/MacOS/AdskLicensingSupportTool --getlogs

    Linux:

    ./AdskLicensingSupportTool --getlogs

    The tool will report whether or not the log files are verbose after collecting them. Note the info-and-logs.zip file location resulting from this step.

  7. In the same terminal, use the Support tool SetDefaultLogging command to restore default logging.

    Windows:

    AdskLicensingSupportTool.exe --setdefaultlogging

    NOTE: If you set ADLSDK_LOG_LEVEL or other variables, then you should manually remove those environment variables using the Advanced System Settings dialog.

    Mac:

    sudo -E ./AdskLicensingSupportTool.app/Contents/MacOS/AdskLicensingSupportTool --setdefaultlogging

    Linux:

    sudo -E ./AdskLicensingSupportTool --setdefaultlogging

    NOTE: For Mac/Linux, after running command then close terminal to remove environment variables.

  8. Upload the resulting info-and-logs.zip file to a shared location (e.g. onedrive) and add to the ticket/question.

Terms of Use

Autodesk Licensing and Sign-in Helper is subject to the Autodesk Terms of Use (https://www.autodesk.com/company/terms-of-use/en/general-terms)