MATLAB: Do I receive the error message “Cannot Retrieve License File” when trying to activate MATLAB

Question

When attempting to activate my license, I receive the following error message:

ERROR: Cannot Retrieve License File: License files for network licenses cannot be retrieved automatically. You need to retrieve the license file from the MathWorks website and then modify it as described in the Installation Guide. Contact your system administrator for assistance.

Answer 1

This message indicates you are attempting to activate a MATLAB network license using the activation client. The way to resolve this warning depends on if you are attempting to configure a new license server, or if you are trying to install MATLAB itself as a network client.

If you are trying to install the network license manager, the required license file can only be generated in the License Center of our website. Login to your MathWorks Account at mathworks.com, select the appropriate license, and go to the "Install and Activate" tab to begin the activation process for a network license server.

The process differs if you are attempting to install MATLAB itself as a network client. You will need to retrieve the license.dat file from your existing server to proceed.

How do I install a MATLAB client for a network license?

The URL above leads to an article that summarizes the procedure for getting the file and installing it in full.

If you have issues with the activation process, or believe you are receiving this message by error, please contact MathWorks Installation Support for assistance.