The “License Checkout Timed Out” error appears when AutoCAD cannot complete the licensing verification process with Autodesk services. The failure may be caused by a stopped licensing service, corrupted authentication components, blocked network communication, damaged login tokens, proxy restrictions, VPN interference, or licensing components affected by Windows updates.

This guide covers AutoCAD 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

If you need the fastest solution, start by restarting the Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service, updating all Autodesk components through Autodesk Access, and signing out and back into your Autodesk account.

Quick Diagnosis Table

Why Does AutoCAD Say “License Checkout Timed Out”?

The most common causes include:

• Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service stopped
• Corrupted authentication cache
• Damaged Autodesk Identity Manager
• Corrupted Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime
• Firewall blocking Autodesk traffic
• VPN interference
• Proxy authentication failures
• Incorrect Windows date or time
• Corrupted licensing components
• License server communication failures
• Windows updates affecting Autodesk services

Step 1: Restart the Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service

This is the quickest fix and resolves a large percentage of licensing failures.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Press Win + R

Step 2

Type:

services.msc

Step 3

Press Enter

Step 4

Locate:

Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service

Step 5

Right-click the service and select:

Stop

Step 6

Wait 10 seconds.

Step 7

Right-click again and select:

Start

Step 8

Open:

Properties

Step 9

Set:

Startup Type = Automatic (Delayed Start)

Step 10

Click Apply and restart AutoCAD.

Step 2: Install All Autodesk Updates

Outdated licensing components frequently cause timeout errors.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open Autodesk Access

Step 2

Sign in

Step 3

Install all available updates related to:

• Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service
• Autodesk Identity Manager
• Autodesk Access

Version Note

AdSSO (Autodesk Single Sign-On) only applies to AutoCAD 2020–2023.

For AutoCAD 2024–2026, Autodesk has completely replaced AdSSO with Autodesk Identity Manager.

Step 4

Restart Windows after all updates are installed.

Step 3: Repair Autodesk Access and Microsoft Edge WebView2

Modern Autodesk sign-in windows rely on Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.

If WebView2 is corrupted, the Autodesk login process may fail silently and eventually trigger a timeout error.

Repair Autodesk Access

Step 1

Open:

Settings
→ Apps
→ Installed Apps

Step 2

Locate:

Autodesk Access

Step 3

Select:

Modify
→ Repair

Repair Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime

Step 1

Open:

Settings
→ Apps
→ Installed Apps

Step 2

Locate:

Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime

Step 3

Select:

Modify
→ Repair

Step 4

Restart Windows.

Step 4: Reinstall Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service

If licensing files become corrupted, perform a clean reinstall.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Navigate to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing

Step 2

Right-click:

uninstall.exe

Step 3

Select:

Run as Administrator

Step 4

Wait for the uninstall process to finish.

Step 5

Restart Windows.

Step 6

Download the latest Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service installer.

Step 7

Run the installer as Administrator.

Step 8

Restart Windows again.

Step 5: Reset Autodesk Login Tokens

Corrupted login tokens often prevent successful authentication.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Close all Autodesk applications.

Step 2

Delete:

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Web Services\LoginState.xml

Step 3

Delete:

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\GenService

Step 4

Restart AutoCAD.

Step 5

Sign in again.

Step 6: Reset Autodesk Identity Manager

For AutoCAD 2024–2026, Autodesk Identity Manager controls the authentication process.

If it becomes corrupted, resetting only the cache folders is sometimes not enough.

Version Note

• AutoCAD 2020–2023: Uses AdSSO.
• AutoCAD 2024–2026: Uses Autodesk Identity Manager.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Close all Autodesk products.

Step 2

Navigate to:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AdskIdentityManager

Step 3

Run:

uninstall.exe

as Administrator.

Step 4

Restart Windows.

Step 5

Install the latest Autodesk Identity Manager component.

Step 6

Delete the Identity Manager cache folder:

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Identity Services

Step 7

Launch AutoCAD and sign in again.

Step 7: Reset Legacy License Cache (2020–2023 Primarily)

This fix mainly applies to older licensing environments and upgraded systems.

Legacy Licensing Note

The file:

CascadeInfo.cas

was used heavily in older Autodesk licensing systems involving cascading and legacy licensing methods.

It is far less relevant in modern Named User licensing used by AutoCAD 2024–2026, but it can still help in upgraded environments.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Navigate to:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Adlm

Step 2

Locate:

CascadeInfo.cas

Step 3

Rename it to:

CascadeInfoOLD.cas

Step 4

Restart AutoCAD.

Step 8: Verify Windows Date and Time

Authentication certificates depend on accurate system time.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open:

Settings
→ Time & Language
→ Date & Time

Step 2

Enable:

Set Time Automatically

Step 3

Enable:

Set Time Zone Automatically

Step 4

Click:

Sync Now

Step 5

Restart AutoCAD.

Step 9: Verify TLS 1.2 Is Enabled

Some authentication failures are caused by disabled TLS protocols.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open:

Internet Options

Step 2

Select:

Advanced

Step 3

Scroll to:

Security

Step 4

Verify:

Use TLS 1.2

is enabled.

Step 5

Restart Windows.

Step 10: Flush DNS and Reset Network Components

Network corruption can interfere with Autodesk authentication requests.

Follow These Steps

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

ipconfig /flushdns

Then:

netsh winsock reset

Restart the computer.

Step 11: Disconnect VPN Software

VPN software is a frequent cause of authentication timeouts.

Temporarily disable:

• NordVPN
• ExpressVPN
• Surfshark
• ProtonVPN
• Cisco AnyConnect
• OpenVPN

Test AutoCAD again.

If the problem disappears, configure split tunneling or create Autodesk exceptions.

Step 12: Verify Folder Permissions

Licensing services require access to Autodesk configuration folders.

Verify Permissions For

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Right-click the folder.

Step 2

Select:

Properties
→ Security

Step 3

Verify that:

• Current Windows User
• LOCAL SERVICE

have appropriate access rights.

Step 13: Verify Firewall, Antivirus, and Proxy Settings

Security software can block Autodesk authentication traffic.

Allow These Executables

AdskLicensingService.exe

AdskLicensingAgent.exe

Whitelist These Domains

*.autodesk.com

*.autodesk360.com

*.identity.autodesk.com

*.access.autodesk.com

*.akamaiedge.net

Verify HTTPS Access

Ensure outbound traffic through:

Port 443

is allowed.

Step 14: Check the Windows Hosts File

Incorrect hosts entries can block Autodesk services.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Step 2

Search for:

autodesk.com

or

autodesk360.com

Step 3

Remove any entries redirecting Autodesk traffic.

Step 4

Save the file and restart Windows.

Step 15: Sign Out and Refresh the License

Refreshing the account session can resolve licensing conflicts.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open:

Help
→ Manage License
→ Change License Type

Step 2

Sign out.

Step 3

Close AutoCAD.

Step 4

Restart AutoCAD.

Step 5

Sign in again.

Step 16: Floating License Server Fix

For network licensing environments.

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Log onto the license server.

Step 2

Open:

LMTOOLS

Step 3

Select:

Start/Stop/Reread

Step 4

Click:

ReRead License File

Step 5

Restart the Autodesk License Manager service if necessary.

Step 17: Increase FLEXLM Timeout for Slow Connections

High-latency networks can trigger artificial timeout failures.

This is especially useful for:

• Satellite internet
• Remote offices
• Corporate VPNs
• International WAN connections

Follow These Steps

Step 1

Open:

System Properties
→ Advanced
→ Environment Variables

Step 2

Create a new System Variable:

Variable Name:
FLEXLM_TIMEOUT

Variable Value:
3000000

Step 3

Save the changes.

Step 4

Restart Windows.

Step 18: Verify License Environment Variables

Incorrect FLEXLM variables can redirect AutoCAD to the wrong server.

Follow These Steps

Open:

System Properties
→ Advanced
→ Environment Variables

Verify:

ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE

and

LM_LICENSE_FILE

contain valid values.

Step 19: Check Autodesk Service Availability

Sometimes the issue is outside your workstation.

If Autodesk authentication services are experiencing an outage, local troubleshooting will not resolve the problem until the service is restored.

Advanced Diagnostics

If the timeout continues, review the licensing logs.

Log Location

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\AdskLicensingService.log

Search For

[Error]

[Critical]

Common findings include:

• SSL certificate failures
• DNS resolution failures
• Proxy authentication errors
• Blocked HTTPS traffic
• Authentication token corruption
• Identity Manager failures
• License server communication problems

The error code shown in the log usually identifies the root cause faster than trial-and-error troubleshooting.

Preventing Future License Timeout Errors

• Keep Autodesk Access updated.
• Keep Identity Manager updated.
• Keep Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime updated.
• Leave Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service set to Automatic.
• Avoid manually deleting Autodesk licensing folders.
• Verify VPN settings after major Windows updates.
• Synchronize Windows time automatically.
• Review firewall rules after security software upgrades.
• Restart workstations periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does AutoCAD keep saying License Checkout Timed Out?

The most common causes are stopped licensing services, damaged Identity Manager components, corrupted login tokens, blocked Autodesk domains, VPN interference, and incorrect system time.

Can a VPN cause AutoCAD licensing errors?

Yes. VPN software can interrupt Autodesk authentication traffic and trigger timeout errors.

Does reinstalling AutoCAD fix licensing problems?

Usually not. Reinstalling the Licensing Service, Identity Manager, or WebView2 Runtime is often enough.

Where is the Autodesk Licensing Service log located?

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\AdskLicensingService.log

What is Autodesk Identity Manager?

Autodesk Identity Manager is the authentication component used by AutoCAD 2024–2026. It replaced the older AdSSO component used in AutoCAD 2020–2023.

Can Microsoft Edge WebView2 cause licensing failures?

Yes. Autodesk uses WebView2 to display the sign-in interface. If WebView2 becomes corrupted, the login process may fail and trigger a License Checkout Timed Out error.