Trusted storage contains cryptographic tokens linked to your hardware. If corrupted, CATIA thinks the license is gone.
Warning: This will remove all saved license configurations. Have your server name or license key ready.
For corporate users whose licenses are hosted on a DSLS server:
If you cannot connect to the server, contact your IT department to ensure the DSLS service is running on the server.
In corporate environments, CATIA uses Dassault Systèmes License Server (DSLS) . These licenses are checked out for a lease period (default: 10 days). If your machine has not checked back into the server within that window, the license "expires" locally. The Expiration Date Of Your License Has Arrived Catia
In simple terms, CATIA licenses are not perpetual unless you have purchased a permanent license with a maintenance plan. Most modern CATIA deployments use timed licenses (e.g., monthly, annual, or educational licenses).
When CATIA checks its license file or connects to a license server, it compares the current system date against the license’s expiry date. If the current date is after the license expiry, you see the error. However, the message can also appear if:
For many users, the error appears suddenly on a Monday morning after a weekend shutdown, or immediately after reinstalling Windows.
It always happens at the worst possible time. Trusted storage contains cryptographic tokens linked to your
You have a deadline in two hours. You’ve just spent forty minutes letting your assembly load, hiding constraints, and mentally preparing yourself for the complex surfacing operation ahead. You take a sip of coffee, click the icon to launch Catia, and wait for the familiar splash screen.
But instead of the clean grey interface of the workbench, you are met with a stark, unavoidable popup window.
"The expiration date of your license has arrived."
For a Catia user, this isn't just an error message; it is a moment of pure existential dread. It is the "Blue Screen of Death" for the CAD world, only more bureaucratic. Warning: This will remove all saved license configurations
| Cause | Prevention Strategy |
|-------|---------------------|
| Network lease expires | Set the DSLS lease renewal period to 30 days (default 10). Automate renewal via script on login. |
| System clock drift | Enable NTP (Network Time Protocol) synchronization with a corporate time server. |
| Corrupted trusted storage | Avoid force-quitting CATIA. Backup the TrustedStorage folder monthly. |
| Expired academic license | Set a calendar reminder 1 week before the annual expiry. |
Beyond the technical fix, it is worth acknowledging that "The expiration date of your license has arrived" is not just an error—it is a workflow killer. In a 2023 industry survey of CAD managers, 68% reported that unplanned license expirations caused missed design review deadlines.
When this error appears at 4:45 PM on a Friday before a Monday product launch, the consequences cascade:
Therefore, treat this error as a business continuity event, not just a software glitch. Create a written runbook (a step-by-step incident response guide) and ensure every CAD user knows who to call (IT or the license admin) the moment they see the message.