Knowledgebase
Ansys Zemax Support FAQs
User Groups

Community
General Discussion
Licensing and Installation

Licensing and Installation

Having trouble with your Zemax license? Need assistance activating your software? Find help here!

175 Topics
413 Replies

When you subscribe we will email you when there is a new topic in this category

175 Topics

Most replies

Most views

Newest first

AllieZemax Staff

posted in Licensing and Installation

License and Installation Directory

This forum category is a space for you to find help with any of your licensing or activation questions. It is monitored by our regional licensing specialists. For your convenience, you can find some self-help guides here: License & Installation In the event you cannot find what you're looking for there, post your question! Our staff or your fellow community members will be able to help.

3000

3 years ago

Khaled.HassanSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

Inquiry about Zemax Pro License

I found that Zemax pro license doesn’t support “User-Defined Plugin for Surface, Objects, Sources, and Scatter Profiles”, Does this include source DLL and fiber DLL, such that this types of sources won’t be supported in the pro license?

712

23 days ago

Shih-Heng.LinMonochrome

asked in Licensing and Installation

Ansys Zemax's discriminatory policy against Asia(or only Taiwan) users

First, I have been a Zemax user since 2007, and have purchased Zemax on-behalf of companies I worked for three times. The 1st purchase is for Foxconn, the 2nd purchase is for s startup company called Light Blue Optics, and the 3rd has been for my current company, starting from 2013 and continue to the present. Recently, Ansys Zemax required all users to migrate to the Ansys customer portal for issuing technical support questions, and I discovered that I don’t have the "open a case" option available. After confirming with Ansys Taiwan, I was informed that their policy has changed, and I am no longer permitted to directly contact Zemax technical support through the “open a case” button. Instead, all my technical questions must be submitted to the local agent in Taiwan, and the agent’s engineer must open a case on my behalf. Additionally, I cannot monitor the status of the case through my portal. At first, I though that was a same policy for all users purchasing Zemax through local dis

1492

1 month ago

Nicholas.CroglioMonochrome

asked in Licensing and Installation

How do we get the New ANSYS licenses to work?

The process to get the new ANSYS licenses to work is a nightmare!They do not have record of me being under support after paying more for support that my original license cost.Noone answers the help line!The instructions are garbage and some of the links do not work.The ANSYS system has no record either. [Mod edit: updated the title of the post.]

35315

1 month ago

SeanMonochrome

asked in Licensing and Installation

using red key on a new computer

I have a Zemax 16.5 SP3 with a red key. I want to use it on my new computer with Windows 11. After installing the Zemax 16.5 on the new computer and plug in the red key, there was no key information in the Zemax License Manager and I couldn’t run Zemax. The red key was light on for a couple of seconds and became light off.Could anyone please assist? Thanks!

762

1 month ago

Don DickinsonEn-Lightened

posted in Licensing and Installation

Zemax software compatibility with new Apple M1 computers

Hello! Apple recently introduced a Macbook with a new “M1” CPU, rather than the usual Intel CPU. This new CPU requires that any software written for standard Intel or AMD processors has to either be re-written for the new CPU or emulated via virtual machine software such as Virtualbox, VMware Fusion, or Parallels. Zemax products (OpticStudio, OpticsViewer, and OpticsBuilder) are WIndows based rather than native Apple applications, so they will not be rewritten for the M1 CPU. Zemax software has worked fine with virtual machines on Apple computers in the past. However, as reported by some Zemax customers, it appears that Parallels is still in Beta on this platform, and that there is also a “preview edition” of Windows 10. Zemax uses Thales (formerly Sentinel) licensing technology which does not support preview or beta editions of Windows 10. This means even if Opticstudio installs, you cannot access a license (either a black USB key red key , green key, or software-based (softkey) lic

335216

2 months ago

Francis.DeckSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

Can I run the latest OpticStudio on a Windows 365 virtual machine?

I’ve been given a chance to switch from Windows to Apple Mac. My company supports using Windows 365 VM on the Mac, but I wonder if I can use OpticStudio that way.

521

4 months ago

PBZSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

Installing Legacy Zemax on a new PC

I have a legacy “black” USB license for Zemax, and am hoping to install whichever legacy version of the software I have a right to (the old computer in our laboratory, on which Zemax was installed, having finally given up the ghost).Can anyone please assist?

652

4 months ago

Mikayel.MusheghyanMonochrome

asked in Licensing and Installation

Current Academic Licensing Options for OpticStudio

Hey everyone,I am going to teach an OpticStudio course at a university and they have an academic license for all Ansys products including OpticStudio.However, what surprised me is that as far as I understood it is not possible for students or me to install and use OpticStudio locally, without a remote connection to the university Ansys server.I distinctly remember that a few years ago I did an online course at a university and got an OpticStudio license which I could use without any problems fully locally.Did the policy change? Is it not possible anymore to just have OpticStudio run locally with an academic license on your private PC? Best regards,Mikayel.

160518

5 months ago

ThanigaInfrared

posted in Licensing and Installation

License Disconnection Issue - Seeking Suggestions

Hi everyone,I've been experiencing frequent disconnections with my license. It's becoming quite a nuisance. Does anyone have any insight into what might be causing this problem? I'd really appreciate any suggestions or advice you could offer. Thanks in advance! Regards,Thanigachalam P

321

5 months ago

MilothMonochrome

asked in Licensing and Installation

Windows ARM Support

Hi, more and more team members are being issued ARM machines. Windows 11 ARM has a pretty decent x64 emulation, still Zemax runs very, very slow. I am not referring to raytraces, but simply loading the UI for the empty lens.zos takes a lot of time. Note that I do not believe this is a problem with the processor speed, because they should be capable of pretty intensive operations.Would it be possible to compile and package the Zemax installers for ARM64 as well?Thank you.

821

5 months ago

Alain.GilliotteSingle Emitter

posted in Licensing and Installation

Installation of an old version on a new computer

Old zemax version 15.5.0 user with permanent USB softkey. (W/o support) I need to install this version on a new computer. I have the sentineldriver installer as well as the prerequisite executable file but i miss the main installation zemax executable ... Some one of the users have still this file in storage ? thanks

1391

6 months ago

AsukuVisible

asked in Licensing and Installation

Preferred method to uninstall older OpticStudio versions ?

Had a previously installed Ansys OpticStudio 2023 R1.02.Installed Ansys OpticStudio 2023 R2.02 did not prompt for removal of previous version.Now I have two versions of OpticStudio on my system and I would only like to keep only the latest version. Is there a preferred/recommended method (clean way) to uninstall OpticStudio which will remove all the traces and leftovers (folders, temp files, etc.)? Thanks

2147

6 months ago

sihartStudent

asked in Licensing and Installation

Silent uninstallation of Opticstudio

Is there a way to silently uninstall Optictudio 2024 R1 when there is no uninstall file?For context, I am currently trying to provide an SCCM deployment for Optictudio 2024 R1 using the Powershell App Deployment Toolkit. Silent installation is no problem but I need a way to silently uninstall.

631

6 months ago

JJPSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

OpticStudio Professional 15 Install Files

I have a perpetual license for OpticStudio Professional up to version 15.5, with Black USB dongle, but have lost the install files. Apparently Zemax only keep these files on their servers for 2 years. If anyone knows where I can download the install files for version 15 or 15.5, I would be extremely grateful. Regards, JJ.

1141

7 months ago

Donna.WatersUltraviolet

asked in Licensing and Installation

Unreliable FlexNet Licensing

Nearly every time I try to open OpticStudio, I get a license error and it won’t open. I’ve had this problem since the migration. I only have one seat on this license, so it’s unclear why it needs a “license server”. Why doesn’t the application just look in the folder where the license file is saved? The Ansys License Utility pops up. When I hit enter, it says “No Ansys products were detected. Check the license settings…” I can start OpticStudio by opening the license manager, which takes me to the Ansys website where I can select a button that says “Stopped”, but what a bother and it requires me to be online to use the software. Are other people having this issue or does my configuration need repair? Thanks!

701

9 months ago

Atchariyasart.PhongsaSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

RENEWING MY LICENSE

Dear Zemax Support Team, My license has expired. I want you to help renew my license. How can you suggest about Zemax software. Do I have to register again?For previous my license information is below: License Number: L119203 Product: Premium Subscription SUL License activation code: ZU-a5460f23-1a94-4f78-ae34-83ecd5aa616b License Expiration: Saturday, June 19, 2021ฺBest Regards,Atchariyasart PhongsaAcademic Physics at Suranaree University of Technology

6033

10 months ago

HannahoooStudent

asked in Licensing and Installation

Zemax 30-day Free Trial registration

I signed up for the 30-day free trial of Zemax OpticStudio four working days ago, but I haven't received any follow-up emails yet. I'm wondering how long it typically takes to receive confirmation. Thank you!

1921

10 months ago

SiddharthSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

How to use license on a different machine

Our company has a license for Ansys Zemax OpticStudio Pro. One license for one system. Its a license that starts with 1-#####.Now we want to use this license on a different computer then the computer we currently use. I could install Ansys Zemax optics studio on this new computer but its not clear how to “transfer” the lciense. Can someone advice?ThanksSiddharth

932

10 months ago

RayUltraviolet

asked in Licensing and Installation

Recovering disconnected licenses

We have just switched to ANSYS subscription version (from Zemax + dongles) and I wonder how the other users here handle the problem I had yesterday:I went to a meeting with my laptop and AZOS open (in the background during that meeting) and when I came back and plugged back to the docking station, I had several pop-ups (all the same, something like 5 in a row) telling me no license was found. I closed Zemax and restarted, but noticed the license was a now professional instead of the premium I was using before closing. The license server still though I was using that license and counted it as in use. The IT had to restart the license server service (fortunately I was the only user that day as my colleagues are in vacations). I know this happened before to another colleague.How do you (everyone’s feedback is welcome) handle this kind of problem ? Is there a duration of inactivity after which the license is freed ? Is there a trick to free a license that is unsused ?I can’t imagine that

1343

10 months ago

KalebUltraviolet

asked in Licensing and Installation

Zemax Ansys license issues

I am having two issues with the new Zemax Ansys license. I will open four instances throughout the day, but it will show me using 4 seats of a license. My guess it has something to do with switching from a wired ethernet connection to wifi throughout the day, but it is pretty frustrating to have to close them out to free up seats. Currently the license manager says I am using four seats. I have no Ansys or Zemax running, but it still says my computer is taking those seats, so I can’t use OS right now.

3086

10 months ago

zubeydeyuksekSingle Emitter

asked in Licensing and Installation

Installation File for Zemax OpticStudio

This is my question to info@zemax.com but the email does not work. Can anyone help me?_____________Dear Zemax Team,I am in need of the installation file (exe file) for a Zemax legacy version that predates "OpticStudio 20.3.2, released on 30 Nov 2020." (As per your website, the available versions only extend up to 30 Nov 2020.)Could you please confirm if it is possible to obtain an older exe file from your website?Kind regards

1132

11 months ago

Patrick.ZmarzlyInfrared

asked in Licensing and Installation

Optics studio 17

Will it run on Windows 11? It currently has a dedicated USB license key, with no tech support, and it is running on a Windows 10 machine Thanks

782

1 year ago

JtSSingle Emitter

posted in Licensing and Installation

Local FlexNet License server issues

This may be something of a niche issue, but I’d like to document it nonetheless.Due to some IT issues, I’m currently running the network license server locally, i.e. on the same machine as the client software.Initially this worked well, but after a while the FlexNet Licensing server would refuse to start, despite all services etc. running.What solved it for me was:Disabling other network adapters, especially some related to VMs Changing adapter priorities with the interface metric didn’t help, they need to be physically disabled. Disabling IPv6 on the remaining (main) network adapter.This persists until the next time the system is loaded (e.g. after reboot or resuming after hibernation, as the VM network adapters are restarted then - but that might be a separate issue).This is ok as a workaround for now, but I can imagine this could be a blocker for some people.Happy to share more information with Ansys staff if needed.

420

1 year ago

TamarHararyStudent

asked in Licensing and Installation

Zemax OpticStudio licence for students

I possessed a Zemax student license for OpticStudio that has expired. As I am still a student, would it be possible to request an extension for a few more months?

3561

1 year ago

Page 1 / 7

Badge winners

Bharadwajhas earned the badge Allow me to introduce myself
John.Hygelundhas earned the badge Visibly Un-Polarized
guangjun.gao@nasa.govhas earned the badge Allow me to introduce myself
Michael.Younghas earned the badge Visibly Un-Polarized
nadav.amitaihas earned the badge Visibly Un-Polarized

Show all badges

Community Posting Guidelines Cookie settings

Sign up

Already have an account? Login

Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.

Enter your e-mail address

Back to overview

Scanning file for viruses.

Sorry, we're still checking this file's contents to make sure it's safe to download. Please try again in a few minutes.

This file cannot be downloaded

Sorry, our virus scanner detected that this file isn't safe to download.

Zemax Community

Manage email notification
Private Message Inbox
My Subscriptions
Posting guidelines

Need more help?

Ansys Zemax OpticStudio
Knowledgebase
Software Downloads
Consultants
Open a Case

To Chinese users:

Do not provide any information or data that is restricted by applicable law, including by the People’s Republic of China’s Cybersecurity and Data Security Laws ( e.g., Important Data, National Core Data, etc.).

不要提供任何受适用法律，包括中华人民共和国的网络安全和数据安全法限制的信息或数据（如重要数据、国家核心数据等）。