topic Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible in 3ds Max Forum

3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:53:27 GMT

3DS MAX all of a sudden isn't starting anymore,

The license all of a sudden is not accessible by the program. What the hell?
We just get the error: "A license error occurred opening this product. How can I fix this? If the problem persists contact support"

This needs to be fixxed immediately

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

abjJ53PT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:56:56 GMT

I'm getting the same error. Can't use the program or log into the autodesk site, and getting an error message if I try to press the "contact support" message.

"An error occurred while processing your request.

Reference #30.144f2417.1760946808.20c879d9

https://errors.edgesuite.net/30.144f2417.1760946808.20c879d9"

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:07:11 GMT

I just spoke to the reseller of the Autodesk product.
He's saying that there's a nation wide, perhaps even continent wide malfunctioning of all autodesk services.
Basically without having access to their license server or whatever the software is completely and utterly useless.

This is absolutely unacceptable this day and age if you ask me... What a horrible company...

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:17:58 GMT

The reseller also posted a notice on their website, it says:
"At this moment there's a disturbance at autodesk - there's nothing wrong with your license - let's hope it's fixxed soon"

The fact this isn't mentioned at the Autodesk website or forums anywhere at this moment is ridiculous. Already lost two hours figuring out what even the actual problem is..

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

MartinBeh — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:19:11 GMT

See https://health.autodesk.com/ for current cloud status...

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:29:21 GMT

Thank you for your reply but...
3DSMAX isn't even mentioned in that list XD. Starting to suspect this software will be retired soon.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:34:34 GMT

Even if it was mentioned in the list. Why does a server malfunctioning at Autodesk block me from using software that's installed on My computer?
Let me at least use it locally so that I can get on met my work until Autodesk has their ducks in a row again.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

MartinBeh — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:35:31 GMT

I suspect there is no server dedicated just for 3ds Max but a server (or multiple) for licensing checks... not sure which one it is, though.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

abjJ53PT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:36:34 GMT

I think the reason is that Amazon Services are down, I don't think this is Autodesk's fault specifically. Seems like lots of other services on the internet is down.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

jérémilemarié1284 — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:40:27 GMT

It’s impossible to work, and my account shows no products at all!

This is a joke. The licensing system is a disaster.

Do you have any idea how much money and client credibility we’ve lost this morning?

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

MartinBeh — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:40:45 GMT

Yes, looks like Amazon is having problems: https://health.aws.amazon.com/health/status

https://downdetector.com/status/aws-amazon-web-services/

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

jérémilemarié1284 — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:47:58 GMT

Thanks MartinBeh for your post,

Unfortunately, we're facing an issue—we can't use our local software because there's no internet connection. That’s quite a problem, I believe.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:52:11 GMT

Why cant I use the software that I pay for because some random amazon server is down.
This is absolutely Autodesk's fault because they've designed the software in such a way that it's rendered useless when some amazon server has a glitch.
I have never experienced anything like this when using Rhino, Vray, Corona, Blender, Plasticity, etc.
Seriously if this Autodesk Licensing system is so vulnerable for errors like this, and if Autodesk software can't even open without this ridiculous system, the Autodesk software deserves a reliability score of 0.0 out of 10. It's not like 3DSMAX is anything to write home about in the first place and with issues like this it's just not useable in a professional workflow.

Now I have to tell my client they do not have their renders tomorrow at the presentation because an amazon server somewhere on the planet is malfunctioning.
This is a joke

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

mailEV4D3 — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:56:00 GMT

Getting the same Internal Server Error (based in The Netherlands). Can't login and can't use 3ds max. What a joke

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

MartinBeh — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:01:12 GMT

I am also surprised 3ds Max does not have a grace period of a few days to cover such technical failures.

Most other rental software has this.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

Madebyswim — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:09:24 GMT

I'm not surprised... Autodesk has been price gauging their clients with every opportunity they could find.
I suspect that there are a max of 2 people working on development for 3DSMAX and most of their time is probably allocated to rewrite the software to better prevent piracy instead of making it actually a better piece of software.
There are hundreds of people working on marketing, licensing and legal at Autodesk but the development teams are probably a total around 25 from what I can tell.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

harald.martinoff — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:11:15 GMT

I was also wondering why there isn’t a grace period. That seems like a basic feature that should allow users to complete their work while any server or online issue - whether local or global - are being resolved. It’s quite common, even after a subscription ends, to have a few days (like 4 or so) to either renew or make a final decision.

If such a system were in place, then temporary licensing or connectivity problems wouldn’t disrupt access for paying users. It would add a layer of reliability and user-friendliness that’s expected from modern software services. I talked to our Autodesk provider in Norway, and they say that Autodesk is working on a system like this, but I will not hold my breath.

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

jerielB24P9 — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:17:52 GMT

Weird, my colleague has no issues in Max 2026. I can't login.... and ofcourse during deadline week 😐

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

spacefrog_ — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:26:37 GMT

its a global outage -> worst case scenario i would say

wonder about the grace period thing too -> i guess i would better had blocked ther license server from connecting,
In my experience you get 30 days grace period to go online again

but that doesnt seem to apply to cases were you are online and their license servers fail -> any license gets invalidated immediatly

there is certainly a lot of room to improve

BTW: there's no way to downplay this -> consider all the construction companies in the world relying on licenses for Revit, AutoCAD etc.... which now burn money by minute- a total desaster

Re: 3DSMAX not starting, licenses not accessible

harald.martinoff — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:24:39 GMT

Not entirely sure, but my colleague hasn’t had any issues either. However, he had 3ds Max running before the licensing system went down. So maybe it keeps working as long as you don’t close the application?

Was your colleague already logged in when the problem started?