Resolving "Unable to communicate with license manager" Errors

1) Did you just remove the Rhino 5 Beta?

Please download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update. After installation, Rhino 4 should be able to communicate with the license manager properly.

2) Are you running Rhino 5 and did you just uninstall Rhino 4?

• Flamingo nXt, Bongo 1.0/2.0, and Rhino 4 use a common file called RhinoLM.
• When Rhino 4 is uninstalled, the RhinoLM is removed and this leaves Flamingo nXt, Bongo 1.0/2.0 unable to run in both 32-bit and 64-bit Rhino 5.

To reinstall the McNeelLM without reinstalling Rhino 4, download, unzip, and run rhinolm_20110309_x86.exe which is in this rhinolm_20110309.zip file.

• You must have rights to modify the registry to run rhinolm_20110309_x86.exe. If access is denied, find a computer adminstrator to log in with elevated rights account, and run rhinolm_20110309_x86.exe. Windows Vista users: right-click on the file and select “Run as administrator”.

3) Running Windows Vista or Windows 7?

Make sure you're running Rhino 4.0 SR9:

1. Start Rhino 4
2. From the Help menu, click Check for Updates

4) Reinstall Rhino 4

Unfortunately, something is wrong with your Rhino 4 installation. Follow these steps to repair your installation:

1. Uninstall Rhino 4 - you may need to remove multiple “Rhinoceros 4.0 SRx” items.
2. Delete the “License Manager” folder under
   • C:\Program Files\Common Files\McNeel Shared\ (For a 32-bit system)
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\McNeel Shared\ (For a 64-bit system)
3. Install Rhino 4 again
4. Start Rhino 4
5. From the Help menu, click Check for Updates
6. Download and install the latest service release if required

4) Still not working?

If none of these work, see the Advanced Troubleshooting for License Manager Errors page.

Updated: July 28, 2012 by Brian Gillespie, McNeel Seattle