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Deployment
Topics you need to know before using WinCC OA.
WinCC OA License Portal
The SIMATIC WinCC Open Architecture License Portal streamlines license management with a modern, user-friendly interface and advanced features, launching in October 2025. This documentation offers comprehensive guidance, support resources, and step-by-step instructions to help users and administrators efficiently manage licenses and access essential materials.
Essential Skills
To work successfully with the WinCC OA License Portal, you should be familiar with several key processes that ensure efficient license management and organizational clarity.
Remove License from Container
Removing a user interface client license from a container in the WinCC OA License Portal allows you to make the license available for use in other projects. Follow these steps to ensure the license is properly released and ready for reassignment.

Version Information
Release Notes, Update information, Certifications and Frequently Asked Questions.
Concepts
Your first step into modern and powerful process visualization.
Deployment
Topics you need to know before using WinCC OA.
- Hardware and software requirements for WinCC OA
  This section contains the current hardware and software requirements for various WinCC OA application scenarios. Recommendations are given for practical deployment of WinCC OA depending on the specific application and scale of the project.
- WinCC OA Licensing
  Overview of the licensing model used by WinCC OA
- WinCC OA License Portal
  The SIMATIC WinCC Open Architecture License Portal streamlines license management with a modern, user-friendly interface and advanced features, launching in October 2025. This documentation offers comprehensive guidance, support resources, and step-by-step instructions to help users and administrators efficiently manage licenses and access essential materials.
  - License Portal Interface
    The License Portal Interface provides centralized access to group- and license management functions. Its intuitive layout allows users to navigate between groups, projects, and related administrative features efficiently.
  - Essential Skills
    To work successfully with the WinCC OA License Portal, you should be familiar with several key processes that ensure efficient license management and organizational clarity.
    - Login
      Log in to the WinCC OA License Portal as an invited user and explore your group overview and portal interface.
    - Create Group
      The Create Group feature in the WinCC OA License Portal enables you to organize licenses into structured groups and sub-groups for improved transparency and management. By building a hierarchical group structure, you can easily oversee and assign licenses to your WinCC OA servers. This process streamlines license administration and enhances clarity across your projects.
    - Create Project
      Projects in the WinCC OA License Portal are essential for organizing your containers efficiently. By creating projects within specific groups and subgroups, you keep your license structure clear and easy to manage.
    - Assign License to Virtual Container
      Assigning licenses to a virtual container in the WinCC OA License Portal enables pre-packaging of license options for remote deployment. This process streamlines license preparation for off-site technicians or service personnel, ensuring efficient and organized distribution.
    - Move License
      Moving licenses between projects in the WinCC OA License Portal allows you to efficiently reallocate resources as your needs change.
    - Remove License from Container
      Removing a user interface client license from a container in the WinCC OA License Portal allows you to make the license available for use in other projects. Follow these steps to ensure the license is properly released and ready for reassignment.
    - Activate Virtual Container and Assign to Real Container
      This task describes how to activate a virtual container and assign it to a real software container in the WinCC OA License Portal. Follow these steps to deploy the virtual container, confirm the assignment, and update the container details for your project.
    - Invite User
      Adding a new user to your group in the WinCC OA License Portal is a straightforward process that ensures team members are set up quickly and correctly.
    - Publish Changes
      Apply and synchronize your recent license management actions in the WinCC OA License Portal.
  - Additional Information
    Explore additional explanations of license states, essential licensing terms, and recommendations to optimize your licensing experience.
- Installation
  How to properly install WinCC OA.
- Docker Support
  An introduction on how to use WinCC OA within a Docker container, what specifics must be considered and where to find further information on the topic.
- Virtual Environment Support
  WinCC OA is used in very diverse computing environments, some of which are easier managed with the use of a enterprise virtualization software. Due to the good encapsulation and platform independence of WinCC OA, the use on a wide range of current versions of the most common virtualization products is possible. Our extensive, automated tests are provided via Proxmox and VMware(vSphere).
- WinCC OA Product Packaging
  Explains the file structure presented in the configuration bundles as well as some use cases with detailed descriptions
Security
Go beyond the norm in cybersecurity.
Engineering
Powerful tools for easy or complex engineering tasks.
Data Management
Classify, structure and archive your data.
Business Logic / Control
Endless possibilities in data processing for your projects.
Data Visualization
User interfaces, Trends and Reports for every purpose and device.
Southbound Interfaces
The process connection to the actual machines/sensors.
Northbound Interfaces
Your portal to the cloud or supervising systems.
Web Connectivity / Network Interfaces
Data exchange, APIs and web technologies
User Management
All about authorization, authentication and login-customization.
Availability
How to get your system uptime to the maximum.
Reporting
Create state of the art project reports without limits.
Addons
Useful tools and enhancements for special demands.
Reference Tables
Detailed and extensive content for special project adaptation.
Videos & Tutorials
Explore the capabilities of WinCC OA with our carefully selected collection of video tutorials and guides.
Documentation
Basic information about terms and functions within the documentation.
Support & Services
An experienced team of support agents, consultants and trainers are ready to facilitate active partnerships with our customers, so they can profit from our comprehensive service.
Disclaimer
A brief clarification of liability exclusions or legal notices.

Remove License from Container

Removing a user interface client license from a container in the WinCC OA License Portal allows you to make the license available for use in other projects. Follow these steps to ensure the license is properly released and ready for reassignment.

Freeing up unused licenses helps optimize resource allocation and ensures that licenses are available where needed most.

Select your project in the License Portal.
For example, choose the relevant server or project where the license container is located.
Locate and review the container holding the license.
Identify the user interface client license that is no longer required.
Click Enable Changes to allow modifications.
This prepares the project for editing.
Navigate to the Licenses section.
Do not use the License Containers section for this operation.
Clear any filters to display all licenses in the project.
This ensures you can see the full list of available and assigned licenses.
Identify the user interface license to be removed.
Verify that the license is currently assigned to the correct container (e.g., "Water Project").
Click Edit for the selected license.
Review the license details to confirm you have selected the correct one.
Scroll down and click Remove from container.
A confirmation dialog will appear to verify the removal action.
Confirm the removal by selecting Yes in the dialog.
The license status will temporarily show as "assigned configuration" while the system updates.
Click Release Changes to publish the update.
Wait for the confirmation message indicating the project has been successfully published.
Return to the Licenses section and verify the license is now listed as available.
The license can now be reassigned to another project as needed.

The user interface client license has been successfully removed from the container and is now available for use in other projects.