There are four possible reasons for the "not available" status:
If you did not intend to use heavy archiving, or if the logging is not critical, you can modify the project to fit within the standard Runtime license limits. Standard Runtime licenses often include limited archiving capabilities (often limited by the number of archived variables).
This is the "ghost" part. You plugged the USB dongle in after WinCC Runtime started. WinCC checks for licenses only during its boot sequence. If the dongle arrives late, WinCC shrugs and disables logging. There are four possible reasons for the "not
The error occurs under the following conditions:
If you own a Compact license, Siemens offers upgrade licenses (often with "UP" in the part number) at a reduced price over buying new. If you did not intend to use heavy
If you have determined that the license is missing and you need to use the Logging functionality:
Summary Checklist:
Date: April 9, 2026
Scope: Siemens WinCC (Runtime Advanced) — runtime logging functionality failed due to missing license key.