Symptoms
When trying to run an application that utilizes FineReader Engine, or trying to activate/update/deactivate a license via the License Manager, the following error occurs:
ABBYY Licensing Service is unavailable. The RPC server is unavailable.
Cause
This error message usually appears when the FineReader Engine installation is configured incorrectly.
Resolution
Сheck the following:
1) The Licensing Service is running on the server:
- Open the Services tab of the Task Manager.
- Select the ABBYY FineReader Engine 12 Licensing Service service:
- Press Start the service if the service is not running, or Restart the service if it is.
2) All settings for the Licensing Service are correct. The settings are specified in the LicensingSettings.xml files found in 2 locations:
- FineReader Engine licensing settings – Bin64 subfolder of the FineReader Engine installation folder on the machine running the Engine-based application;
- Licensing Service settings – %CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\ABBYY\SDK\12\Licensing folder on the machine running the Licensing Service.
Try to set or change the port number in the network settings of the LicensingSettings.xml both for the Licensing Service and for FineReader Engine manually:
- Change the LicensingSettings.xml file for the Licensing Service:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<LicensingSettings xmlns="http://www.abbyy.com/Protection/LicensingSettings">
<LocalLicenseServer>
<ConnectionProtocol ProtocolType="TCP/IP" EndPointName="3000" />
<EnableIKeyLicenses Enable="no" /> "no" - if you use software license, "yes" - if you use USB protection key
<EnableCodeMeterLicenses Enable="no" />
</LocalLicenseServer>
</LicensingSettings> - Change the LicensingSettings.xml file for FineReader Engine:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<LicensingSettings xmlns="http://www.abbyy.com/Protection/LicensingSettings">
<LicensingServers>
<MainNetworkLicenseServer ServerAddress="127.0.0.1" ProtocolType="TCP/IP" EndPointName="3000" />
</LicensingServers>
</LicensingSettings>
3) Nothing like closed ports or insufficient user rights prevents the Licensing Service’s appropriate work. Check if the 3000 port number is opened from the server station for the client workstation:
- Check if you have the telnet installation on the workstation:
- Navigate to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Click Turn Windows features on or off in the left tab.
- Check the Telnet Client checkbox in the Windows Features dialog box.
- Press OK, wait for the feature to be enabled, then press Close.
- Open the command line on the workstation, run the
telnet 127.0.0.1 3000
command, and check the result:
-
Could not open connection to the host, on port 3000: Connect failed
This result means that port 3000 is closed. Try to open the port or specify another one in the LicensingSettings.xml files. - An empty result
This means that port 3000 is open and available.
-
Could not open connection to the host, on port 3000: Connect failed
4) The error can also occur when FineReader Engine and Licensing Service versions from different distributions are used. In this case, it is recommended to reinstall FineReader Engine on the machine where the error occurs.
Comments
4 comments
MEHMET FATİH ALP
Hi! I am an Abbyy Finereader 15 user.
I also get the same error after upgrading to Windows 11 and cannot start the program. As mentioned in this article, when I go to "Services", I don't see an entry for the Abbyfine Reader program. How can I solve this problem?
Victoria Dvornikova
Hi MEHMET FATİH ALP,
I have created a support ticket based on your request. Please await a reply from Support team.
Stevemaguire
I use Win 11. This is my screen for Control Panel. No Administrative tools.

Victoria Dvornikova
Hello Stevemaguire,
Please check the following article if you are using FineReader desktop product: https://support.abbyy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005118465--The-RPC-server-is-unavailable-error-message-appears-when-FineReader-is-started
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