Why do I receive an error 354 when activating my license?

When activating MATLAB, I receive the following error:

ERROR: Error 354 - No more machine transfers available.

How do I bypass this error so that I can activate my MATLAB?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This error indicates that you have exceeded the yearly amount of computer redesignations (transfers) for your license. 

In order to transfer the license to a new computer you will need to wait until your next redesignation becomes available.

In the meantime, if MATLAB is already installed on the additional machine, you can use MATLAB with the Login Named User feature that is accessible with Individual licenses.

What is Login Named User and can I use it?

Alternatively, if your computer has access to a web browser and has an active internet connection, you can also use MATLAB Online, the web-based version of MATLAB. 

What is MATLAB Online?

Note that once a redesignation is available, the license_info.xml file from the Login Named User feature that prompts you to login every time, will need to be removed so that the Individual license activation is used instead.

For further assistance, please contact Installation and Licensing Support from the link below. You may reach out to Install Support regarding why an additional transfer is needed so that the possibilities for the transfer can be considered. 

Contact Installation and Licensing Support

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

[Walter Roberson]

You do not have to wait one year: you have to wait until the anniversary of the oldest of the transfers.

[Walter Roberson]

A few years ago, a report was posted of students in a lab getting together to purchase a single copy of MATLAB, and then were passing the copy around, deactivating it on one system and activating it on the next, to avoid paying for multiple copies. The transfer limitation is designed to make it infeasible for licenses to be abused like that. You can argue that the limit on the number of transfers per year should be higher than 4, but if you propose removing the limit altogether then you will need to also propose a different method that would prevent licenses from being deliberately shared between students or within a company.

[Walter Roberson]

In the license_agreement.txt file, the current version says,

1.1. Individual License Option

    (ii) A Named User may install the Programs on up to four (4) different
    Computers but may not use a Program on more than two (2) Computers
    simultaneously, except that Student and Home Licenses are limited to a
    single Computer. 

    (iii) The Licensee may redesignate the Named User authorized to use a
    Program, whether temporarily or not, up to four (4) times in any twelve
    (12) month period, except that Student and Home Licenses are not
    transferable.

    1.2. Designated Computer License Option 

    (iv) The Licensee may redesignate the Computer, whether temporarily or not,
    up to four (4) times in any twelve (12) month period. 

    1.3. Network Named User License Option 

    (vi) The Licensee may redesignate the Named Users for a Program, whether
    temporarily or not, up to four (4) times in any twelve (12) month period.