---
title: "License required"
description: "This self-hosted Auto Runtime has no license key and has used its free runs, so it didn't start the run."
url: "https://on.auto/problems/license_required"
last_updated: "2026-11-10T14:41:54+00:00"
---

# License required

## What it means

This self-hosted Auto Runtime has no license key and has used its free runs, so it didn't start the run. Without a key, a runtime gets 100 free runs, then 15 a day and 75 a month, counted in UTC. It can run again when the limit resets, or as soon as a free license key is activated.

## What to do

Read the problem's `detail` first. It says what happened to this request.

*   Get a free license key: open `resolve_at` while signed in to Studio as an admin of your organization, and register the runtime. Studio shows the key only once.
*   [Activate the key](https://on.auto/docs/self-host/licenses#activate-the-key) on the runtime, then send the request again.
*   Or wait until `lifts_at`, when the limit resets.
*   A workflow whose step was refused waits at that step and tries again by itself, for up to 24 hours.

## Technical details

*   Type: `https://on.auto/problems/license_required`
*   Status: 409
*   Reason: `conflict`
*   Kind: `license_required`
*   `resolve_at`: the page in Studio where an admin gets a free license key for this runtime
*   `runtime_id`: this runtime's id
*   `because`: `free_daily_limit` or `free_month_used`, the limit the runtime reached
*   `lifts_at`: when that limit resets, in UTC

[Responses and errors](https://on.auto/docs/reference/http#responses-and-errors) in the HTTP API reference has the full detail, including [when each member appears](https://on.auto/docs/reference/http#the-refusals-of-the-meter). [Problem types](https://on.auto/problems/) lists every type.

## Sitemap

See the [full documentation and product sitemap](https://on.auto/sitemap.md) for related pages.