Tally Not Opening / License Expired – Troubleshooting & Resolution Guide – Bison Knowledgebase

Tally Not Opening / License Expired – Troubleshooting & Resolution Guide

📅 01 Jan 2026 📂 General 👁 24 views

Tally is a mission-critical accounting application widely used by businesses for compliance, bookkeeping, and reporting. A common operational disruption occurs when Tally does not open or displays License Expired / License Not Found / Educational Mode errors. These issues can arise due to license expiry, network problems, configuration errors, or system-level restrictions.

This knowledge base article provides a structured, technical, and practical guide to diagnose and resolve Tally startup and licensing issues on Windows systems.

Technical Overview

Tally licensing is managed by Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd. using an online activation mechanism. Tally validates:

License validity (Subscription period)
Internet connectivity
Correct system date & time
License file integrity
User permissions
Firewall / proxy access to Tally license servers

If any of these checks fail, Tally may:

Not open at all
Open in Educational Mode
Show License Expired
Show Unable to Reach License Server

Common Error Scenarios

Tally application does not launch (no window)
“License Expired – Please Renew”
“Unable to Connect to License Server”
“Running in Educational Mode”
Tally closes immediately after opening
Blank screen on startup

Use Cases

Accounting team unable to access Tally during business hours
Server-based Tally not opening for multiple users
License renewal completed but Tally still shows expired
Migration to new PC/server causing license issues
Internet or firewall changes blocking activation

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting & Resolution

Step 1: Check License Status Inside Tally

Open Tally
Press F1 → Help → About
Verify:
- License Number
- Validity Date
- Mode (Silver/Gold)

If Tally does not open, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Verify System Date & Time

Incorrect system time is a very common cause.

Right-click Date & Time
Enable:
- Set time automatically
- Set time zone automatically
Restart the system
Reopen Tally

Step 3: Check Internet Connectivity

Tally requires outbound HTTPS access.

Run command:

ping google.com

If ping fails:

Fix internet connection
Check proxy/VPN settings
Temporarily disable VPN and test

Step 4: Firewall & Antivirus Check

Ensure firewall is not blocking Tally.

Windows Firewall Allow Rule


wf.msc

Allow:

tally.exe
TallyPrime.exe
Outbound TCP 80 & 443

Temporarily disable antivirus and test (for diagnosis only).

Step 5: Reactivate License (Safe Method)

If license shows expired or invalid:

Open Tally
Press F1 → Help → Activate License
Enter:
- Administrator Email
- Serial Number
Complete OTP verification

⚠️ Do NOT deactivate unless required.

Step 6: Repair Tally Installation

Corrupted program files can prevent startup.

Backup data folder
Download latest Tally version
Right-click installer → Run as Administrator
Choose Repair

Step 7: Run Tally as Administrator

Permission issues may block license read/write.

Right-click Tally icon
Select Run as Administrator

Optional permanent fix:


Right-click → Properties → Compatibility → Run as Administrator

Step 8: Check License Files (Advanced)

Location:


C:\Program Files\Tally\License

Ensure files exist
No “read-only” attribute
Correct user permissions

Commands & Diagnostics (Optional)

Check active network:


ipconfig /all

Check system time:


time /t
date /t

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue	Root Cause	Fix
License expired	Subscription ended	Renew license
Educational mode	Activation failed	Reactivate
Tally not opening	Corrupt files	Repair install
License not found	Permission issue	Run as admin
Server license issue	Firewall/proxy	Allow outbound traffic

Security Considerations

Never share license serial numbers publicly
Activate only from authorized admin email
Avoid cracked or modified Tally versions
Restrict internet access changes on accounting PCs
Keep OS and Tally updated

Best Practices

Maintain AMC for Tally license
Schedule license renewal reminders
Keep system date/time synchronized
Whitelist Tally in firewall/antivirus
Use UPS to avoid abrupt shutdowns
Backup data before any repair or reinstallation

Conclusion

Tally not opening or license expired issues are usually configuration, connectivity, or license-related, not data-related. By following a structured troubleshooting approach—checking system time, connectivity, firewall rules, and license activation—most issues can be resolved quickly without data loss.

For server-based or multi-user environments, ensure network stability and proper administrative controls.

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