Hello SIOS Forum Community.

The version of WinCC licences always refers to the main version of WinCC regardless of service packs and updates. For example, a licence purchased for V7.5 is also valid for V7.5 SP2.

WinCC licences are also downward compatible in many areas, as shown in the following examples:

• V7.x RT/RC licences can each be used for smaller versions within V7.x and also up to V6.2 and V6.0 SP3/4.
• V7.x archive licences can be used for smaller versions within V7.x and also up to V6.2.

The licences for other WinCC options must be considered in a more differentiated manner.

In general, downward compatibility only applies here for licences up to V7.3.

There are also the following special features:

Licences for WebUX are version-independent from WinCC V7.3 and cannot be used for installations <V7.3.

Licences for WebNavigator and Datamonitor are version-independent from WinCC V7.4 and cannot be used for installations <V7.4.

(Source: FAQ https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/de/view/44029132, PDF "Documentation Migration V6.2 to V7", chapter 7)

This results in various possible uses.

Example: Extension of a WinCC V7.0 application by an additional client

WinCC V7.0 licences are currently* no longer available. To license an additional client, a corresponding RT licence in V7.2 could be purchased.

Example: Acquisition of an RC licence for modification of an existing WinCC V7.3 application

WinCC V7.3 licences are currently* still available. However, in order not to have to invest in an "obsolete" engineering licence, a current RC licence in V7.5 is purchased. This can also be used to activate engineering in V7.3.

Example: Extension of a WinCC V7.4 application by an additional client with planned upgrade of the entire system to V7.5 in the near future.

WinCC V7.4 licences are currently* still available. In order to save costs when upgrading the system to V7.5 at a later date, the client licence is already purchased as a V7.5 licence and temporarily used to activate the V7.4 client.

(*At the time of writing this post: March 2021).

However, caution is advised when using powerpacks: these are always version-specific. For example, a V7.2 powerpack for a runtime licence cannot be applied to an existing runtime licence of version V7.0. This would then have to be upgraded to V7.2 beforehand.

Unclear cases should always be clarified specifically with Siemens technical advice.

With Best Regards,

SIMATIC International Technical Support Hub