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BenW6-Contributor
6-Contributor
October 16, 2025
Solved

Can't use Creo Elements Direct Modeling Express: Activation Key server down

Unfortunately, this was never fixed.  Now, the Activation Key server is down (URL).

 

Is Creo Elements Direct Modeling Express still a usable product?  If so, what's the fix?

WT_8075663Answer
7-Bedrock
October 22, 2025

Hi all,

********

I manage to solve this issue.

 

I uninstall all my direct modeling express in my computer.
I download the latest version 9.0 and install.

 

Problem solved.

 

***You MUST uninstall first. before installing 9.0.

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23 replies

der_Wolfgang
der_Wolfgang14-Alexandrite
14-Alexandrite
October 17, 2025

> Unfortunately, this was never fixed.

This is wrong IMHO!  The proxy /server problem got fixed by releasing Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 9.0 in ~ May 2025. It was totally working fine for a bunch of months now.

see https://community.ptc.com/t5/Modeling/Does-Creo-Direct-Modeling-Express-8-0-run-on-Windows-11/m-p/1029474/highlight/true#M1341 for more details on PE90!



The today's problem is that the 'generate activation key' page on the PTC server is not reachable: 

with the detailed message "www-cf.ptc.com | 500: Internal server error"  

PTC

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    BenW6-ContributorAuthor
    6-Contributor
    October 17, 2025

    I don't know what to tell you, for the last year, every 72 hours I have to go through this process. I always get this screen:

    BenW_0-1760733559577.png

    Then this:

    BenW_1-1760733608003.png

    Then have to log in, copy the code from the website, paste it, click submit, then wait for C/EDME to load.

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    BenW6-ContributorAuthor
    6-Contributor
    October 17, 2025

    Frankly, I don't care either way.  After being locked out of Creo's software for a day, DLed and started using Fusion32.  Seems better in every way, and the software actually works!

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    DH_50813284-Participant
    4-Participant
    October 20, 2025

    Vieleicht ließt das ja jemand von PTC

     

    Sehr geehrtes Team von PTC,

     

    ich nutze seit mehr als 10 Jahren die kostenlose Software "Creo Elements Express" im Hobbybereich.
    Habe in der Zeit unzählige Projekte mit dieser Software erstellt. Warum? Ich finde die Software einfach, intuitiv und sie
    bietet mir das was ich brauche. Leider können die Dateien mit keiner anderen Software geöffnet bzw. bearbeitet werden.

     

    Nun kommen wir zum Problem:
    Der Lizenzserver ist seit einigen Tagen nicht erreichbar. Mir ist klar, dass PTC sein Hauptaugenmerk nicht auf eine kostenlose
    Software legen kann. Ich bitte Sie aber zu verstehen, dass es auch für uns Hobbyisten ein großer Verlust ist, wenn wir unsere
    Dateien nicht mehr öffnen bzw. bearbeiten können. Wenn die Software überhaupt nicht mehr funktioniert, bedeutet das für uns
    den Verlust jahrelanger Arbeit.

     

    Deshalb ein paar Fragen an Sie:

    1. Ist es überhaupt von Ihnen gewollt die Software weiterzuführen?
    2. Müssen wir irgendwann damit rechnen, ohne Vorankündigung vor verschlossener Tür zu stehen?
    3. Gibt es eine Möglichkeit, die Lizenz auf Dauerlizenz umzustellen. Damit die ständige Online-Verbindung zum Lizenzserver
    nicht mehr nötig ist?
    4. Wäre es nicht denkbar, alternativ zur kostenlosen Variante eine sagen wir mal "Hobbyversion" zu machen, die ein kleines Geld kostet
    dafür aber nicht mehr auf 60 Teile beschränkt ist und von Ihnen gepflegt wird?
    (Ich bin gern bereit etwas dafür zu bezahlen)

    Vielen Dank

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    GD_47454903-Newcomer
    3-Newcomer
    October 20, 2025

    Hello

     

    I`ve been using creo elements direct modelling express since 2011. So 14 years till now. Hundreds of files, projects and 3d prints.

    But now I have "Cloudflare internal server error". So - that hundreds of files are inaccessible.

    I have that problem since friday, 2025-10-17. I`ve tested several computers with window10, Firefox and Brave tested. Will this program be ever functional again?

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    IH_143312544-Participant
    4-Participant
    October 21, 2025

    I confirm I still have the same problem since friday, 2025-10-17

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      MT_74104873-Newcomer
      3-Newcomer
      October 21, 2025

      I have the same problem since friday 17.


      Translate
      MT_74104873-Newcomer
      3-Newcomer
      October 21, 2025

      It's odd we havn't received any reply/explanation by PTC staff.
      It is more than 5 days the server in not operational and I hope somebody form PTC knows it.

       

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        IH_143312544-Participant
        4-Participant
        October 21, 2025

        I think that this whole situation is a sign of disrespect towards us.

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          rtrski6-Contributor
          6-Contributor
          January 19, 2026

          Strongly agree - after years of having to 72-hour after lengthy wait for failed phone-home, I'd given up. But I was still glad to see this thread in Jan 2026 (Yes, been that long since I even tried to get back to Creo - have moved on as home user Express seemed clearly EOL.) which indicates they at least gave enough of a <beep> to offer a new version. AND that new version, as of Jan 19 2026 at least, DOES seem to have a server-phone-home login vs. a 72 hr counter.

           

          Strange they couldn't even bother to make the upgrade visible, so as to prevent a slew of complaints.  Every time we open they pop a browser window. Not like they don't have the opportunity to tell hobby users V9.0 is here - new server is here! -- download today!  (BTW V8 will start to fail unrecoverably soon!)

           

          Anyway, tiny bit of positive light won't make me "go back" to using this for new models. But means I get a little more lifetime for access to designs I've already completed (other than STL exports), for migrating to my new paid for choice.   PTC's lack of clear give-a-bleep meant they weren't in the running for that choice.  And I see (having only found out about 9.0 well after you all were complaining about the server for IT going down for a while, also) that the 'spotty access' is likely to continue.  Yet another reason this is relegated to backup, for me.

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          WT_80756637-BedrockAnswer
          7-Bedrock
          October 22, 2025

          Hi all,

          ********

          I manage to solve this issue.

           

          I uninstall all my direct modeling express in my computer.
          I download the latest version 9.0 and install.

           

          Problem solved.

           

          ***You MUST uninstall first. before installing 9.0.

          Translate
            MT_74104873-Newcomer
            3-Newcomer
            October 22, 2025

            Thank you....!
            I did as you suggest and now V9 works fine.
            Unfurtunately I downloaded V9 without previously de-installing V8 and it didn't work.
             Now is fine...!

             

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            3Dbuildr1-Visitor
            1-Visitor
            October 22, 2025

            Uninstalling the old version and then downloading and installing the latest version worked for me!! 😀👍

             

            thanks a lot to the PTC community!

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