While activating or refreshing a WS_FTP Server license, the activation process fails and displays a NARP Unknown Error. This prevents the license from being validated and applied successfully.

The error typically occurs during:

• Initial license activation
• License refresh
• Server changes (hostname, OS update, migration, or restore)
• When the same activation key was previously used on another system

This issue is not version‑specific and can occur across WS_FTP Server environments.

The NARP Unknown Error indicates that the WS_FTP Server is unable to validate or apply the license due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Network or firewall restrictions blocking activation services
• Incorrect, expired, or previously activated license file
• Corrupted or leftover activation data on the server
• Server environment changes (OS rebuild, VM clone, hostname change)
• License already active on another machine

Option 1: Deactivate and Reactivate the License (Preferred)

1. Navigate to community.progress.com and sign in using the registered email address.
2. Go to Product Downloads.
3. Select Go To Download Center under MOVEit – WS_FTP.
4. Open the My Company’s Assets tab.
5. Select the affected license asset.
6. Click Deactivate.
7. Follow the on‑screen prompts to confirm deactivation.

Important: Only the Primary Contact associated with the license has permission to deactivate it.
If the Deactivate option is missing, contact the Progress Customer Service Team.

Option 2: During Activation Prompt. If prompted with the following options during activation:

• Refresh current license
• Deactivate this license

Select Deactivate this license, then proceed with the activation steps below.

Offline Activation Steps

1. Open License Manager with elevated privileges:
• Click Start >All Programs > Progress WS_FTP Server
• Right‑click Activate or Refresh WS_FTP Server License
• Select More > Run as administrator
2. Enter the Activation Key.
3. Uncheck Use active internet connection.
4. Click Activate, then select Generate File.
5. Save the generated license.ofa file to a known location.
6. From a computer with internet access, upload the OFA file to the offline activation portal:
   https://community.progress.com/s/offline-activation
   (Select Upload OFA file from the drop‑down menu.)
7. Download the generated license file.
8. Import the license file into the WS_FTP activation utility to complete the activation.

Step 3 :  If the issue still persists after following the steps above:

1.Delete all previously generated OFA /license files from the system.

2. Navigate to the default license location and remove any existing license files & retry the offline activation process from the beginning

WS_FTP Server v8.7 and above

C:\Program Files (x86)\Progress\Common

WS_FTP Server v8.6 and below

C:\Program Files (x86)\Ipswitch\Common

If activation continues to fail:

• Temporarily disable firewall or proxy restrictions
• Verify system date/time is correct
• Confirm the license key matches the installed WS_FTP Server version
• Perform offline activation as outlined above

- License activation requires administrative privileges.

- VM snapshots or system cloning may cause license validation failures.

- Always deactivate licenses before server rebuilds or migrations.