Error When Activate Tableau Desktop License

 

UPDATE (8/29/2023):

 

Apparently, the solution to this issue is much simpler.  As described here, you don't need to uninstall Tableau Desktop and re-install it.  You only need to do step 5d below (to delete the 3 Tableau files in the FLEXNet Publisher/FLEXNet directory).  Then re-start your Mac (no need to re-install Tableau Desktop).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

ORIGINAL POST (5/1/2021):

When activating Tableau Desktop license with a valid product key, you get an error like ‘No License found for Tableau Desktop’ or ‘There was an unexpected error while trying to repair Trusted Storage’.

 

The resolution is to uninstall Tableau Desktop from your computer and re-install it.  This KB article provides the instruction on how to completely remove Tableau Desktop, however, the instruction is incomplete.  

 

For Mac, step 5 in the KB article should be:

 

5.  Some folders are hidden on Mac, to navigate to the hidden folders:

 

                a)  Hit Cmd + Space to launch a search box on Mac.

 

                b)  In dialog box, type in /Library/Preferences (not ~/Library/Preferences).

 

                c)  Follow steps 3 and 4 in the KB article to delete the ‘com.tableau’ files.

 

                d)  In addition, delete the 3 Tableau files in the FLEXNet Publisher/FLEXNet directory.

 

 

Then restart your Mac and re-install Tableau Desktop.  

 

In Tableau Desktop 2019.3 and later versions, FLEXNet package is automatically installed when you install Tableau Desktop.  But in a rare occasion when you don’t see FLEXNet folders, you can manually install it.