TIA Portal V21 trial · official download guide
Free, legal and straight from Siemens.
The TIA Portal V21 trial gives you 21 days of STEP 7, PLCSIM and WinCC. Here is how to get it the right way, and what to do when the clock runs out.
When I was a new engineer, I wanted a way to learn TIA Portal for free. That search is the reason this series exists on WOIN, and this TIA Portal V21 trial guide is its fifth edition, after V17, V18, V19 and V20.
However, the search results have not improved since then. If you type “TIA Portal V21 download” into Google today, you will find pages promising a “full version” through some drive link. Those files do not come from Siemens, so I will never link them here.
Instead, I will walk you through the official route: what is new in V21, what your laptop needs, the five download steps, and your legal options after day 21.
What you’ll take away
Where the official V21 trial lives, and what it includes
The PC you need before you click download
Five steps from Siemens ID to trial activation
Which licence route fits students, engineers and companies
01What’s new
What’s New in the TIA Portal V21 Trial
Siemens announced TIA Portal V21 at the SPS fair in Nuremberg on 11 November 2025. Even though the trial is the same 21-day package as before, the software inside it has changed in ways that matter on real projects.
| New in V21 | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Git-compatible export | Because LAD, FBD, SCL, data blocks, PLC data types and mixed-language blocks now export in a new format, you can track them in a version control system such as Git. |
| Redundant Unified servers | WinCC Unified SCADA can now run on redundant servers, so one server going down does not stop the operator stations. |
| Unified Data Hub | Messages, audit trails and process data from several WinCC Unified PC runtimes go into one central archive for long-term storage. |
New features as listed in the Siemens press release of 11 November 2025.
If you are a student, try the Git export first, because it shows you how software teams track every change in PLC code. For an engineer on a SCADA project, however, redundancy and the Data Hub are the real headline.
Distributors and trainers list more changes, especially for drives and motion. Still, I have kept this table to what Siemens itself published, so watch the Siemens V21 new features webinar if you want the full list.
02Inside the package
What the TIA Portal V21 Trial Includes
On Siemens’ support site, the download entry is called “SIMATIC STEP 7 incl. Safety, S7-PLCSIM and WinCC V21 Trial Download”. In other words, one trial covers the three tools you need to learn PLC and HMI work together.
| Package | Used for | Why it matters when you learn |
|---|---|---|
| STEP 7 | Programming S7-1200 and S7-1500 PLCs | This is where you write your ladder, function block and SCL logic. |
| STEP 7 Safety | Safety programs for fail-safe CPUs | It shows you how a safety program differs from standard control logic. |
| S7-PLCSIM | Simulating a PLC on your laptop | You can test your logic without buying any hardware at all. |
| WinCC | HMI screens for panels and PC stations | You can build an operator screen and connect it to your PLC tags. |
Contents as named in the Siemens V21 trial entry, where the page lists the exact editions inside each package.
PLCSIM is the reason I tell every fresher to take this trial seriously. When you pair it with STEP 7, you get a complete test bench on one laptop, with no PLC, no power supply and no wiring.
03Your PC
TIA Portal V21 Trial System Requirements
TIA Portal is heavy software, so check your PC before you spend a whole evening on the download. These are the V21 hardware figures from the Siemens installation notes.
| Item | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3-6100U, 2.30 GHz | Intel Core i5-12600HE or comparable |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more, and 32 GB for large projects |
| Storage | S-ATA drive with 20 GB free | SSD with at least 50 GB free |
| Screen | 1024 × 768 | 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 × 1080) or higher |
| Network | 100 Mbit | 1 Gbit, for multiuser engineering |
V21 hardware summary, so always check the readme in your download because it is the final word.
For Windows, you need a 64-bit system. For example, the supported list includes Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC, Windows 11 Professional 24H2, Windows 11 Enterprise 23H2, and Windows Server 2022 and 2025 Standard.
Windows 11 Home 24H2 appears on the list only for the Basic editions. That is why you should check this line first if you plan to run STEP 7 Professional on a home laptop.
My advice on the laptop
If you are buying a laptop for automation work, go for 16 GB of RAM and an SSD at the very least. On paper, 8 GB is enough to install. In practice, though, a project with PLCSIM and WinCC open at the same time needs the extra memory.
I have covered this in more detail in my guide to minimum computer specifications for automation engineers, including what to look for when your budget is tight.
04Download
How to Download the TIA Portal V21 Trial: Step by Step
These are the same steps I have shared for every version in this series, now updated for V21. Before you start, keep about an hour free, because the files run to several gigabytes.
- 1Create your free Siemens ID. Register on Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS). If you are a student, enter your college or university details where the form asks for a company.
- 2Then open the official V21 trial entry. Log in and go to entry 109989774, the SIMATIC STEP 7 incl. Safety, S7-PLCSIM and WinCC V21 trial download.
- 3Next, download the setup files with their checksums. Start with the main setup (DVD 1) and keep it in one folder with its checksum file. If you also want PLCSIM or the extra packages on that page, save them into the same folder.
- 4After that, run the setup. Use a Windows account with administrator rights, select the products and languages you need, and let the installer finish. In addition, it installs the Automation License Manager for you.
- 5Finally, activate the 21-day trial. On the first start, TIA Portal tells you that it is running in non-licensed mode. Choose the trial option, and your 21 days begin.
Only download from support.industry.siemens.com. If a website offers a “TIA Portal V21 full version” through a drive link or a torrent, close the tab, because Siemens does not distribute its software that way.
Activating the 21-day licence
Siemens’ installation notes are clear on this point: you can activate a trial licence once, and it expires after 21 days. So before you click activate, I suggest a simple plan.
- Block your calendar: pick three weeks when you can practise almost every day, such as a semester break.
- Prepare your exercises: for instance, write down five small tasks, like a motor start-stop, a tank level alarm and a timer sequence.
- Archive your work often: use the archive function in TIA Portal so that your projects stay safe and easy to move.
05After 21 days
What Happens When the TIA Portal V21 Trial Ends?
After day 21, TIA Portal only runs with restrictions. According to the Siemens notes, a PC that has never had a licence cannot carry out any licence-based actions, so in practice you can no longer keep developing your project.
Your project files stay on your disk, though. As a result, if your college or company buys a licence later, you can pick up exactly where you stopped.
Also, remember that Siemens allows one trial activation. That is why planning your 21 days matters far more than searching for a way to reset the clock.
TIA Portal Cloud: another official option
Siemens also offers TIA Portal Cloud, where the engineering software runs in a Siemens cloud workspace instead of on your laptop. It has been available as a free 21-day test as well, but check the current terms and availability in your country on the Siemens website before you rely on it.
06Your next step
Which Route Fits You? Case 1, 2 and 3
After the trial, the right next step depends on who you are. Here is how I would decide.
If you are learning, the 21-day trial plus PLCSIM is enough to build real skills. After that, ask your college whether it holds Siemens licences through the SCE education programme, because Siemens supplies full licences to institutions through trainer packages.
In addition, the Siemens SCE page for trainees and students offers free learning documents.
If your plant or client runs V20 today, the trial is a good way to check V21 before an upgrade. However, always upgrade a copy of the project, since an upgraded project cannot go back to the older version.
Similarly, if your company has an active Software Update Service contract, V21 is usually covered by it. So check with your licence administrator before you buy anything.
The trial exists for evaluation and learning. So if you are programming a machine or a plant for a client, buy the right licence: STEP 7 Basic for S7-1200 work, or STEP 7 Professional when you also need S7-1500.
For the exact package and price, ask your local Siemens partner for a quote.
07The big question
TIA Portal V21 Trial vs Cracked Copy: Is the Risk Worth It?
This question sits behind many of the “free download” searches, so let me answer it directly.
Cracked copy
Hidden cost
- Installers from unknown sites can carry malware.
- Since there is no licence, there are no updates or support either.
- It breaks Siemens’ copyright and licence terms.
- If it reaches a company laptop, the risk becomes your employer’s too.
Official trial
Clean and legal
- The installer comes straight from Siemens, with a checksum.
- You get the full software for 21 days.
- Both PLCSIM and WinCC come in the same package.
- When your college or company asks, you have nothing to hide.
A cracked copy saves money on day one, but the official trial protects your PC, your projects and your name.
As an engineer, your reputation runs on trust. If you would never load unknown software onto a plant DCS, don’t load it onto the laptop where you keep your projects either.
That is also why WOIN links only to Siemens pages. Software companies can act against pages that share cracked copies, and I would rather keep this series clean and useful for you.
08Avoid these
Common Installation Mistakes and Quick Fixes
Most failed installs come down to a few small things. Here are the ones to watch, along with the fix for each.
Installing on a nearly full disk
V21 needs at least 20 GB free, while Siemens recommends an SSD with 50 GB.
Fix Free up space, or move to an SSD before you start.
Splitting files across folders
When the setup and its checksum sit in different places, the check and the install get messy.
Fix Keep every file from the trial page together in one folder.
Letting antivirus block the setup
According to Siemens, some antivirus programs block the read and write access that the setup needs.
Fix Allow the installer as your IT rules permit, then run it again.
Special characters in the install path
Siemens warns against Unicode characters, such as Chinese characters, in the path. Also, the path cannot change after you install the first product.
Fix Keep the default path, or choose a plain English one.
Professional on Windows 11 Home
The Home edition appears on the list only for the Basic editions.
Fix Use Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise if you need STEP 7 Professional.
Activating during a busy week
You only get one trial, and it runs for 21 days from activation.
Fix Activate it only when your practice plan is ready.
09Learn for free
Learn TIA Portal V21 for Free
Downloading the software is only step one. To make your 21 days count, use these free and official resources.
- Siemens SCE learning documents: Siemens publishes free learning and training documents on TIA Portal topics, such as hardware configuration and basic programming.
- My WOIN guides: start with Learn PLC Programming in 2025, and then continue with Learn Siemens TIA Portal for Free.
- The WOIN YouTube channel: I post detailed explainer videos on YouTube, while short reels go up on Instagram.
- Your own mini projects: for example, build a pump start-stop with interlocks or a tank level control with alarms, and then test it in PLCSIM.
Every download link in this article goes to an official Siemens page, and WOIN does not host, share or link to cracked software. Since Siemens can change its terms, prices and trial rules, always check the official page before you install.
Final word
EndNote
The TIA Portal V21 trial is still the best free and legal way to learn Siemens PLC programming. So download it from Siemens, plan your 21 days, and practise with PLCSIM every day.
I keep this series updated with every new version, as I have done since V17. Meanwhile, these WOIN articles pair well with this one.
For videos and reels, you can follow WOIN on YouTube and Instagram.
Now over to you: did the TIA Portal V21 trial install smoothly on your laptop, or did you hit an error on the way?
