Remote Desktop Server Licensing

Remote Desktop Licensing

What is Remote Desktop Licensing?

The Windows Server operating system family provides a client license management system known as Remote Desktop Licensing. This system allows customers to obtain and manage RDS client access licenses (RDS CALs) for devices and users connecting to a Remote Desktop Session host. Learn more about RDS CALs options in this overview: License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs) | Microsoft Learn

Activate a license server

You must activate a license server before it can issue Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) to Remote Desktop clients. Activation allows the license server to make subsequent secure transactions with Microsoft and receive RDS CALs. After you've activated your license server, it becomes a registrar for the RDS CALs. While waiting to complete the activation process, your license server can issue temporary CALs for clients that allow them to use Remote Desktop Services. To complete the activation process, you need the product ID listed in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool. For more information, see Install the RD Licensing role and activate the Remotes Desktop License Server.

Install client access licenses (RDS CALs)

After a license server is activated, you can install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs). RDS CALs are installed through Microsoft from the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool. The RDS CALs are stored and tracked on the license server on which they were installed. When Microsoft receives your request to install CALs, it issues them in the quantity requested to your license server. When a client computer attempts to log on to a Remote Desktop Session Host server or a Remote Desktop Virtualization Host server for the first time, the RD Session Host server or the RD Virtualization Host server recognizes that the client hasn't been issued a license and locates a license server to issue a new license to the client's computer. To complete the license installation process, you need the license server ID that is displayed in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool. Additionally, you need to provide one of the following items: a license code from retail product packaging, license and authorization numbers from an Open License confirmation, or a Microsoft Select, Enterprise, Campus, School, or Services Provider License enrollment or agreement number. For more information, see Install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses.

Reactivate a license server

From a previous Windows Server version to the next version (for example, from Windows Server 2019 to 2022), you'll be required to reactivate the license service. A reactivation is required so that your upgraded server can manage RDS CALs in the next version of Windows Server. Reactivating a license server won't result in the loss of the licenses currently installed on the license server. It may also be necessary to reactivate your license server if your certificate expires or becomes corrupt. For more information, see Reactivate a Remote Desktop License Server to reactivate the license service. Review RDS CAL Compatibility for license compatibility on various Windows Server versions.

Manage CALs

You can use this option on the Home page to do either of the following:

Transfer installed RDS CALs from a once-activated Remote Desktop license server to another activated license server.
Rebuild the RD Licensing database on the license server and recover the RDS CALs that were previously installed on the license server.

To perform either of these tasks, you'll need the license server ID for the license server. The license server ID is displayed in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool. You'll also need to provide either a license code or an agreement number, depending on the type of program you use to purchase your RDS CALs. To find this information, consult the documentation provided when you purchased your RDS CALs. For more information, see Migrate your Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs) | Microsoft Learn

Downgrading a license server

To downgrade a license server, you'll need help from Microsoft Clearing House support. Visit Contact Us for information on how to contact support.

Deactivating a license server

You may have to deactivate a license server if the certificate of the server expires, gets damaged, or if you redeploy the server. For more information, see Deactivate a license server.