If you find yourself in a testing scenario or the key becomes corrupted, you can reset the grace period. .
The most common interaction with an RDS CAL license registry key happens on the client side. When a device connects to a Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) for the first time, it receives a license. .
When you install the RD Session Host role, Microsoft grants a 120-day licensing grace period during which users can connect without a valid CAL. The remaining time is tracked via a specific registry key.
An RDS CAL license registry key is a unique identifier assigned to each RDS CAL, which is used to activate and track the license. The registry key is stored in the Windows Registry of the RDS server, and it's used to verify the validity and authenticity of the RDS CAL. rds cal license registry key
The most commonly referenced registry key regarding RDS licensing is the one that tracks the 120-day grace period. Once this period ends, users can no longer connect without a valid CAL.
Specifies the type of CALs the server will request. 2 = Per Device Licensing Mode 4 = Per User Licensing Mode 5 = Not Configured (Workgroup/Default) Specifying the Licensing Server Name
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) licensing can be one of the more confusing aspects of managing a Windows Server environment. For IT administrators, understanding the underlying configuration is crucial, and at the heart of this lies the . This guide will serve as your comprehensive resource for understanding, locating, and managing these critical registry settings. If you find yourself in a testing scenario
Right-click the Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC) shortcut and select to initiate the connection. Running as admin allows the application to recreate these registry keys with the newly obtained license. Best Practices and Safety Warnings
Moving the license database to a new drive. 2. The RD Session Host Grace Period Key
Running the RDP client as an administrator forces Windows to recreate the deleted MSLicensing registry key and pull a clean, valid Per-Device CAL from the license server. Configuring Licensing Modes via Command Line and Registry When a device connects to a Remote Desktop
The registry keys for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access Licenses (CALs)
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TermServLicensing\Parameters Value Name: DisableWorkgroupAuthEnforcement Type: REG_DWORD Data: 1 Resetting the Grace Period
If a client machine receives a corrupted license token or an incorrect temporary license, it may trigger a "Remote Desktop Disconnected: No Remote Desktop Client Access Licenses available" error.
The grace period is a 120-day window during which an RDS host accepts connections without a valid license server. The registry holds a binary value named GracePeriod (or sometimes MSLicensing in older builds). Deleting or modifying this key can reset the grace period, but this is in production except as a last resort.