
- #Windows server 2016 remote desktop services user vs. device how to#
- #Windows server 2016 remote desktop services user vs. device license#
No configurationĪs soon as you open this tool, you may get an error message that licenses are not available for the Remote Desktop Session host server.

This tool’s messages can give a better idea of the cause of the “remote desktop licensing mode is not configured” error. To use this tool, go to Administrative Tools -> Remote Desktop Services -> RD Licensing Diagnoser. Though this is the most common cause of the “remote desktop licensing mode is not configured” error, there can also be other reasons/causes.īut identifying them is not easy as the error message will not be so intuitive, and that’s when you can use diagnostic tools like the RD Licensing Diagnoser.
#Windows server 2016 remote desktop services user vs. device license#
That’s when the notification will convert into an error, and you have to buy a license to continue accessing. However, if you go beyond the 120-day grace period, you can’t access the service. This is just a notification and doesn’t stop you from accessing the remote desktop service. When you see this error, the fix is straightforward.Īs mentioned earlier, Microsoft gives a 120-day grace period, so this notification is a reminder to buy the license if you want to continue beyond this grace period.

Sometimes, you’ll get a pop-up in the system tray that tells you that the remote desktop service will stop working in x days.

What is the “remote desktop licensing mode is not configured” error? What’s the cause of this error and how do you fix it? What is the ‘remote desktop licensing mode is not configured’ error? Now that you know what remote desktop licensing is, let’s jump into the error. After this time ends, a client needs a CAL to log into a remote desktop through the RD Session Host server. Microsoft offers a 120-day grace period, and no license is required during this time. So, check the version compatibility for your CAL. For example, the 20 R2 session hosts are compatible with RDS 2008 R2 CAL, RDS 2012 CAL, RDS 2016 CAL, and RDS 2019 CAL, while the 2012 session host is compatible with RDS 2012 CAL and later versions. Many CAL versions apply to different session host versions. Using this CAL, the client connects to the RD Session host server and, through it, to the required remote desktop. Next, the server checks if the CAL is valid and issues the same to the client. If yes, the RDS host server requests a CAL from the RD license server. When a host or device tries to connect to a remote desktop session (RDS) Host server, it checks the configuration to see if a CAL is required. This CAL also helps with streamlining access and ensures that no unauthorized system can connect to a remote host.
#Windows server 2016 remote desktop services user vs. device how to#
In this article, let’s learn all about this error, its causes, and how to fix it.Įvery device or user that wants to connect to a remote desktop session host requires a Client Access License (CAL), to help you install and track licenses across different computers. One such critical error that’s not self-explanatory is the “remote desktop licensing mode is not configured” error.

The error message is often not detailed enough to give you the cause of the problem, so fixing it can take up a ton of time and effort, not to mention the frustrations that come with it. However, accessing remote desktops is not always a straightforward task as it could require licenses and can throw up many errors in case of misconfigurations. Accessing remote desktops and configuring them is a common administrative task in organizations, and it has taken greater importance in the current work-from-anywhere culture.
