Windows server 2022 Remote desktop CAL licenses

Question

Microsoft support says by default Windows Server 2022 Standard comes with 5 Client Access Licenses (CALs), which means you do not need to purchase any additional CALs for users to access the server. However, if you plan to use Remote Desktop Services (RDS) on the server, you will need to purchase RDS CALs in addition to the standard CALs.

I requested them for proper MS document or KB and this information is not having any clarity in it. Please answer by default how many users can RDP to windows server 2022 server machine?

Answer 1

Hello,

If you want to use RDS, you have to purchase CALs if you want to have more than 2 users logins at the same time.

You can have 2 users login to your server if you didn’t purchase any CALs under admin mode. (Note you should not install any rds role, otherwise you need to use "mstsc /admin" instead of "mstsc:)

About CAL, you can follow this document: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

---

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.