number of users allowed to login to a server

Hi Hickerson, Matthew,

By design, Windows Server allows just two concurrent Remote Desktop sessions for administrative purposes. To go beyond that, you’ll need to configure Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and purchase the appropriate Client Access Licenses (CALs).

The process involves installing the Remote Desktop Session Host role, setting up the Remote Desktop Licensing role, and then activating the CALs that match the number of users you want to support. Once this is done, you can allow multiple users to connect simultaneously without hitting the two‑user restriction. This is the supported and secure way to expand access for your team.

In short, the limitation you’re seeing is expected behavior, and the path forward is to deploy RDS with CALs. I hope this explanation gives you a clear direction and helps you plan the next steps. If you find this answer helpful, please consider clicking Accept Answer so others can benefit too.

Jason.

Hi Hickerson, Matthew,

I’m following up to check whether the issue has been resolved. If the information provided was helpful, please click "Accept Answer" to help others in the community. Thank you!

To increase the number of users allowed to log in to a server, you will need to adjust the configuration settings related to Remote Desktop Services (RDS) or Terminal Services, depending on your server setup. Here are the general steps you can follow:

1. Check Group Policy Settings: Ensure that the Group Policy settings for Terminal Services are not limiting the number of connections. You can access this by using the Group Policy Management Console.
2. Modify Terminal Services Configuration:
   • Open the Terminal Services Configuration tool.
   • Right-click on the connection you want to modify (e.g., RDP-Tcp) and select Properties.
   • On the Network Adapter tab, you can set the maximum number of connections allowed.
3. User Permissions: Ensure that the users who need to connect are part of the Remote Desktop Users group, which grants them permission to log in remotely.
4. Server Licensing: If you are using Windows Server, ensure that you have the appropriate licenses for the number of users you want to allow to connect simultaneously.
5. Restart the Server: After making changes, it may be necessary to restart the server for the changes to take effect.

By following these steps, you should be able to increase the number of users allowed to log in to your server.