Visual Studio subscribers have access to special RDS product keys for demonstration purposes. If you're a Visual Studio subscriber conducting internet demonstrations:
I can provide the exact step-by-step activation wizard instructions for your specific scenario. Share public link
Click in the top right corner and select Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager . Right-click your Server Name in the left-hand pane. Select Properties .
Your product key or enrollment details will be displayed here for copy-pasting. Scenario C: Retail Boxes / Digital Receipts If you purchased a retail retail pack of RDS CALs:
The entries inside this key will give you the network names or IP addresses of the servers holding your actual RDS keys. Troubleshooting Missing RDS License Errors how to find rds license key
This returns the KeyPackID , ProductVersion , and TotalLicenses . Again, this is NOT the install key—it is the permanent record ID.
Note: If you cannot access this, you may need to ask your IT manager or the person in your organization who holds the "Permissions" for the VLSC account.
If the Licensing Server is already running but you need to document the key for disaster recovery, do not panic. , but you can view the Key Pack ID and the license count.
To view specific details about the installed CAL packs, use: powershell Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_TSCurrentLicenseProvider Use code with caution. 3. Check the Physical or Digital Invoice Visual Studio subscribers have access to special RDS
If you have searched the VLSC, emailed your reseller, and checked the server, and still come up empty, here are your final options:
Once RDS CALs are activated and assigned, you cannot retrieve the original activation key from the server itself.
If you've purchased RDS licenses through a Microsoft reseller or a cloud solution provider, you may be able to find your license key in your Microsoft account:
Select your specific agreement or software download to view the . Check Your Original Invoice or Documentation Right-click your Server Name in the left-hand pane
If you are auditing your environment or need to document your active RDS deployment programmatically, you can query the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) layer using PowerShell.
(Get-WmiObject -class Win32_RemoteDesktopServicesLicenseKey).LicenseKey
Log into the as a Global Admin or Billing Admin. Navigate to Billing > Your products in the left-hand menu.
# Run on an RDS License Server Get-WmiObject -Namespace "root\CIMV2\TerminalServices" -Class "Win32_TerminalServiceLicenseKeyPack" | Select-Object KeyPackId, ProductVersion, LicenseCount
