Right-click your Remote Desktop Connection client (mstsc.exe) and select . Connect to the RDS host. Running it as admin the first time gives the client permission to recreate the missing registry keys and write the new CAL token. Resolution 2: Fixing Registry Permissions

Users frequently encounter errors such as "The remote session was disconnected because the local computer received an invalid or corrupted Remote Desktop license." This indicates a corruption in the client-side cache rather than a server-side failure. Clearing the MSLicensing Cache

On the RD Session Host or the RD Licensing Server, primary configurations and operational database paths are located here:

The is a powerful but dangerous tool. While it offers a path to resolve stubborn licensing issues—from non-responsive license servers to corrupted grace periods—it must be handled with precision and respect for the underlying service architecture.

When you decommission an old license server, your RDS host may still attempt to contact it. Removing the server’s entry from SpecifiedLicenseServers forces the host to fail over to another server.

This guide details the specific registry keys responsible for RDS CAL storage, verification, and modification, providing actionable steps to resolve common Remote Desktop licensing issues. 1. The Core RDS CAL Registry Paths

, select "The source license server is no longer functioning" (applicable for hardware failure, ransomware, or other loss scenarios).

On the Remote Desktop License Server, the registry stores the scope of issuance (permanent vs. temporary).

: Useful in environments where you want to prevent a client from automatically upgrading to a higher version CAL.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\GracePeriod Use code with caution. Managing the GracePeriod Key

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services LicensingMode & LicenseServers