I am unable to connect to an EC2 Windows instance using RDP and receive an error, "The remote session was disconnected because there are no Remote Desktop License Servers available." How can I resolve this?

Resolution

The error indicates there is an issue with the Remote Desktop Services host settings on your Amazon EC2 Windows instance.

If you don't need to run more than two concurrent RDP sessions, uninstall the Remote Desktop Service.

Troubleshooting CALs

If you installed the Remote Desktop services host settings on your Amazon EC2 Windows instance to allow more than 2 concurrent RDP client sessions, then you must purchase Client Access Licenses (CALs). RDS provides a licensing grace period of 120 days. After the grace period expires, you must purchase CALs to allow more than two concurrent RDP user sessions.

For assistance with purchasing and installing CALs, contact your VAR or Microsoft Partner.

If you purchased CALs and receive the error, then the server might not be reachable by the instance that you're connecting to. For more information, see Cannot connect to RDS because no RD Licensing servers are available.

Uninstall Remote Desktop Services

1. Open Remote Desktop client using below command and connect to the Windows server:

mstsc /admin

2. Run the following Windows PowerShell command as an administrator:

Uninstall-WindowsFeature -name Remote-Desktop-Services -includemanagementtools -confirm

3. Reboot the machine.

Note: If you still can't connect to a Windows instance using RDP, you might have to perform additional troubleshooting. For more information, see How do I troubleshoot Remote Desktop connection issues to my Amazon EC2 Windows instance?

Related information

Connect to your Windows instance

Command-line reference mstsc

RDP displays a black screen instead of the desktop