License Recovery

To recover or migrate Remote Desktop Services (RDS) / Terminal Services CALs for Windows Server 2019 when the license server ID and license key pack ID are available, use the Microsoft Clearinghouse and the RDS licensing tools rather than trying to obtain a separate “license code.” The key pack ID is what is used to reinstall or migrate CALs.

Use one of these supported approaches:

1. Migrate or reinstall CALs via the RDS Licensing Wizard
2. Install and activate the Remote Desktop Licensing role on the (new or existing) Windows Server 2019 license server.
3. Open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager (or Terminal Server Licensing on older versions).
4. Right‑click the license server, select Install Licenses.
5. On Obtain Client License Key Pack, choose the appropriate License Program and proceed.
6. When prompted, provide the information from the original purchase (agreement/enrollment number, etc.) and use the existing license key pack ID to migrate the CALs to this server.
7. Complete the wizard to apply the CALs.

If using the older Terminal Services UI, set the installation method to Telephone, then:

1. In the wizard, note the license server ID.
2. Call the Microsoft Clearinghouse using the phone number shown in the wizard.
3. Provide the license server ID and your existing license key pack ID and purchase details.
4. The Clearinghouse will validate and, if appropriate, issue a license key pack ID that can be entered back into the wizard to reinstall/migrate the CALs.
5. Recover CALs using Microsoft Clearinghouse (phone/web) If the wizard cannot complete online, or if the CALs were previously installed on another server:
6. Use the license server ID from the current server.
7. Contact the Microsoft Clearinghouse:
   • Via the activation site: Remote Desktop Services
   • Or by phone using the number shown in the wizard (for example, 1‑888‑571‑2048 in the referenced article).
8. Provide:
   • License server ID
   • Existing license key pack ID
   • Purchase details (agreement/enrollment number from the paper agreement or volume licensing documentation)
9. The Clearinghouse will generate or confirm a license key pack ID that can be entered into the licensing wizard to reinstall the CALs.
10. WMI options for reinstall/import (advanced/automated) If scripting or automation is required on Windows Server 2019 (supported from Windows Server 2008 onward), use the Win32_TSLicenseKeyPack WMI class in the root\CIMV2 namespace:

• To reinstall a retail purchase key pack:
  • ReinstallRetailPurchaseLicenseKeyPack(sLicenseCode, KeyPackId) – uses the 25‑character license code (no hyphens).
• To reinstall a key pack obtained via Internet/phone:
  • ReinstallLicenseKeyPackOffline(sLicenseKeyPackId, KeyPackId) – uses the 35‑character license key pack ID (no hyphens).
• To import a key pack from another license server (offline):
  • ImportLicenseKeyPackOffline(sLicenseKeyPackId, sSourceLSName, sSourceLSProductId, KeyPackId) – uses the 35‑character license key pack ID, the source license server name, and its 35‑character product ID.

These methods do not reveal a separate “license code” beyond the license key pack ID and license code already provided by Microsoft; they are used to reinstall or import existing CALs onto a license server.

If the original purchase documentation or volume licensing agreement details are missing, or if the key pack cannot be recovered through the wizard, contact Microsoft Volume Licensing or the Microsoft Clearinghouse with your license server ID, license key pack ID, and purchase agreement information so they can assist in recovering or reissuing the CALs.

References:

• How to move Terminal Services CALs from one license server to another in Windows
• Migrate your Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs)
• ReinstallRetailPurchaseLicenseKeyPack method of the Win32_TSLicenseKeyPack class
• ReinstallLicenseKeyPackOffline method of the Win32_TSLicenseKeyPack class
• ImportLicenseKeyPackOffline method of the Win32_TSLicenseKeyPack class
• ImportOpenPurchaseLicenseKeyPack method of the Win32_TSLicenseKeyPack class
• Find and use product keys for volume licensing