The RD Licensing Manager was not able to install the client license key pack. Ensure that the correct information is entered, and then retry this operation.

Hi Ang,

The 25-character keys you listed are retail RDS CAL product keys, and they cannot be installed directly in RD Licensing Manager. They must first be converted by the Microsoft activation service into a numeric License Key Pack ID, which is the value that RD Licensing Manager accepts during Install Licenses → Retail Purchase. If the activation site did not return a Key Pack ID, the activation transaction likely did not complete correctly for your License Server ID (VFVDG-B3KH9-PF7FR-J76WX-8R97F-MMG2X-DV293). In this case the only supported resolution is to contact the Microsoft Clearinghouse, which can regenerate the correct License Key Pack ID tied to your three retail keys and server ID. You can reach them directly through RD Licensing Manager → Activate Server → Telephone, select your region, and provide the product keys and License Server ID. They will issue the numeric Key Pack ID that you then enter in RD Licensing Manager → Install Licenses. This ID can only be generated by Microsoft and cannot be created locally on the server.

I hope it's helpful. If it is, please give it a thump up or an accept answer, appreciate it :)

Harry.

The license key pack installation error must be resolved on the Remote Desktop license server; a new license key pack ID cannot be generated here.

Use the following checks and steps on the Windows Server that is running Remote Desktop Licensing Manager:

1. Verify the RD Licensing role and activation
   1. Open Server Manager on the license server.
   2. Confirm that the Remote Desktop Licensing role is installed and that the license server is activated.
   3. If it is not activated, activate it first. For activation instructions, see Activate the Remote Desktop Services license server (prerequisite for installing CALs).
2. Confirm prerequisites for installing RDS CALs In line with the RDS CAL installation requirements:
   1. Ensure there is a computer running Remote Desktop Licensing Manager that has internet connectivity to contact the Microsoft Clearinghouse.
   2. Sign in with an account that is a local administrator on the license server.
   3. Have the correct license program and license code/agreement number from the purchase documentation ready. The information entered in the wizard must match the purchase program exactly.
3. Install the RDS CALs via Licensing Manager
   1. Open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
   2. Right‑click the license server name and select Install licenses.
   3. Select Next on the welcome page.
   4. On the License Program page, select the program that matches how the Windows Server 2025 RDS CALs were purchased (for example, Open License, Retail, Service Provider License Agreement, etc.), then select Next.
   5. Enter the license code or agreement number exactly as provided in the purchase documentation (not the product key already consumed on the web site, unless the program specifically uses that as the license code).
   6. On the next page, select the product version, license type (Per User), and number of licenses (15), then select Next so the Licensing Manager can contact the Microsoft Clearinghouse and retrieve the license key pack.
   7. Select Finish when the wizard completes.
   If the error appears again at this stage, it typically indicates a mismatch between:
   • The selected license program and the type of license actually purchased, or
   • The license code/agreement number and the product/version/type entered.
4. If the license server is offline or activation was done via web/phone For environments without direct internet access from the license server, use the supported offline method:
   1. Ensure the license server itself is activated.
   2. Use a separate internet‑connected machine running Remote Desktop Licensing Manager to perform the Install licenses wizard and connect to the Clearinghouse, as described above.
   3. If the server is Windows Server 2012 and RDS CAL installation fails with error 800 when using web/phone, apply the hotfix described in the “Can’t install RDS CALs by using a web browser or telephone on a Windows Server 2012‑based license server” article, then:
      • Note the current License Server ID (LSID) and installed CALs.
      • Install the hotfix and restart.
      • Uninstall the RD Licensing role and restart.
      • Reinstall RD Licensing, activate the license server (this generates a new LSID).
      • Use Manage CALs in Licensing Manager to migrate existing CALs or install new CALs.
5. Verify RD Licensing configuration after CAL installation Once the CALs are successfully installed:
   1. In RD Licensing Manager, confirm there is a green check mark next to the license server and that the Total and Available license counts reflect the 15 Per User CALs.
   2. In Server Manager → Remote Desktop Services → Overview → Edit Deployment Properties → RD Licensing, ensure:
      • Licensing mode is set to Per User.
      • The correct license server is specified and added.

If the above steps are followed and the error persists, contact Microsoft support or the licensing reseller with the purchase documentation so they can validate the license program and correct any issues with the license record or key pack generation. The license key pack ID itself is issued only by the Microsoft Clearinghouse during a successful “Install licenses” operation and cannot be generated manually.

References:

• Install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses
• Cannot connect to RDS because no RD Licensing servers are available
• Can't install RDS CALs by using a web browser or telephone on a Windows Server 2012-based license server
• Migrate your Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs)
• RDS License Manager shows no issued free or temporary client access licenses in Windows Server 2012 R2