Using a Windows VPS, you can connect to your server remotely using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). However, Windows has some limitations on simultaneous connections, depending on the operating system and configurations.
Whether you want multiple users to access the same VPS or allow one account to open multiple independent RDP sessions, you need to configure the appropriate settings.
In this guide, we’ll explain Windows VPS RDP connection limits, show you how to enable multiple sessions, and cover common connection problems and their solutions.
Whether you’re using a Windows VPS running Windows Server, Windows 10, or Windows 11, this guide will help you configure multiple RDP sessions.
How Many Users Can Connect to Remote Desktop Simultaneously?
The number of users who can connect to a Windows VPS simultaneously depends on the Windows edition and remote desktop configurations. Windows 10 and Windows 11 normally allow only one active remote session at a time.
By default, Windows Server allows up to two simultaneous Remote Desktop connections for administrative purposes. You cannot increase this limit simply by changing Group Policy settings.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 do not officially support multiple simultaneous incoming RDP sessions, even when using different administrator accounts. However, you can use third-party tools such as RDP Wrapper to enable multiple sessions. Keep in mind that this is an unofficial workaround, is not supported by Microsoft, and may stop working after Windows updates due to compatibility issues.
Allow Multiple RDP Connections on Windows Server
To allow multiple users to connect to a Windows VPS Server at once, you need to configure Remote Desktop Services Host on Windows Server to be able to host RDP sessions on your Windows VPS and give access to other users to connect to your VPS.
To learn how you can set up RDS on Windows Server, follow this guide:
Note:
After setting up Remote Desktop Services (RDS), you can follow the steps below to increase the number of simultaneous connections on Windows Server. Keep that in mind: RDS requires a licence, and it only works for 120 days for free; after it expires, you’ll need to purchase a licence for each user connecting.
Configure Group Policy for Multiple RDP Connections
before stating these steps you should setup RDS otherwise these steps won’t work, and do not affect anything on your Windows, you need to adjust a few settings in the local group policy editor. These settings control whether users can establish separate remote desktop sessions and how many connections the server can accept.
Open Local Group Policy Editor
Press Win + R type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor, or search for it in the Start menu.
Then, in the left sidebar, navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections.
Disable Single RDP Session Restriction
Find Restrict Remote Desktop Services users to a single Remote Desktop Services session, double-click it, select Disabled, and click Apply.
This allows the same user account to establish multiple simultaneous Remote Desktop sessions instead of being restricted to one session.
Increase the Maximum Number of Remote Desktop Connections
In the same Connections section, find Limit number of connections and double-click it.
Select Enabled and set RD Maximum Connections allowed to your preferred limit. You can increase this value to accommodate more simultaneous RDP connections.
Using RDP Wrapper for Multiple Remote Desktop Sessions
RDP Wrapper is a third-party tool that allows multiple simultaneous Remote Desktop sessions on Windows client editions, such as Windows 10 and Windows 11, without directly modifying the original termsrv.dll system file. It works as an interface between the Remote Desktop Services and the Windows Service Control Manager.
RDP Wrapper is commonly used on local Windows installations where users want to connect through multiple RDP sessions simultaneously. However, its compatibility depends on the Windows version and the installed Remote Desktop Services components. Windows updates can also break compatibility until the wrapper’s configuration is updated.
Important:
RDP Wrapper does not provide or replace a Windows Server RDS license. Using it to enable additional sessions on Windows Server does not remove Microsoft’s licensing requirements. Windows Server deployments must still comply with the applicable Remote Desktop Services licensing terms.
Conclusion
To enable multiple RDP sessions on Windows Server, you need to install and configure the Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) role and change its Group Policy settings to allow more than two simultaneous connections. You should also configure the maximum number of connections based on how many users you want to connect at the same time.
Also, there is another solution that works on Windows clients, such as Windows 10 VPS, called RDP Wrapper. It is an open-source tool published on GitHub that allows you to increase the number of simultaneous RDP connections on Windows without directly modifying the original system files.
