This article answers frequently asked questions and explains best practices for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session.
What is Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session?
Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, formerly known as Windows 10 Enterprise for Virtual Desktops (EVD), is a new Remote Desktop Session Host that allows multiple concurrent interactive sessions. Previously, only Windows Server could do this. This capability gives users a familiar Windows 10 experience while IT can benefit from the cost advantages of multi-session and use existing per-user Windows licensing instead of RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs). For more information about licenses and pricing, see Azure Virtual Desktop pricing.
How many users can simultaneously have an interactive session on Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session?
How many interactive sessions that can be active at the same time relies on your system's hardware resources (vCPU, memory, disk, and vGPU), how your users use their apps while signed in to a session, and how heavy your system's workload is. We suggest you validate your system's performance to understand how many users you can have on Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session. To learn more, see Azure Virtual Desktop pricing.
Why does my application report Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session as a Server operating system?
Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session is a virtual edition of Windows 10 Enterprise. One of the differences is that this operating system (OS) reports the ProductType as having a value of 3, the same value as Windows Server. This property keeps the OS compatible with existing RDSH management tooling, RDSH multi-session-aware applications, and mostly low-level system performance optimizations for RDSH environments. Some application installers can block installation on Windows 10 multi-session depending on whether they detect the ProductType is set to Client. If your app won't install, contact your application vendor for an updated version.
Can I run Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session outside of the Azure Virtual Desktop service?
We don't allow customers to run Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise multi-session in production environments outside of the Azure Virtual Desktop service. Only Microsoft or the Azure Virtual Desktop Approved Providers, Citrix and VMware, can provide access to the Azure Virtual Desktop service. It's against the licensing agreement to run Windows 10 or 11 multi-session outside of the Azure Virtual Desktop service for production purposes. Windows 10 and 11 multi-session also won’t activate against on-premises Key Management Services (KMS).
Can I upgrade a Windows 10 VM to Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session?
No. It's not currently possible to upgrade an existing virtual machine (VM) that's running Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise to Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session. Also, if you deploy a Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session VM and then update the product key to another edition, you won't be able to switch the VM back to Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session and will need to redeploy the VM. Changing your Azure Virtual Desktop VM SKU to another edition is not supported.
Does Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session support Remote Desktop IP Virtualization?
No. Azure Virtual Desktop supported virtual machine OS images do not support Remote Desktop IP Virtualization.
How do I customize the Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session image for my organization?
You can start a VM in Azure with Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session and customize it by installing LOB applications, sysprep/generalize, and then create an image using the Azure portal.
To get started, create a VM in Azure with Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session. Instead of starting the VM in Azure, you can download the VHD directly. After that, you'll be able to use the VHD you downloaded to create a new Generation 1 VM on a Windows 10 PC with Hyper-V enabled.
Customize the image to your needs by installing LOB applications and sysprep the image. When you're done customizing, upload the image to Azure with the VHD inside. After that, get Azure Virtual Desktop from the Azure Marketplace and use it to deploy a new host pool with the customized image.
How do I manage Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session after deployment?
You can use any supported configuration tool, but we recommend Configuration Manager version 1906 because it supports Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session or Microsoft Endpoint Manager for Azure AD-joined or Hybrid Azure AD-joined session hosts.
Can Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session be Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)-joined?
Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session can be Azure AD-joined. To get started, follow the steps to Deploy Azure AD-joined virtual machines.
Where can I find the Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session image?
Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session is in the Azure gallery. To find it, navigate to the Azure portal and search for the Windows 10 Enterprise for Virtual Desktops release. For an image integrated with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, go to the Azure portal and search for Microsoft Windows 10 + Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
Which Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session image should I use?
The Azure gallery has several releases, including Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, version 1909, and Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, version 1903. We recommend using the latest version for improved performance and reliability.
Which Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session versions are supported?
Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, versions 1909 and later are supported and are available in the Azure gallery. These releases follow the same support lifecycle policy as Windows 10 Enterprise, which means the March release is supported for 18 months and the September release for 30 months.
Which profile management solution should I use for Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session?
We recommend you use FSLogix profile containers when you configure Windows 10 Enterprise in non-persistent environments or other scenarios that need a centrally stored profile. FSLogix ensures the user profile is available and up-to-date for every user session. We also recommend you use your FSLogix profile container to store a user profile in any SMB share with appropriate permissions, but you can store user profiles in Azure page blob storage if necessary. Azure Virtual Desktop users can use FSLogix at no additional cost. FSLogix comes pre-installed on all Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session images, but the IT admin is still responsible for configuring the FSLogix profile container.
For more information about how to configure an FSLogix profile container, see Configure the FSLogix profile container.
Which license do I need to access Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session?
For a full list of applicable licenses, see Azure Virtual Desktop pricing.
Why do my apps disappear after I sign out?
This happens because you're using Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session with a profile management solution like FSLogix. Your admin or profile solution configured your system to delete user profiles when users sign out. This configuration means that when your system deletes your user profile after you sign out, it also removes any apps you installed during your session. If you want to keep the apps you installed, you'll need to ask your admin to provision these apps for all users in your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
How do I make sure apps don't disappear when users sign out?
Most virtualized environments are configured by default to prevent users from installing additional apps to their profiles. If you want to make sure an app doesn't disappear when your user signs out of Azure Virtual Desktop, you have to provision that app for all user profiles in your environment. For more information about provisioning apps, check out these resources:
- Publish built-in apps in Azure Virtual Desktop
- DISM app package servicing command-line options
- Add-AppxProvisionedPackage
How do I make sure users don't download and install apps from the Microsoft Store?
You can disable the Microsoft Store app to make sure users don't download extra apps beyond the apps you've already provisioned for them.
To disable the Store app:
- Create and edit a new Group Policy Object.
- Select Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store.
- Open the Turn off the Store Application setting.
- Select the Enabled option.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
Can Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session and 11 Enterprise multi-session receive feature updates through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)?
Yes. You can update Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session with the appropriate feature updates published to WSUS.
Next steps
To learn more about Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session:
- Read our Azure Virtual Desktop documentation
- Visit our Azure Virtual Desktop TechCommunity
- Set up your Azure Virtual Desktop deployment with the Azure Virtual Desktop tutorials
FAQs
Can Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise Multi-session receive feature updates through Windows Server Update Services WSUS )? ›
Yes. You can update Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session with the appropriate feature updates published to WSUS.
Does Windows 10 Enterprise allow multiple RDP sessions? ›Now the Windows 10 machine should permit multiple users to access different RDP sessions simultaneously. All Windows editions (Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10) are supported by the RDPWrap utility. Meaning that users can establish a terminal (RDS) server on any desktop instance of Windows.
How to allow multiple Remote Desktop connections in Windows 10 or Windows 11? ›Enable Multiple RDP Sessions
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections. Set Restrict Remote Desktop Services user to a single Remote Desktop Services session to Disabled.
Windows 10 Enterprise E3 is the license required to access Windows 10/11 multi-session but there are some limitations here. This license can only be used if your users are connecting in from Windows Pro endpoint devices.
Is Windows 10 enterprise eligible for Windows 11? ›Devices with Windows 10 Pro installed will be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro. Devices running Windows 10 Enterprise will upgrade to Windows 11 Enterprise. Windows 11 Pro will not offer Windows 11 Pro in S mode, so you will need to switch out of S mode to upgrade.
What is the difference between Windows 11 and Windows 11 Enterprise? ›The Enterprise edition includes integrated capabilities to deploy and manage Windows devices at scale. Additionally, Enterprise offers a connection to Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure Active Directory, while Pro only offers a connection to Azure Active Directory.
How many concurrent connections can Windows 10 handle? ›SQL Server allows a maximum 32767 concurrent connections concurrent connections, but Windows 10 OS has a limit on concurrent connections for file & printer and the limit appears to be 20.
Which feature in Windows 11 let you to multitask while using multiple application? ›Select the Task View icon on the taskbar, or press Alt-Tab on your keyboard to see apps or switch between them. To use two or more apps at a time, grab the top of an app window and drag it to the side. Then choose another app and it'll automatically snap into place.
Can you have more than 2 RDP sessions? ›With Windows, the number of concurrent remote connections allowed for a connection can be configured. By default, Windows only allows up to 2 concurrent RDP sessions to a VPS. If you want to connect to more than 2 users at the same time, you must install the RD session host role on your VPS.
What is Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session? ›Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session is a new Remote Desktop Session Host exclusive to Azure Virtual Desktop on Azure. It provides the following benefits: Allows multiple concurrent user sessions. Gives users a familiar Windows 10 or Windows 11 experience.
Is there a difference between Windows 10 and Windows 10 enterprise? ›
The Enterprise edition is designed to meet the demands of medium to large organizations. This edition comes packed with even more sophisticated security features such as Device Guard to lock down devices, secure intranet connectivity, and domain-based credential protection.
What are the 2 types of licensing models of enterprise applications? ›User Licensing: Named Users vs Concurrent Users. User licensing allows software vendors to set their licensing fees based on the number of people who will use the software at your IT organization. The most common user licensing types are named user licensing and concurrent user licensing.
How many monitors can Windows 10 enterprise support? ›There is no such restriction in Windows, regardless of Home, Pro or Enterprise, there never has been that restriction . . . Your graphics sub-system decides how many monitors you can tun on your PC, if your graphics card supports 3 monitors that is what matters . . .
Can two users simultaneously share one PC Windows 10? ›Windows 10 makes it easy for multiple people to share the same PC. To do it, you create separate accounts for each person who will use the computer. Each person gets their own storage, applications, desktops, settings, and so on.
How to Update Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 11 Enterprise? ›On your Windows 10 PC, head into Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Check for updates. If the free Windows 11 upgrade is available, you'll see an option to download and install.
What are the advantages of Windows 11 Enterprise? ›Windows 11 Enterprise E3 upgrades Windows 11 Pro and adds:
A broad range of options for operating system deployment and update control. Comprehensive device and app management. Serverless print management with Universal Print. Advanced protection against modern security threats.
Support for showing windows labels on taskbar. Task Manager can no longer be opened by right-clicking taskbar (reinstated in September 2022 insider builds) "Time" is not displayed in the calendar when clicking on the "Date/Time" on taskbar. Scheduled events are not displayed in the calendar when opened.
What is the main difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11? ›A major difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10 is in its design. Windows 11 offers an interface that's more like a Mac, with pastel colors, rounded corners for all windows and a cleaner interface than its predecessor.
Is there a big difference between Windows 10 and 11? ›Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems share many similarities, there are some big differences. The newer version offers a more Mac-like aesthetic and more productivity features -- plus the chance to finally use Android apps on your computer with Windows 11.
Should enterprises upgrade to Windows 11? ›Businesses should ensure they have upgraded to Windows 11 by 2025, as after the operating system is no longer supported and running Windows 10 will be a major security risk.
How do I increase the limit of simultaneous users in Windows 10? ›
Set the value in Computer Management > System Tools > Shared Folders > Shares, right-click the share, select Properties and set User limit.
What is the limit of concurrent connections? ›Then theoretical limit a server can support on a single port is 248 which is about 1 quadrillion because: The server distinguishes the connections from clients' source IPs and the source ports.
What is the max number of connections Windows? ›...
TCP/IP connection limits.
Server platform | Maximum connection requests |
---|---|
Windows Workstation | 100 |
z/OS® | 255 |
Windows 11 has several multitasking features that can split your screen. The split-screen features allow you to have multiple screens open simultaneously with different actions happening in each. The most common and obvious method for splitting your screen is using Windows Key + Right or Left Arrow.
What is the advantage of multiple desktops in Windows 11? ›Multiple desktops are great for keeping unrelated, ongoing projects organized—or for quickly switching desktops before a meeting. To create multiple desktops: On the taskbar, select Task view > New desktop . Open the apps you want to use on that desktop.
Is Windows 11 multi user operating system? ›Yes, we can say that Microsoft Windows is a single-user operating system. We can perform multi-tasking in the Windows operating system but the multitasking can be performed by a single user at a time. So, Microsoft Windows can be referred to as a single-user, multi-tasking operating system.
How do I increase my RDP session time limit? ›The settings of RDP session timeouts are located in the following GPO section Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Session Time Limits.
How do I manage multiple remote desktop connections? ›You can manage multiple connected RDP sessions from within RDC Man, or you can undock them and treat them like separate windows on your taskbar. To do so, right-click a connected server and choose “Undock.” Now, the server will appear on your taskbar and will have a window of its own.
How many RDP sessions can windows server support? ›By default, RD session host servers allow unlimited number of Remote Desktop Services sessions, and Remote Desktop for Administration allows two Remote Desktop Services sessions.
What is the difference between Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 enterprise Ltsc? ›Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, Semi-Annual Channel and Windows Insider Program. Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) (formerly LTSB, Long-Term Servicing Branch) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise released every 2 to 3 years.
What is the difference between Windows 10 multi-session and RDS? ›
The basic difference between RDS and WVD is, RDS is based on a server operating system (OS), WVD comes with a desktop OS that is, multi-user Windows 10. WVD is both platform and infrastructure services (PaaS and Iaas). Here the host is a virtual machine (VM), and the rest of the service is PaaS.
What is difference between single session and multi-session? ›In basic terms, a single-session application means that a single instance of an application is loaded and this single instance is meant to interact with a single user. Traditional applications must be written to interact with users in a multi-session way.
Is Windows 10 Enterprise discontinued? ›...
Support Dates.
Listing | Start Date | Retirement Date |
---|---|---|
Windows 10 Enterprise and Education | Jul 29, 2015 | Oct 14, 2025 |
The Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 edition (version 21H2) does not have extended support. It will reach end of servicing on 2027-01-12. Only Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (version 21H2) will have support until 2032-01-13.
Does Windows 10 enterprise license expire? ›Question: I'm using Windows 10 that came installed on my computer and got a pop-up saying my windows license is expiring soon. What do I need to do? Answer: Windows 10 retail and OEM licenses (those that come preloaded on name brand machines) don't ever expire.
What are the 4 major enterprise applications? ›- Enterprise Resource Planning (E.R.P.) Systems. ...
- Supply Chain Management (S.C.M.) Systems. ...
- Customer Relationship Management (C.R.M.) Systems. ...
- Knowledge Management Systems (K.M.S.)
The 3 P's of collegiate licensing are protection, promotion, and profit.
What are the 3 types of Windows licensing? ›- Full Packaged Product (FPP) or Retail. You can get this type of Windows license from retail merchants or buy from the Microsoft store. ...
- OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). ...
- Volume license keys for use on PCs associated with an organization.
Windows 10 Enterprise and Education follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy. Beginning with Windows 10, version 21H2 (the Windows 10 November 2021 Update), feature updates will be released annually in the second half of the year via the General Availability Channel.
Does Windows 10 Enterprise Get updates? ›The Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 edition (version 21H2) does not have extended support. It will reach end of servicing on 2027-01-12. Only Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (version 21H2) will have support until 2032-01-13.
Does Windows 10 enterprise have feature updates? ›
Microsoft never publishes feature updates through Windows Update on devices that run Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC. Instead, it typically offers new LTSC releases every 2–3 years, and organizations can choose to install them as in-place upgrades or even skip releases over the product's lifecycle.
Do unsupported Windows 11 pcs get updates? ›Meanwhile, the company has spread the message that installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC means it won't be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates in the future.
Does Windows 10 enterprise expire? ›Question: I'm using Windows 10 that came installed on my computer and got a pop-up saying my windows license is expiring soon. What do I need to do? Answer: Windows 10 retail and OEM licenses (those that come preloaded on name brand machines) don't ever expire.
What is the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 10 enterprise? ›Windows 10 Pro is the business version of Windows 10 that comes pre-installed on most PCs when you buy them from Dell, HP, Microsoft, etc. Windows 10 Enterprise however, is an add-on that sits on top of Windows 10 Pro for added security and mobile device management benefits.
How to upgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 11 Enterprise? ›On your Windows 10 PC, head into Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Check for updates. If the free Windows 11 upgrade is available, you'll see an option to download and install.
What happened Windows 10 enterprise? ›These editions will no longer receive security updates after May 10, 2022. Customers who contact Microsoft Support after this date will be directed to update their device to the latest version of Windows 10 to remain supported.
Is Windows 11 upgrade free for Enterprise? ›You can upgrade Windows 11 Pro to Windows 11 Enterprise using a product key of Windows 10 Enterprise for free. This is very similar to what we did for Windows 10 edition upgrade. If you don't have a product key for Windows 11 Enterprise, you can buy one from the Microsoft website or from Microsoft Store.
Does Windows 10 enterprise have S mode? ›Windows 11 in S mode is only available in the Windows 11 Home edition. If you have the Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows 10 in S mode, Windows Update will not offer Windows 11 because S mode is not available in those editions of Windows 11.
What is the latest update for Windows 10 enterprise? ›The Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 release includes the cumulative enhancements provided in Windows 10 versions 1903, 1909, 2004, 21H1, and 21H2.
Is feature update to Windows 10 version 21H2 Windows 11? ›Windows 10 21H2 is now widely available, Windows 11 remains optional. Back in November 2021, Microsoft started rolling out Windows 10 November 2021 Update (version 21H2) to compatible devices.
What happens if I don't update my Windows 10 to Windows 11? ›
First, you will miss out on the latest system features, security updates, patches, and compatibility for upcoming security features and programs. This lack of updates will mean your system will become more vulnerable to attacks.
What problems does Windows 11 cause on unsupported hardware? ›If you try to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, you may experience unexpected results. Some of these results may include blue screens, system instability, and even data loss. You also won't receive updates directly from Microsoft, as they don't create them for your system.
How much better is Windows 11 than 10? ›Windows 11 is snappier than Windows 10, but the differences are small in real-world use. The various optimizations in Windows 11 help it to run faster on weaker laptops, but you're not giving up a ton of performance with Windows 10.