When a user tries to connect to a machine using Remote Desktop connection, they might come across this error message.
“The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections“
This is because Windows Server only allows two connections through RDP, and you’ve either got two people already logged on to that machine, or you’ve got disconnected sessions that still thinks they are active. If a user simply closes the remote desktop window when they’re finished, that user will still remain logged on, unless there is a time out configured in Terminal Services Configuration as follows
Terminal Services Configuration
If the Session time out is not configured, or the logged on users are not available, you wont be able to logon to the machine. To overcome this limitation, follow the steps as below.
open a command prompt or type in the RUN prompt
mstsc /v:[00.00.00.00/SERVERNAME] /f -console
eg: mstsc /v:192.168.1.10 /f -console
mstsc /v:ADSURF /f -console
This will connect to the physical console session on the server (also known as “session zero”). You will then be prompted with the login box and provide the administrator details. Then you will be connected to the Console Session on the server. Now you can reset the disconnected user sessions from Terminal Services Manager. Please note that if you get disconnected from this console session, you will have to go physically to the machine.
More info on mstsc at Technet
UPDATE:
If you have Windows Vista with SP1 or Server 2008, use the following syntax:
mstsc /admin
If you use the old switch “/console”, it will just ignore that and proceed connecting. In Windows Server 2008, the /console switch doesn’t exist anymore because “session 0” is a non-interactive session that is reserved for services. Difference between admin and console swtich are here.
Another workaround:
You can also query the sessions on the remote machine as an administrator of that machine. Open a command prompt as a domain administrator that the remote machine is set to or map a drive of that remote machine.
Then in the command prompt, type as below:
query session /server:servername
Replace servername with the remote machine name or IP address.
Now we have the information of all the users/sessions that are active/disconnected on the remote machine. We can now reset one of the session with the following command.
reset session [ID] /server:servername
Replace [ID] with the number from the prevoius output and servername with the remote machine name or IP address. This will reset the session and now you can login using Remote Desktop connection.
Scribblings of a TechnoBuff 
thank you very much this article is usable to me
my problem is solved to use this article/ command
I agreed with you
When I enter “query session /server:XxXxXxXxXxX” in the cmd line on my XP Pro workstation…I receive the following error:
‘query’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Any ideas?
TIA
Jason,
Try looking in folder “\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache” and copy the query executable file to %systemroot%/system32. It should work. Alternatively you can try installing Windows Support Tools(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755948.aspx)
I have written a GUI that does this for you if anyone is interested. It allows you to query a server by name or IP and kill a specified user. It can be found at: http://www.jonathanrhodes.net/
GUI is of great help thanks a lot!!!
GUI is very helpful, Thanks
nice, gui. great help
mstsc /v:192.168.1.10 /f -console
You can also use:
mstsc -v:192.168.1.10 /admin
Great suggestions. Just helped me out to remote login to our office’s print server when two of our people were taking up the only connections and were both out of the office.
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Great. This sure saved me some time. We have several administrators who always forget to log off. I wont show them this command
Errr, so whats the point of a terminal server if only 2 people can connect to it?
Thanks…Sujeeth ….
This article was very very helpful. it saved 30 minutes ($$$$$$$$$$$).
Thx For Info
Furkan
Thanks it did work for me, thanks
It really help me.
thank u very much………
Irfan
Thanks it was a huge help!
I agree with Andrew. How do you increase the limit over 2?
After installing the Terminal Services licensing server, you may need to modify the limit. To do that, open Terminal Services Configuration. Right-click on RDP-TCP and select Properties. Click Network Adapter and select Unlimited Connections. By default this will be set to 2 connections.
its right answer………thnx
extra ordinary answer :D
Thanks a lot – I was out of the country and this was the only way to get back my connection.
Thank you! This tip was a great help and saved the day!
Great help on this topic . Thx
Awesome, thanks
Hello There,
Even I run the command “mstsc /v:158.98.125.251 /f -console” also getting the session exceeded error message. Pls help me who to overcome this issue.
Hari, If it is server 2008 or vista, make sure you use the “/admin” switch instead of “/console”. If you are still unable to connect to the console session, then my guess would be that someone was already logged in to the console session. As I wrote in my post, that if you get disconnected from this console session, you will have to go physically to the machine.
Thanks a lot Sujeeth…. /admin really helped.
Thank you Very Much
My problem solved in just 2 minutes
Hello
My problem solved in just 2 minutes
Great Job!!!!!!!!!
Thank you
Thanks. It worked a treat.
Running XP, I opened cmd.exe as a domain admin and then used my local query.exe (not the mapped drive query.exe) to show and reset the sessions.
Thanks, vista update worked :).
Thank you! I have had users from several of my clients have this happen and I can’t get in to do the work I was supposed to do. This has save me from many help(less?)desk calls in the future.
Hi,
I cannt modify the limit the default this will be set to 2 connections.
aslo see:
Windows Server 2003 allows 2 non-console and one console remote desktop connections. You would need to switch the server mode from Remote Administration to Terminal Server, which allows additional client connections. You need appropriate licenses from Microsoft. With XP there are few hacks around to increase this limit.
Hi Sujeeth,
Excellent job consistent, and complete.
You make my day…
Thanks,
Grate job. It helped me to login to the server. Thanks
Thanks for sharing the helpful piece of information. I got a bit similar bit small information that can solve this problem in few very easy steps: Check the under given URL:
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/10/terminal-server-has-exceeded-the-maximum-number-of-allowed-connections/
I hop this will help someone
This was very helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
Please check this command in RUN
MSTSC /admin
Thank you very much – the command line saved my life :)
thanks
THanks to buttar
Ur help is crystal clear…
thanks for /admin info.
why after i execute the command for my 2003 server after login my screen goees blank (blue desktop) with no icon, anyone can help me ?
thank you
Thanks a lot, it was short and usefull
cheers
I’m using 10 HCL thin clients and getting this error. So where do you want me to put this commands? ON server or on thin clients…….the thin clients doesn’t have the cmd or run options.PLease help me
Thanks Sujeeth. Your Good work was helpful to me as well. Keep up the good work
This may NOT always work, especially on Server 2003:
mstsc /v:000.000.000.000 /f -console
(insert your server’s IP address instead of 000)
Then use this instead, it WORKS:
mstsc /v:000.000.000.000 /f -admin
When successfully logged in, click on Start, then All Programs, then Administrative Tools, launch Terminal Services Manager
There find your server on the left, find USERS tab, right-mouse-click on each inactive user (start with highest idle time value) and select DISCONNECT.
After that LOG OFF.
For the future try not to simply close RDP (remote desktop client / terminal services client) window when done, but LOG OFF your server.
Good luck!
hi all,
please help…
how to get the rdp-tcp#9(in the above picture) ip adddress? what is the command…?
Excellent information
Wow! excelent post!
those commands work well thanks a lot!!
this article isn’t work.
Thanks for the post, it is what I am looking for.
thank you! very helpful indeed
Thanks great article
Its really work
Thank You very much…
Great inffo here….saved my time,Thanks friends
I am working on a server 2000 and none of this is working. When I use the query session /server:servername command I get an error
“Error 5 getting sessionnames
Error [5]:Access is denied.
mstsc /v:000.000.000.000 /f -console
mstsc /v:000.000.000.000 /f -admin
Also does not work. Would you be able to help?
Thanks
Thank you Dears.
this the command that work for me; mstsc -v:192.168.1.10 /admin
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