Windows 11 VDA License planning

Question

Windows 11 VDA License planning

Dharmalingam K 41

Hello Folks,

I need your help to identify the suitable license Model for Windows VDI Devices and users.

The Windows VDI will be hosted in Citrix Environment. the VDI will be windows 10/11 Enterprise.

This VDI Device will access by multiple organization through the internet.

So, I need to know the required license. the VDI who access that user will not having any O365/Azure AD users this VDI who will access by using on prem AD users.

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Answer 1

Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Independent Advisor

Hi Dharmalingam K,

Since your Windows 10/11 Enterprise VDIs will run on Citrix and be accessed by multiple organizations over the internet using on-premises AD accounts (not Azure AD / M365 accounts), the key requirement is the Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) license. VDA is needed for any user or device accessing a Windows Enterprise VDI when that user/device does not already have a qualifying Windows license. In environments like yours where external users or users without Microsoft 365/Windows E3/E5 entitlements connect to a shared VDI pool per-user or per-device VDA subscriptions are the correct licensing path.

If your organizations do have users with Windows Enterprise via M365 E3/E5 or Windows E3/E5, those users are already licensed for VDI access, so no additional VDA would be needed. But if the users come from multiple organizations without such entitlements, VDA is the safest and most compliant option. I can help you choose between the per-user and per-device model depending on how you plan to structure access.

If this explanation points you in the right direction, please consider clicking “Accept Answer” so I know your issue is resolved 😊. Thank you!

Jason.

Dharmalingam K 41 Reputation points

2025-12-12T07:30:17.3+00:00

Thank you so much for the detail information.

could you please help me get right license OS the VDI device, it should be installed like, we need to use Windows 11 Enterprise or windows 11 Enterprise VDA (in my license portal it shows as license key not applicable (windows 11 Enterprise VDA)).

Do we need to get any separate agreement to be signed for VDA license if we go with Windows 11 Enterprise.

can I have any reference article which can help me to get right license path with license product ID details.
Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-12T08:18:25.46+00:00

Hi Dharmalingam K,

I would say, for Citrix-hosted VDIs, you install standard Windows 11 Enterprise media; there is no separate Windows 11 Enterprise VDA operating system image. The Windows Enterprise VDA you see in the portal is an access license entitlement, not an OS license, which is why it correctly shows license key not applicable.

In other words, the VDI OS is Windows 11 Enterprise, and VDA licensing governs who is legally allowed to access that OS in a virtualized environment, especially for users without M365/Windows E3/E5. You do not need a separate OS SKU or special installation key for VDA, and no additional technical agreement is required beyond purchasing the Windows VDA subscription (typically under CSP or Volume Licensing). Activation is handled using standard Enterprise activation methods (KMS/MAK), while compliance is covered by the VDA subscription.

For official references, I recommend reviewing Windows Desktop Licensing for Virtual Desktops and Windows VDA Licensing Guide in Microsoft Learn, which clearly explain the OS vs. access licensing model and list the applicable product IDs.

Feel free to let me know if you unclear; and consider hit "Accept answer" so I know the answer resolve your concern! Thanks
Dharmalingam K 41 Reputation points

2025-12-12T09:58:49.3166667+00:00

Dear Jason Nguyen Tran,

Thank you so much the detail information and prompt update.
Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-12T10:09:57.5166667+00:00

Happy to help. Have a nice day!
Sri Harsha Bezawada 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T10:10:47.5533333+00:00

Hi @Jason Nguyen Tran
So, you meant to say if we Purchase Windows Enterprise VDA - we will be automatically assigned an ISO image for Windows 11 Enterprise and an activation Key in the Microsoft Admin Center.

If yes, can you help us with Part Code of the SKU.
Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-12T10:26:22.83+00:00

Hi Sri Harsha Bezawada,

To confirm, purchasing Windows Enterprise VDA does not automatically provide a separate Windows 11 Enterprise ISO or activation key in the Microsoft Admin Center. Windows Enterprise VDA is an access/subscription license only, which grants legal rights for users or devices to access a Windows 10/11 Enterprise OS running in a virtualized (VDI) environment.

You will still use the standard Windows 11 Enterprise installation media (same ISO as Volume Licensing), and activation is handled via KMS or MAK from an existing Volume Licensing agreement, not from the VDA subscription itself. This is why the portal correctly shows license key not applicable for Windows Enterprise VDA.

Regarding SKUs, the commonly used ones are Windows Enterprise VDA E3 (per user) and Windows Enterprise VDA E3 (per device) under CSP; exact part codes vary by reseller/region, so your CSP partner can confirm the precise SKU ID for ordering. Microsoft’s “Licensing Windows desktop operating system for virtual machines” documentation on Microsoft Learn is the best official reference explaining this separation between OS media, activation, and VDA access rights.
Sri Harsha Bezawada 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T10:42:31.59+00:00

Hi @Jason Nguyen Tran

"You will still use the standard Windows 11 Enterprise installation media (same ISO as Volume Licensing), and activation is handled via KMS or MAK from an existing Volume Licensing agreement, not from the VDA subscription itself. This is why the portal correctly shows license key not applicable for Windows Enterprise VDA."

As you mentioned when I download and install Windows 11 Enterprise OS from VLSC, it will ask me for a key. so, if I purchase Windows Enterprise VDA will my VLSC postal has key for Windows 11 Enterprise OS image. Or Do I need to purchase Windows 11 Enterprise OS separately?
Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-13T02:08:01.88+00:00
Hi Sri Harsha Bezawada,

Purchasing Windows Enterprise VDA alone will NOT add a Windows 11 Enterprise MAK/KMS key to your VLSC portal. VDA is strictly an access right for virtual desktops and does not include OS media entitlement or activation keys.

To activate Windows 11 Enterprise, you must already have a separate Windows Enterprise Volume Licensing entitlement (for example, Windows Enterprise E3/E5 via Volume Licensing or an underlying qualifying OS with Software Assurance). That Volume Licensing agreement is what provides the Windows 11 Enterprise ISO and MAK/KMS keys in VLSC.

In practice, this means:

Windows 11 Enterprise OS + activation key → comes from Volume Licensing

Windows Enterprise VDA → provides legal access rights for non-licensed / external users

If you do not currently have any Windows Enterprise Volume Licensing agreement, then yes, you will need to purchase Windows Enterprise separately in addition to VDA to be fully compliant. The official reference that explains this clearly is *“*Licensing Windows desktop operating system for virtual machines” on Microsoft Learn, which outlines the separation between OS licensing and VDA access rights.

Answer 2

Dharmalingam K 41

Hi @Jason Nguyen Tran

Once again small clarification on this thread.

So, you meant to say if we Purchase/subscribed Windows Enterprise VDA - we will be automatically assigned an ISO image for Windows 11 Enterprise and an activation Key in the Microsoft Admin Center. If yes, can you help us with Part Code of the SKU.

Jason Nguyen Tran 4,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-12T10:28:48.5833333+00:00

Hi Dharmalingam K,

I have answered this question in above thread. You can refer to this.

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Windows 11 VDA License planning

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