Use Visual Studio with an admin account

Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US] 0

How do I update my Visual Studio license when using shift right-click, run as different user to my admin account given that no key is provided, and that I cannot sign in from Visual Studio? I started the trial but now have 5 days left.

I am sometimes required to use an admin account to access SQL Server databases or OLAP cubes. I start Visual Studio as another user with shift right-click, then use my admin account. When I use my normal Windows account, my Visual Studio product is licensed. I also cannot find a product key because the Product Keys gives a message that VS requires logging in and does not provide a product key, though the Product Keys page shows the keys link.

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Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,411 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-15T03:14:40.94+00:00

Hello @Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US],

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Please kindly check this document: Extend a trial version or update a license.

Visual Studio is licensed per user. You need valid product keys or a valid subscription if you switch to another account(admin account).

You can check here: Your Product Keys/Subscriptions for available/owned product keys and the subscriptions.

About signing in VS, (Help > Register Visual Studio) when you open VS, you can click "Sign in" button to sign in VS with a valid subscription or click "Unlock with a Product Key" option to enter a product key.

Best Regards,

Tianyu

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Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US] 0 Reputation points

2024-11-15T13:31:35.1066667+00:00

This does not solve the problem. I have 2 accounts.
Non-admin account: Visual Studio Enterprise 2022 is licensed to the AD account, with my corporate email address. (This user has P00 followed by my ID)
Admin Account: Visual Studio Enterprise 2022's trial expires tomorrow. (This user has A00 followed by my ID)
No product key is available, using the link you provided. "A product key is not offered with this edition of Visual Studio".

I find devenv.exe, Shift-Right-Click run as different user, and use the A00 user. Visual Studio Enterprise 2022 runs but shows my trial expires tomorrow. Yesterday and several days ago and now today, when I go to Help, Register Visual Studio, the Sign In button like the screen shot provided spins forever. I waited more than 5 minutes 3 different times and an hour once. This screen also has the product key link, but as noted above I can't get a product key for this version. I then try "Account Options" matching the provided screenshot. This shows "Windows Authentication Broker is not available due to running as a different user than what is signed into Windows" and "You are currently not signed in. To enable synchronization please sign in from the identity card in the upper right corner of the IDE". I try that identity card "Sign In+" button but it spins forever, like the "Account Options" link.

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,411 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-20T08:50:40.3333333+00:00

Hi @Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US],

Sorry for the delay in reply.

I see that you got "Windows Authentication Broker is not available due to running as a different user…" error. If you can open it (Account options) correctly, try to select another browser(System web browser/Embedded web browser), see if it works.

Besides, if you restart your machine but sign in(Windows OS) with your admin account, and then sign in VS, will it work?

Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US] 0 Reputation points

2024-11-20T16:52:10.87+00:00

I currently cannot sign into my VDI using the admin account. This corporation has P00 standard and A00 Admin accounts, which then have our employee number.
I could request that IT add my A00 account to the remote desktop users. Today, only my P00 account is in remote desktop users.

Log into my VDI using P00:
Use SSMS normally, solutions stored under C:\users\P001234\ directory.
Use SSMS with shift-right-click, solutions stored under c:\users\A001234\ directory.
Azure Data Studio is worse because it has no shift-right-click menu, so I have to create a custom shortcut and paste my credentials every time.

If I could log into my VDI using A00:
The A00 user has OneDrive files to maintain, a separate Outlook account, separate themes, shortcuts, or other personalization. I could not open 2 SSMS sessions simultaneously with these 2 different accounts. How would my A00 user have a license to my P00 user's Visual Studio subscription?

I am a consultant, and this client had established the P00 and A00 practice, though both are the same person (me). The idea is the A00 admin account is more secure, but in practice both have similar security. Should I recommend that this practice is not recommended?

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,411 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-21T09:51:32.5933333+00:00

Hi @Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US],

How would my A00 user have a license to my P00 user's Visual Studio subscription

Though the users are the same person, the accounts(to sign in VS) are not the same. I think two license/subscriptions are needed. Please kindly double confirm this with Visual Studio Subscription Team(choose "Visual Studio Sales, Account, Subscription and Billing Support" > select county/region > check the detailed support information).

Folkerts, Stephen [NN-US] 0 Reputation points

2024-11-21T13:15:43.95+00:00

An additional subscription is very expensive for the infrequent use described here and as a consultant I will not request this. I will instead attempt to use free tools like VS Code, even when Visual Studio Enterprise that I am licensed to use would be more productive. This lack of an adequate solution from Microsoft makes me less productive.
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Use Visual Studio with an admin account

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