Command to Add or Remove Computer from Domain

Mitch BartlettAugust 25, 2018 Comments (5)

Using a simple command, you can add or remove a Windows computer to a Microsoft Windows domain remotely from another computer.

Add a Computer to the Domain

Execute this command from a domain controller:

Open a command prompt.
Type net computer \\computername /add, then press “Enter“.

Execute this command from a workstation where you have domain admin rights. Change the words in italics to suit your situation:

netdom join computername /domain:domainname

Remove a Computer from the Domain

Execute this command from a domain controller:

Open a command prompt.
Type net computer \\computername /del, then press “Enter“.

Execute this command from a workstation where you have domain admin rights. Change the words in italics to suit your situation:

netdom remove computername /domain:domainname

These command are especially valuable if you are using batch files.

Author Mitch Bartlett

Through my career that spans over 20 years I have become an expert in Microsoft Systems Administration, Android, and macOS. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful knowledgebase for everyone.

Comments

Paul K says:

August 20, 2021 at 11:46 am

So everyone knows – all you need is (after installing RSAT Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools of course – is netdom remove computername /force

No need to for a domain name or creds or anything else.

Now – I do this with a LOCAL (non-domain) administrator account. Be sure to make sure you can log in that way so that when you are off the “domain”, you can still log on.
Rajat chauhan says:

November 3, 2020 at 2:29 am

i am try to join computer with domain via WINDOWS POWERSHELL but i am facing the issues “Cannot establish the WMI connection to the computer ‘RND-D33’ with the following error message: Access is denied. ” please give me tips how i can fix this issue.
oVer says:

November 2, 2018 at 4:04 am

Holla, i got some problems with a hpelitebook 820 g1 that is domain related.

My account got admin rights, but i am unable to change anything that needs admin rights, due too the need to acess the domain.

I am also unable to make admin changes in cmd.exe while logged in on windows.
I am able to make some admin changes on the login screen with cmd.exe.

Any tips how to leave the domain so that i can acess my full admin rights for the computer, without beeing locked out by the requested to log in to the domain?
febry says:

August 27, 2018 at 10:09 pm

hy mitch, the next problem
if I can’t access Windows Server, can I do it on my local computer?
the problem is I lost access on windows server.

thanx
Roy says:

July 23, 2018 at 5:10 am

Thanks for the info Mitch. Upon running both commands, does it show up in a log.
Also, I would like to create an icon on my desktop that will remove the pc from a domain just by clicking the icon and I would also like an icon to perform the rejoin option every morning.