How to Install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows

If you’re a Windows admin using Microsoft Windows 11, 10, or 8 computers, you may want to install Active Directory Users and Computers and other Active Directory applications. Since these tools aren’t installed by default, we want to show you how to install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows.

Acitve Directory Users and Computers

Installing Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) on Windows is essential since it provides centralized user and computer management on your network. Furthermore, this tool is provided by Microsoft themselves, and it greatly simplifies the administration of users, groups, and devices in an organized manner.

Also Read: How to back up the local Group Policy Editor on Windows 11

What Is Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) on Windows

Simply put, think about a big address book for a company’s computer network and everything that is a part of it. ADUC is the tool you use to look up and manage entries and activities in that address book. Here’s what it helps you do:

  • You can create, delete, and modify user accounts. These accounts are used by people to log in to the network and access resources like files and printers.
  • You can manage these accounts, that represent the computers connected to the network.
  • You can organize users and computers into groups, making it easier to manage permissions and access to resources.
  • You can create organizational units to structure and organize your network.
  • You can set permissions and policies for different users and computers. This allows you to control who can do what on the network.

Here’s how to install the Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows.

Note: You can install Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows only on the full release of Windows Professional or Windows Enterprise. Otherwise, you will receive a “This update does not qualify for your computer.” message when you try to install it.

Also Read: How to disable Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) in Windows

Install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows 11 and 10 Version 1809 and Higher

Here’s how you can install ADUC on Windows 11 using the settings app.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Click on Apps in the side panel and select Optional features.

On Windows 10, select ‘Manage optional feature’ > Add feature.

Apps and Optional features

Step 3: Tap on View Features next to ‘Add an Optional Feature’.

View features 1

Step 4: Search for RSAT.

Step 5: Select ‘RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools’ and click on Next.

Select RSAT

Step 6: Click on Install and wait for the process to be completed.

Tap on Install RSAT

Install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows 8 and Windows 10 Version 1803 or Lower

Here’s how to install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows 8 and Windows 10 version 1803 or lower.

Step 1: You must download and install Remote Server Administration Tools on your Windows PC. Download and install one of the following depending on your version of Windows:

Step 2: Open the Control Panel application on your Windows PC.

Step 3: Select Programs.

Select Programs

Step 4: Under ‘Programs and Features’, Select ‘Turn Windows Features on or off’.

Turn Windows Features on and Off

Step 4: Scroll down and expand the “Remote Server Administration Tools” section.

Step 5: Expand “Role Administration Tools“.

Step 6: Expand “AD DS and AD LDS Tools“. Ensure that “AD DS Tools” is checked and select OK.

AD DS and LDS

Once you install ADUC on Windows, you can see it as an option under Start” > “Windows Administrative Tools. If you have any further questions, you can take a look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)

1. Is RSAT available on Windows Home Edition?

No. RSAT is only available on Windows Professional and Enterprise editions.

2. What is the difference between ADUC and Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC)?

ADUC is a traditional management tool for Active Directory, while ADAC (Active Directory Administrative Center) is a newer, more feature-rich administrative interface introduced with Windows Server 2008 R2.

3. How to open ADUC using run?

Open Run and enter ‘dsa.msc’ to open ADUC.

Install ADUC on Windows With Ease

We hope this article helps you easily understand the process of installing Active Directory Users and Computers on your Windows PC. If you have any queries regarding the process, you can drop them in the comments section below!

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Last updated on 04 October, 2023

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