If you’re a Windows admin using a Microsoft Windows 10 or 8 computer, you may want to install Active Directory Users and Computers as well as other Active Directory applications. These tools are not installed by default, but here’s how to get them.
Note: You can install Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10 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.
Windows 10 Version 1809 and Higher
As of Windows 10 1809, RSAT is no longer installed using the installer from Microsoft, it is now available as a feature. Use these steps to install it.
- Right-click the Start button and choose “Settings” > “Apps” > “Manage optional features” > “Add feature“.
- Select “RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Tools“.
- Select “Install“, then wait while Windows installs the feature. It should eventually appear as an option under “Start” > “Windows Administrative Tools“.
Windows 8 and Windows 10 Version 1803 or Lower
- Download and install one of the following depending on your version of Windows:
- In Windows 8 and older versions of Windows 10, right-click the Start button and choose “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features” > “Turn Windows features on or off“.
- Scroll down and expand the “Remote Server Administration Tools” section.
- Expand “Role Administration Tools“.
- Expand “AD DS and AD LDS Tools“.
- Ensure that “AD DS Tools” is checked, then select “OK“.
- You should have an option for “Administrative Tools” on the Start menu. From there, select any of the Active Directory tools. In newer versions of windows 10 (or at least mine), select the “Start” button then type “active directory”, and it should show up.
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Enable This PC Icon on Desktop for All Windows 10 Users
Sean says
Maybe a silly question… but I am new to active directory. Do all computers need to be windows 10 pro? Or is just the ‘host’ computer be good enough? Thanks
Vedran says
Right-click the Start button and choose “Settings” > “Apps” > “Manage optional features” > “Add feature“.
Select “RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Tools“.
Select “Install“, then wait while Windows installs the feature. It should eventually appear as an option under “Start” > “Windows Administrative Tools“.
This is missing:
4. Restart OS
Eric says
When I click optional features it thinks for awhile then says no features to install? It did prompt for the administrator password which I entered.
Jarrett says
I got a message saying Windows update standalone installer
The update not applicable to your computer what’s up with that
J-money says
It all depends on what your WSUS server has on it…
Stu says
This also works on Windows 10 Education. Just a little FYI
Adrian Petcu says
I confirm what Michael Baney said about needing to change the registry value on build 1809 when in a domain with WUServer.
Darkehorse says
I have Windows Pro Insider Preview Build 18305.
I *DID* have to download it from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=45520 before it showed up again.
Just an FYI
Michael Baney says
For Windows 10 Version 1809 and Higher, I did have to reboot for the apps to show under the Windows Administrative Tools.
Also If you are on a domain you may have to change registry value to “0” for “UseWUServer” at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU. Then restart the wuauserv to install them.