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.
- Download and install one of the following depending on your version of Windows:
- Right-click the Start button and choose “Control Panel“. (Note: In some configurations, you may be able to skip to step 9.)
- Select “Programs“.
- From the “Programs and Features” section, select “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.
Eric says
FYI in the newer versions of windows 10 (or at least mine), you don’t need to go to programs and features to enable it. In fact it won’t show up there at all which led me on a wild goose chase…. Once you install the microsoft update, just go to your start bar and start typing “active directory” and it should show up.
alex says
yas! thanks!
Chethan Venkobachar says
Thank you , It was help full ;-)
momo says
Thanks. Very helpful links!!
Ronney Marshall says
Worked fine on Win10 Edu. Thanks.
Admin says
@ Angela Locke
Right click and run AD as an Administrator
Ayman Haj says
did not work with me
farzad says
thanks – very helpful
Angela Locke says
These steps get me where I need to be, but my ‘Unlock account’ function is grayed out. Is there a way to activate this? Thanks!
Debbie says
Worked like a charm. Thanks!
Douglas Bickford says
Yes it worked. I installed the new windows 10 update and it wiped out my active directory. Following your instructions and downloading the program worked fine.
Tks for your help.