How to Install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows

Quick Tips

• ADUC is a tool for managing a computer network by creating, deleting, and modifying user accounts, computers, and groups.
• You can only install ADUC on a Windows Professional or Enterprise editions.
• Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features > View Features, and search & install “RSAT: Active Directory Domain…”

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.

• 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.

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

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.

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

Step 4: Search for RSAT.

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

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

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

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 it for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8.

Step 2: Open the Control Panel and select Programs.

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

Once you install ADUC on Windows, you can see it as an option under Start > Windows Administrative Tools.