Active Directory is a critical component of the Windows Server Technical Preview connection and management process. Although Active Directory is a Windows tool, it is not installed by default in Windows 10. Microsoft has made it available online, so anyone who wants to use it can access it from Microsoft’s website. Microsoft.com provides an easy way for users to find and install the utility for their version of Windows 10. In Windows 10, here’s how to enable and use Active Directory.
You may want to install Active Directory Users and Computers, as well as other Active Directory programs, if you’re a Windows administrator using a Microsoft Windows 10 or 8 computers. These utilities aren’t automatically installed, but here’s how to get them.
Note: Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10 can only be installed on full versions of Windows Professional or Enterprise. If you try to instal it nonetheless, you’ll get a notice saying “This update does not qualify for your computer.”
Enable Active Directory Windows 10 Version 1809 and Higher
RSAT is no longer installed with the Microsoft installer and is now available as a feature in Windows 10 1809. To instal it, follow these steps.
- Right-click the Start button and select “Settings” > “Apps” > “Manage optional features” > “Add feature” from the menu that appears.
- Choose “RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Tools” from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Install,” and then wait for Windows to finish installing the feature. It should ultimately appear in “Start” > “Windows Administrative Tools” as an option.
Enable Active Directory Windows 10 Version 1803 or Lower
- Depending on your Windows version, download and instal one of the following:
Windows 10 Remote Server Administrator Tools - Choose “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features” > “Programs and Features” > “Program “Turn on or off Windows features“.
- Expand the “Remote Server Administration Tools” section by scrolling down.
- “Role Administration Tools” should be expanded.
- “AD DS and AD LDS Tools” should be expanded.
- Select “OK” after ensuring that “AD DS Tools” is checked.
- On the Start menu, there should be an option for “Administrative Tools.” Select any of the Active Directory tools from there. Select the “Start” button in later versions of Windows 10 (or at least mine), then type “active directory,” and it should appear.
