Active Directory Users and Computers is part of the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). It provides a graphical interface for administrators to manage objects stored in an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) environment.
Before opening it, you should understand one important thing: installing ADUC and connecting to an Active Directory domain are two different things. Installing RSAT adds the management tools to your PC, but you still need network access to a domain controller and suitable permissions to manage domain objects.
Let’s look at the different steps in detail.
In this guide, we’ll walk through different ways to see and open Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 11/10.
See Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 11/10
If you want to see Active Directory Users and Computers on your Windows PC, follow these steps:
- Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Navigate to Apps > Optional features.
- Select View features under Add an optional feature.
- Search for RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools.
- Select the feature and click Next > Add.
- Wait for Windows to complete the installation.
- Open the Start menu and search for Windows Tools.
- Open Windows Tools and double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.
- Sign in with an appropriate domain account if prompted and connect to your Active Directory environment.
Note: RSAT is available for supported Windows 11 and Windows 10 editions, including Pro and Enterprise. Windows Home does not support installing RSAT through the standard Optional Features process.
1: Check Your Windows Edition
Before installing Active Directory Users and Computers, check whether your Windows edition supports Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). This is important because RSAT is officially supported on Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise, as well as Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions with the October 2018 update or later.
To check your Windows edition, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type winver and press Enter. A small window will appear showing your Windows version and operating system details. To check the edition, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications.
If you see Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Enterprise, Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 10 Enterprise, you can proceed with the installation. If your computer runs Windows Home, the standard RSAT installation method will not be available. You will need a supported Windows edition to use this approach.
2: Open the Optional Features Settings
Once you’ve confirmed that your Windows edition supports RSAT, the next step is to open the Optional Features section.
On Windows 11, press Windows + I to launch Settings. Select System from the left panel and click Optional features on the right. Depending on your Windows version, you might find this option under Settings > Apps > Optional features instead.
For Windows 10, open Settings > Apps > Apps & features and select Optional features. On some updated Windows 10 installations, you can find this section under Settings > System > Optional features.
You can also open the Optional Features page directly. Press Windows + R, enter ms-settings:optionalfeatures, and click OK. Windows will take you straight to the required settings page.
This section lets you install additional Windows capabilities without downloading a separate installation package. Since RSAT is offered as a Feature on Demand, you can add the administrative tools whenever you need them.
3: Find the Active Directory RSAT Feature
After opening Optional Features, look for the option to add a new feature. On Windows 11, click View features next to Add an optional feature. On Windows 10, select Add a feature.
A window containing available optional features will appear. Use its search box and type RSAT: Active Directory.
You should see an option named RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools. This is the specific RSAT package you need to access Active Directory Users and Computers.
Select the checkbox next to this feature. Click Next and review the selected component. Make sure you’ve selected the correct Active Directory management tools rather than an unrelated RSAT package.
Remember, this package includes several Active Directory administration utilities, including Active Directory Users and Computers, Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and Active Directory Sites and Services. You don’t need to install every available RSAT component if your only requirement is managing Active Directory users and computers.
4: Install Active Directory Users and Computers
Now that you’ve selected the correct feature, it’s time to install it.
Click the Install button and allow Windows to download and configure the required components. Keep your computer connected to the internet during this process because Windows may need to download the feature files from Microsoft’s update infrastructure or an organization-managed source.
You can monitor the installation progress by returning to Settings > System > Optional features and checking the Recently added or Installed features section.
The installation might take a few minutes, depending on your internet connection, Windows configuration, and update settings. Avoid closing Settings while the installation is still running.
Once Windows completes the process, you should see the Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools listed among your installed optional features. You don’t usually need to restart your PC, but follow any restart prompt if Windows displays one.
At this point, the ADUC management console should be available on your computer.
5: Open Active Directory Users and Computers From Windows Tools
After installing RSAT, you can access Active Directory Users and Computers through Windows Tools. This is one of the easiest methods, especially if you plan to use the console regularly.
On Windows 11, click the Start button and type Windows Tools in the search box. Select the matching result to open the Administrative Tools window.
On Windows 10, open Start and search for Windows Administrative Tools. Depending on your Windows version, the folder may appear under Windows Tools or Administrative Tools.
Once the window opens, look for Active Directory Users and Computers. Double-click it to launch the management console.
A new Microsoft Management Console window should appear with your Active Directory domain information. If your PC is connected to a domain, you may see the domain displayed in the left navigation panel.
You can expand the domain to explore its folders, user accounts, computer accounts, and organizational units. If the console opens but doesn’t display your expected domain, check your network connection and domain access.
6: Open Active Directory Users and Computers Using the Run Command
If you don’t want to search through Windows Tools every time, you can open ADUC directly using the Run dialog box.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard. When the Run window appears, type the following command:
dsa.msc
Press Enter or click OK. Windows should launch the Active Directory Users and Computers console.
This command works after the required RSAT Active Directory tools have been installed. If you see an error stating that Windows cannot find dsa.msc, check whether the RSAT feature was installed successfully.
You can also use the Start menu search box and type Active Directory Users and Computers. Select the matching administrative tool to open it.
The Run command is particularly convenient for IT administrators who frequently switch between different Windows management consoles.
Install RSAT Using Windows PowerShell
If the Optional Features page doesn’t work or you prefer command-line administration, PowerShell offers another way to install the required RSAT component.
First, open the Start menu and search for Windows PowerShell. Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.
Enter the following command to check whether the Active Directory RSAT feature is available:
Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools*
Press Enter. Windows will display the feature’s installation status. If the state is NotPresent, the component is available but hasn’t been installed.
To install it, execute this command:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
Wait until PowerShell finishes processing the request. Once the installation succeeds, you can open ADUC by entering dsa.msc in the Run dialog box.
This method is useful when you’re configuring multiple administrative computers or troubleshooting an installation that isn’t appearing in Settings. However, make sure you run PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Connect to Your Active Directory Domain
Installing and opening ADUC doesn’t automatically give you access to every Active Directory environment. You also need to connect to the correct domain.
When the console opens, check the left navigation panel for your domain. If the expected domain isn’t displayed, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers and select Change Domain.
Enter the domain name you want to manage and click OK. Your computer must have network connectivity to an appropriate domain controller for this connection to work.
If you’re managing a different domain, you may need to use the Change Domain Controller option to select a specific domain controller. You can also launch the console with another set of credentials by using the appropriate administrative account.
Keep in mind that having access to the console doesn’t automatically grant permission to modify every object. Your domain account must have the required administrative or delegated permissions to perform tasks such as resetting passwords, creating accounts, or changing group membership.
Once connected, you can expand the domain and start managing the available Active Directory objects.
FAQs
1. How do I find Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 11?
First, install RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools through Settings > System > Optional features > View features. Once installed, search for Windows Tools in the Start menu and open Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Is Active Directory Users and Computers available in Windows 10?
Yes. You can access Active Directory Users and Computers in supported Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions by installing the required RSAT feature. Windows 10 Home does not officially support the standard RSAT installation method.
3. Why can’t I find Active Directory Users and Computers on my PC?
The most common reason is that the RSAT Active Directory tools aren’t installed. Another possibility is that you’re using Windows Home, which doesn’t support the standard RSAT installation process. Check your Windows edition and installed optional features before troubleshooting further.
4. What is the Run command for Active Directory Users and Computers?
The Run command for opening Active Directory Users and Computers is dsa.msc. Press Windows + R, enter the command, and press Enter. Make sure you’ve installed the required RSAT feature first.
5. Can I install Active Directory Users and Computers without RSAT?
On supported Windows client editions, RSAT provides the required Active Directory management snap-in. You cannot normally access ADUC on a Windows client without installing the relevant management tools. On Windows Server, the corresponding management tools can be installed through Server Manager.
6. Do I need an Active Directory account to open ADUC?
You can open the management console after installing RSAT, but you need access to an Active Directory domain to manage its objects. Your account must also have appropriate permissions to perform administrative tasks. You don’t necessarily need Domain Admin privileges for every task because administrators can delegate specific permissions.
7. How do I know whether Active Directory Users and Computers is installed?
Open Settings > System > Optional features > Installed features and search for RSAT. Look for RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools. You can also open Run and enter dsa.msc to check whether the console launches.