How To Install Active Directory Users And Computers On Windows 11

You must be running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education . The Home edition does not support the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) required for ADUC.

After following the instructions, ADUC appeared in Start > Windows Tools within 5 minutes. Connecting to a domain controller worked immediately. No reboots required (though the guide mentions a reboot may help if tools don’t show up).

Click the View features button next to "Add an optional feature". Search for RSAT: In the search bar, type "RSAT" . You must be running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education

To verify the exact name of the feature, run the following command:

Ensure you are connected to the internet. Windows 11 downloads these features from Windows Update. If your organization uses WSUS , you may need to bypass it temporarily to download optional features directly from Microsoft. Connecting to a domain controller worked immediately

Upon launching ADUC for the first time, the console may default to the local computer or an incorrect domain controller. To connect to the specific domain:

Once installed, the tool is not automatically pinned to the Start Menu. There are two standard ways to access it: Search for RSAT: In the search bar, type "RSAT"

The inclusion of RSAT as a Feature on Demand in Windows 11 simplifies the workflow for system administrators. By following the outlined steps—whether through the intuitive Settings app or the efficient PowerShell command line—IT professionals can quickly deploy the Active Directory Users and Computers console. This capability allows for the flexible, remote management of enterprise resources without the overhead of logging into dedicated server machines directly.

This method is faster and ideal for bulk deployments or scripted configurations.