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You cannot install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) as a domain controller on Windows 11. AD DS is a Windows Server role. On Windows 11, the supported option is to install Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT), which lets you manage users, groups, computers, organizational units, and other directory objects on an existing domain controller.
These instructions apply to Windows 11, including version 25H2. You need Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education, Pro Education, or Pro for Workstations. Windows 11 Home does not support RSAT.
What you install on Windows 11
The Active Directory component you need is:
RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services ToolsIts Windows capability name is:
Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0This package installs the Active Directory Users and Computers console and the Active Directory PowerShell module. It does not create a domain, install a domain controller, or replace Windows Server.
Check your Windows 11 edition
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
winverand press Enter to check the Windows version and build. - Open Settings > System > About.
- Look at Windows specifications > Edition.
If the edition is Windows 11 Home, RSAT cannot be installed through the supported Windows client method. Upgrade to a supported edition or manage Active Directory from another compatible administrative computer.
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Method 1: Enable Active Directory tools in Settings
- Open Settings from the Start menu.
- Go to System > Optional features.
- Next to Add an optional feature, select View features.
- Search for
RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools. - Select the checkbox beside the result, then select Next.
- Select Add and wait for Windows to complete the installation.
Windows normally downloads the optional-feature files through Windows Update, so the computer needs network access. On a company-managed computer, your administrator may have restricted optional features or configured an internal servicing source.
You can open the relevant Settings page directly by pressing Windows + R, entering the following URI, and selecting OK:
ms-settings:optionalfeaturesOn some older Windows 11 builds, Optional features may appear under Settings > Apps instead of Settings > System.
Method 2: Install the Active Directory tools with PowerShell
Use Windows PowerShell with administrator privileges. Right-click Start, choose Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin), and approve the User Account Control prompt.
1. Check the capability
Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'If the tools are not installed, the result normally shows:
State : NotPresent2. Install the capability
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'A successful installation normally reports Online : True. If RestartNeeded is True, restart Windows before testing the tools.
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3. Confirm the installation
Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'The expected result is:
State : InstalledTest the PowerShell module with:
Import-Module ActiveDirectory
Get-Command -Module ActiveDirectoryThis should return Active Directory cmdlets such as Get-ADUser, Get-ADComputer, and Get-ADGroup.
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After installation, open Start > Windows Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers. You can also press Windows + R, enter:
dsa.mscWhen prompted, connect using an account with suitable permissions. The PC must be able to resolve the domain through DNS and communicate with a domain controller. Installing RSAT alone does not join the PC to the domain.
Install other AD administration tools
The AD DS and AD LDS package is separate from several other RSAT packages. Install only the tools you need.
| Tool | PowerShell capability |
|---|---|
| Group Policy Management | Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 |
| DNS Server Tools | Rsat.Dns.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 |
| DHCP Server Tools | Rsat.DHCP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 |
For example, install Group Policy Management with:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'Install DNS and DHCP tools separately:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.Dns.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.DHCP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'Arm64 limitation in Windows 11 25H2
On some Windows 11 25H2 Arm64 installations, RSAT Features on Demand are not supported through the normal capability-installation mechanism. If Add-WindowsCapability fails on an Arm64 device, check the available Windows features instead:
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- Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select Turn Windows features on or off.
- Look for the available RSAT Active Directory tools and enable them.
Microsoft lists the AD DS and AD LDS tools among the RSAT snap-ins available through this route on supported Arm64 configurations. To check the architecture, go to Settings > System > About and review System type.
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Install RSAT from offline media
If the PC cannot use Windows Update, an administrator can install the capability from matching Features on Demand media:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online `
-Name 'Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0' `
-Source 'D:LanguagesAndOptionalFeatures' `
-LimitAccessReplace the source path with the location containing the Features on Demand files. The media must match the installed Windows version, system architecture, and required language. The -LimitAccess parameter prevents Windows from contacting Windows Update. Using it without a complete, matching source usually causes installation to fail.
Fix common installation problems
The Active Directory feature is not listed
Check the following:
- The edition is not Windows 11 Home.
- The device is not an Arm64 system affected by the RSAT Features on Demand limitation.
- Windows Update or the configured Features on Demand source is reachable.
- An organization policy has not hidden Windows optional features.
A relevant policy is located in User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs > Hide “Windows Features”. On managed devices, contact the administrator rather than changing policy settings yourself.
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Add-WindowsCapability returns a source or download error
This usually means Windows cannot obtain the optional-feature payload. Common causes include unavailable Windows Update, a WSUS configuration that does not provide the required content, an incorrect Features on Demand source, or mismatched installation media.
Administrators should also review:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair
That policy can define an alternate source and control whether Windows downloads missing components from Windows Update.
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The tools install but cannot find the domain
RSAT is only a management client. Confirm that:
- The PC is connected to the corporate network or VPN.
- The PC uses the domain’s DNS servers.
- The domain controller is reachable over the network.
- The signed-in account has permission to perform the requested operation.
- Firewall and routing rules allow the required Active Directory traffic.
Installing RSAT does not automatically join Windows 11 to a domain. To join it, use Settings > System > About > Related links > Domain or workgroup, where available, or the organization’s normal domain-join process.
The module fails in PowerShell 7
The Active Directory module is a Windows PowerShell module. If it works in Windows PowerShell but not in PowerShell 7, open Windows PowerShell from the Start menu and run the command there. RSAT installation does not guarantee that every Windows PowerShell management module runs natively in PowerShell 7.
What not to install
Do not download the old KB2693643 RSAT package for Windows 11. That package belongs to older Windows releases. Current Windows 11 versions install RSAT as Windows capabilities through Optional features or Add-WindowsCapability.
Also, do not use the Windows Server command:
Install-WindowsFeatureThat command is for Windows Server. On Windows 11, use the Settings method or Add-WindowsCapability.
FAQ
Can Windows 11 be turned into an Active Directory domain controller?
No. Active Directory Domain Services is a Windows Server role. Windows 11 can install RSAT tools to remotely manage an existing domain controller, but it cannot host AD DS as a domain controller.
Does Windows 11 Home support Active Directory tools?
No. Microsoft supports RSAT on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations. Windows 11 Home is not supported.
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Which RSAT package installs Active Directory Users and Computers?
Install “RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools.” Its capability name is Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0.
Why can I open Active Directory Users and Computers but not see my domain?
RSAT does not create a domain connection. Check the PC’s DNS settings, VPN or network connection, access to a domain controller, firewall rules, and your account permissions.
Can I install RSAT without internet access?
Yes, but you need matching Windows Features on Demand media. Use Add-WindowsCapability with the correct local source and -LimitAccess. The source must match the Windows version, architecture, and language.
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To enable Active Directory management on Windows 11, install RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools from Settings > System > Optional features, or run:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name 'Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0'Use the tools to administer an existing Windows Server domain. They do not turn Windows 11 into a domain controller.
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