To install Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Optional features, click View features next to Add an optional feature, search for RSAT, check RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools, and click Next > Add (or Install). When it finishes, open ADUC by pressing Windows + R and typing dsa.msc. You need Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education and administrator rights.
ADUC is part of Microsoft’s Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT), which are built into Windows 11 as optional features, so there’s nothing separate to download. This guide covers the Settings method, PowerShell and DISM commands, how to open and use ADUC, and fixes for installs that fail or get stuck.
Requirements
- Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. RSAT isn’t available on Windows 11 Home.
- An administrator account on the PC.
- Internet access to Windows Update (or an internal update source on managed networks).
- To actually manage accounts, the PC should be joined to the domain, or you’ll need to connect with domain credentials.
Method 1: Install ADUC from Settings
- Open Settings (Windows + I) and go to System > Optional features.
- Next to Add an optional feature, click View features.
- Type RSAT in the search box.
- Check RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools.
- Click Next, then Add or Install.
- Watch the progress under Recent actions. It can take several minutes.
This package also installs related tools, such as Active Directory Sites and Services, Active Directory Domains and Trusts, ADSI Edit, and the Active Directory module for PowerShell.
Method 2: Install ADUC with PowerShell
- Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin).
- Run:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 - Confirm it’s installed:
Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory*should show State : Installed.
To see every RSAT tool and its status, run Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object Name -like 'Rsat*'.
Method 3: Install with DISM
In an administrator Command Prompt, run:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0How to open ADUC
- Press Windows + R, type dsa.msc, and press Enter.
- Or open Start > All apps > Windows Tools and double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.
- Right-click it and choose Pin to Start for quick access.
If the PC isn’t signed in with a domain account, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers in the left pane, choose Change Domain, or run ADUC as a different user with runas /netonly /user:DOMAIN\username "mmc dsa.msc".
Useful ADUC tips
- Turn on View > Advanced Features to see the Attribute Editor tab and system containers.
- Right-click a user to reset a password, unlock an account, or disable it.
- Use Action > Find to search the directory.
- For bulk changes, the Active Directory PowerShell module (installed with ADUC) is often faster.
Troubleshooting
- RSAT isn’t listed – you’re on Windows 11 Home, or you need to click View features and search. Check your edition in Settings > System > About.
- Install fails with error 0x800f0954 – the PC is probably set to get updates from WSUS, which may not host optional features. An admin can enable Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair in Group Policy (Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System) and check Download repair content and optional features directly from Windows Update, then run
gpupdate /force. - Install is stuck – restart the PC and try again, or use the PowerShell method to see the error.
- “The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted” – make sure the PC uses the domain’s DNS servers and can reach a domain controller.
How to uninstall ADUC
Go to Settings > System > Optional features, expand the RSAT Active Directory entry under installed features, and click Remove. Or run Remove-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0.
Related: Install ADUC on Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download RSAT for Windows 11 from Microsoft’s website?
No separate download is needed. Starting with Windows 10 October 2018 Update, RSAT tools are installed as Features on Demand.
Does installing ADUC give me domain admin rights?
No. ADUC is only a management tool. What you can change depends on the permissions of your domain account.
Can I install ADUC on Windows 11 ARM devices?
RSAT support on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs has been more limited; check the Optional features list on your device to see whether it’s offered.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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