How to Install Active Directory Users and Computers on Windows 10

To install Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) on Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Optional features and select Add a feature. Search for RSAT, check RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools, and select Install. When it finishes, open ADUC by pressing Windows + R and typing dsa.msc.

ADUC is part of Microsoft’s Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). It lets you manage users, groups, and computers in a domain from your own PC instead of signing in to a server.

Applies to: Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, version 1809 or later. RSAT isn’t available on Windows 10 Home. Checked against Microsoft Learn on September 24, 2026.

Before you start

• Check your edition: go to Settings > System > About and look at Edition. You need Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
• Sign in as an administrator on the PC.
• Have domain access: to manage users, the PC should be joined to the domain, or able to reach a domain controller, and your account needs permission in Active Directory.
• On a work PC, your IT team may control which features you can add. If Add a feature is blocked, ask them.

Install ADUC from Optional features

1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features, then select Optional features.
2. Select Add a feature.
3. Type RSAT in the search box.
4. Check RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools.
5. Select Install. The progress shows at the top of the Optional features page. It can take several minutes.

This one feature installs ADUC and the other AD tools, such as Active Directory Sites and Services, Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and the Active Directory module for PowerShell.

Open Active Directory Users and Computers

• Press Windows + R, type dsa.msc, and press Enter.
• Or select Start > Windows Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers.
• To run it as a different account, hold Shift, right-click the shortcut, and select Run as different user.

To pin it, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers in the Start menu and select Pin to Start. For more ways to launch the console, see how to open Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 10.

Install it with PowerShell

Right-click Start, select Windows PowerShell (Admin), and run:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0

To see which RSAT tools are available and installed, run:

Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat*

If the install fails

• Windows 10 Home: RSAT can’t be installed. You need Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
• Older Windows 10 versions: versions before 1809 used a separate RSAT download. Update Windows first.
• Error 0x800f0954: the PC gets updates from a company update server (WSUS) that doesn’t offer optional features. Your IT team can allow optional features to download from Windows Update in Group Policy, under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair.
• Stuck at “Installing”: restart the PC, check Windows Update for waiting updates, and try again.

Remove ADUC

Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features, select RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools, and select Uninstall.

Frequently asked questions

Is ADUC the same as installing Active Directory?

No. ADUC is only the management tool. Active Directory itself runs on Windows Server domain controllers. You can’t turn a Windows 10 PC into a domain controller.

Where is ADUC in Windows 11?

The steps are almost the same. See how to install RSAT on Windows 11.

Why can’t I see Advanced Features like the Attribute Editor?

In ADUC, select View > Advanced Features. The Attribute Editor tab then appears in object properties.

Can I manage Active Directory from PowerShell too?

Yes. The same RSAT feature adds the Active Directory module for PowerShell. After installing it, you can run commands such as Get-ADUser -Identity sam to look up a user.

How do I open ADUC faster next time?

Select Start, type Active Directory Users and Computers, right-click it, and select Pin to Start. It’s also in the Windows Administrative Tools folder on the Start menu.

To add other tools, such as Group Policy Management or DNS, see how to install RSAT on Windows 10.

To open ADUC once it’s installed, see how to open Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 10. Microsoft’s guide is Install Remote Server Administration Tools. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

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