To install Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) on an x64 Windows 11 PC, add the RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools optional feature. Open Settings > System > Optional features, select View features, and search for Active Directory. Arm-based PCs running updated Windows 11 24H2/25H2 use a different route, described below.
RSAT means Remote Server Administration Tools. It installs management tools for an existing server environment; it does not create an Active Directory domain or automatically join your PC to one. To add the PC itself, see how to join a domain in Windows 11. Microsoft’s current prerequisites list Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise, local administrator rights, and connectivity and permissions for the remote systems. Windows Home is unsupported.
How to install ADUC in Settings
- Open Settings and go to System > Optional features. On older versions of Windows 11, it’s under Apps > Optional features.
- Next to View or edit optional features, select View features. Windows may ask for administrator permission.
- Type Active Directory in the search box.
- Check RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools, then select Next and the Add or Install button shown by your Windows build.
- Wait for the installation to finish. If Windows requests a restart, save your work and restart before opening ADUC.
Microsoft’s RSAT support article confirms these tools are optional features on Windows 11 and can’t be installed on Home editions.
Arm-based Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2
On Arm64 PCs with Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, Microsoft added these tools as optional components starting with the February 2026 non-security preview update. Install that update or a later update first. Check your version and system type in Settings > System > About. For help reading that line, see how to tell if your Windows 11 PC is x64 or ARM-based.
- Open Control Panel, then Programs > Turn Windows features on or off. You can also press Windows + R, enter
optionalfeatures.exe, and press Enter. - Select the RSAT Active Directory Domain Services and AD LDS tools component shown in the list.
- Select OK, let Windows finish installing it, and follow any restart prompt.
Arm devices running Windows 11 26H1 instead use Features on Demand through Settings > System > Optional features. See Microsoft’s Arm RSAT announcement for the version-specific distinction.
How to install ADUC with PowerShell
- Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
- For the Features on Demand installation route, run this command in PowerShell:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 - Wait for the command to finish.
For this route, verify the capability afterward with Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0. Look for State: Installed. If it says NotPresent, installation has not completed. The Get-WindowsCapability command reads capability status; it does not install the tool. Arm 24H2/25H2 optional components use a different feature system, so use the Windows Features route above for those versions.
How to open Active Directory Users and Computers
- Press Windows + R, type
dsa.msc, and press Enter. - Or open Windows Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers.
Opening the console is separate from having permission to manage a domain. Microsoft’s ADUC account-management guide assumes a domain-joined computer and an account with the appropriate domain permissions. Local administrator rights alone do not grant those permissions. If the console opens but cannot find or manage your domain, check the connection and your authorized account with your IT administrator.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I find RSAT in Optional features?
Check your edition, version, and processor type in Settings > System > About. Home is unsupported. On Arm 24H2/25H2, use Windows Features after the required update. On a managed work PC, ask IT if the installation source or optional-feature download is restricted; record the error rather than changing update policies yourself.
Can I download RSAT for Windows 11 separately?
For the Windows 11 routes covered here, use the built-in optional feature or component appropriate to your device. The old standalone RSAT packages for earlier Windows versions are not the normal Windows 11 installation method.
Once installation finishes, open ADUC from Windows Tools or run dsa.msc. If installation fails, keep the error message and check the version-specific route before retrying.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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