Windows 10: Join Windows 10 PC to a Domain

How to: Join Windows 10 PC to a Domain

How to Join a Windows 10 PC to a Local Active Directory Domain


A network based on a Domain provides centralized administration of the entire network from a single computer which is called a server. A Domain provides single user login from any computer connected to that network within the network perimeter. Users are allowed (or restricted) to access resources depending upon the permissions they have.

To join a Domain, you will be required to have the following information:

• Domain name you want to join.
• The name and password of your user account on the Domain set up by the domain administrator.

To join a Domain, you must meet the following requirements:

• Domain Controller must be running Windows Server 2003 or later.
• Only a Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition PC can join a domain.

This tutorial will show you how to join a Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education PC to a local Active Directory Domain.

The Family feature will no longer be available in Windows 10 after you join a domain.


You must be signed in to an administrator account on your Windows 10 PC to join a domain.



Contents

• Option One: To Join PC to a Domain from Settings
• Option Two: To Join PC to a Domain from System Properties
• Option Three: To Join PC to a Domain from PowerShell

EXAMPLE: Sign in to Domain on Windows 10 PC

When you join a domain, your might be required to change your password on first sign in.










OPTION ONE [/i] To Join PC to a Domain from Settings
1 If you haven't already, you will need to change the preferred DNS server address (ex: "192.168.1.150") of your Windows 10 PC to be the same as the domain's. (see screenshots below)





2 If you haven't already, you will need to disable IPv6 for the network adapter on your Windows 10 PC. (see screenshot below)



3 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.

4 Click/tap on Access work or school on the left side, and click/tap on the Connect button on the right side. (see screenshot below)



5 Click/tap on the Join this device to a local Active Directory domain link at the bottom. (see screenshot below)



6 Type the domain name (ex: "ten.forums") of the domain you want to join, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)




Example of domain name from server.




7 Type the user name (ex: "L: [email protected]") and password for your domain account, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




Example of domain user account from server.




8 Click/tap on Skip. (see screenshot below)



9 Click/tap on Restart now. After you restart, your PC will be joined to the domain (ex: "ten.forums"). (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] To Join PC to a Domain from System Properties
1 If you haven't already, you will need to change the preferred DNS server address (ex: "192.168.1.150") of your Windows 10 PC to be the same as the domain's. (see screenshots below)





2 If you haven't already, you will need to disable IPv6 for the network adapter on your Windows 10 PC. (see screenshot below)



3 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the System icon.

4 Click/tap on either the Advanced system settings link on the left side or the Change settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)



5 Click/tap on the Change button in the Computer Name tab. (see screenshot below)



6 Select (dot) Domain, type the domain name (ex: "ten.forums") of the domain you want to join, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




Example of domain name from server.




7 Type the domain\user name (ex: "TEN\Brink") and password for your domain account, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




Example of domain user account from server.





8 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



9 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



10 Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)



11 Click/tap on Restart Now. After you restart, your PC will be joined to the domain (ex: "ten.forums"). (see screenshot below)








OPTION THREE [/i] To Join PC to a Domain from PowerShell
To see more information and usage options for the Add-Computer command, see: Add-Computer - Microsoft Windows IT Center


1 If you haven't already, you will need to change the preferred DNS server address (ex: "192.168.1.150") of your Windows 10 PC to be the same as the domain's. (see screenshots below)





2 If you haven't already, you will need to disable IPv6 for the network adapter on your Windows 10 PC. (see screenshot below)



3 Open an elevated PowerShell.

4 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Add-Computer -Domain "Domain Name" -Credential "Domain User Name" -Force

Substitute Domain Name in the command above with the actual domain name (ex: "ten.forums") you want to join.

Substitute Domain User Name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "Brink") of your domain user account.

For example: Add-Computer -Domain "ten.forums" -Credential "Brink" -Force




5 Enter the password for your domain account (ex: "Brink"), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




Example of domain user account from server.




6 Restart the computer. After you restart, your PC will be joined to the domain (ex: "ten.forums").

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Install Windows Server 2016 and Setup Local Domain Controller
• How to Remove a Windows 10 PC from a Local Active Directory Domain
• How to Enable or Disable Domain Users to Sign in to Windows 10 using Biometrics
• How to Enable or Disable Domain Users to Sign in with PIN to Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Domain Users to Sign in with Picture Password to Windows 10
• How to join a Windows 10 PC to Azure Active Directory
• How to Enable or Disable Show Local Users on Sign-in Screen on Domain Joined Windows 10 PC
• How to Set Network Location to be Public, Private, or Domain in Windows 10

:)

 

Join domain option missing

You need to be logged on as a local administrator

Contact the domain administrator for specifics

Join a Windows 10 PC or Device to a Domain. On the Windows 10 PC go to then click Join a domain. Enter the Domain name and click Next. You should have the correct domain info, but if not, contact your Network Administrator. Enter account
information which is used to authenticate on the Domain then click OK.

How to Join a Windows 10 PC to
a Domain -
groovyPost

 

Re-join the domain after upgrade

There is no need to leave the domain, you can perform the upgrade (with Admin privileges).

You can also leave the domain, upgrade with a local account, then join the domain again.

Resources:

• Quick
  Tip: Join a Windows 10 PC to a Domain

 

Thank you Kari. *Smile

 

I have a domain and a home network, would there be any advantage in joining the two together?

 

Do you have a local server with domain controller set up?

 

No, the only servery type thing I have is a NAS.

 

As so often in computing, one word or expression can mean different things depending on context. Word Domain does not make any exception, it can mean totally different things.

I assume that when you mentioned you having a domain, you meant a domain as a website domain like Web Server's Default Page.

Domain in the sense used in this tutorial means a local domain, a completely different thing. For that you need a machine running Windows Server operating system, and set up a local domain controller on that server. See this tutorial: Windows Server 2016 - Setup Local Domain Controller Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. You lean every day!

 

Speaking just of Option 1, and the pic in #5, has the entire bottom section ("Alternate actions") been removed in RS4 (using Enterprise 17093 at the moment), or is it just me? If it has, do you know where they've hidden local domain join now? I'm just curious where it might be, since the older UI--which is still there--could disappear at any time.

 

Hello @rseiler, *Smile

The steps are still the same for me in a Windows 10 Pro build 17093 installation. I'm not sure about in an Enterprise edition yet though.

 

I'm on 17093, too, although PRO edition and the option is still there exactly as shown in tutorial:

 

Interesting. I do see it on 16299.214 Ent, but not the latest Ent Insider. Hmmm, I wonder if there's some variable that would cause it not to show up?

 

@rseiler,

I just finished clean installing Windows 10 Enterprise build 17093 in a VM using a local account, and it still has the same steps in the tutorial for me.

Is your PC already joined to a domain?

 

You were faster in installing Enterprise! I did the same, can corfirm domain join still being there.