Join an Active Directory Domain with Windows 10

To join a Windows 10 PC to an Active Directory domain, point the PC’s DNS to the domain’s DNS servers, then open System Properties > Computer Name > Change, select Domain and enter an authorized account before restarting. The procedure is straightforward but requires some prerequisites.

Joining an Active Directory domain allows centralized management of user accounts and resources. The same steps apply to Windows 11.

What Are the Prerequisites for Joining a Domain?

• Use a Pro, Enterprise or Education edition of Windows: the Home edition cannot join a domain.
• Have a domain account with computer join rights, or a domain administrator account.
• Connect the computer to the company network (via cable or Wi-Fi) and verify connectivity to the domain controller.
• Configure the DNS settings in the TCP/IP properties to use the domain’s DNS server.
• Optional: rename the PC to comply with the internal naming convention.

How Do You Join the Domain from Windows Settings?

1. Open Settings → System → About (or via Control Panel → System and Security → System).
2. In the Related settings section, click Rename this PC (advanced) to open the System Properties window (also available via sysdm.cpl).
3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change…. Select Domain and enter the domain name (e.g., entreprise.local).
4. When prompted, enter the credentials of a domain account authorized to join computers (format: DOMAIN\username and password).
5. A message will confirm that the join was successful. Click OK and restart the computer to apply the changes.

How Do You Join a Domain with PowerShell?

In an elevated PowerShell console, the Add-Computer cmdlet performs the join and the restart in a single command:

Add-Computer -DomainName "entreprise.local" -Credential "ENTREPRISE\admin" -Restart

The account password is requested interactively.

How Do You Verify the Domain Join?

• After restarting, at the sign-in screen, select Other user and sign in with your domain account (DOMAIN\username).
• Return to Settings or System Properties to confirm the domain name is correctly displayed.
• Test access to network resources (shares, printers) and verify Group Policy application (for example with gpresult /r).

Conclusion

By joining an Active Directory domain, your Windows 10 PC benefits from centralized control, consistent security policies, and simplified access to shared resources. Follow these steps to seamlessly integrate your device into your organization’s domain.