Server 2025 Domain Join KB ID 0001883
Problem
To perform a Windows Server 2025 Domain Join (Local Domain). The end process is the same as it’s always been, they’ve just made the job of getting to there a little more convoluted, (this is the same with Windows 11).
Solution: Windows Server 2025 Domain Join
Before attempting to join the domain, let’s make sure we can ‘resolve’ the domain name, (because most domain join problems are DNS related). Whilst logged in as a (local) administrative user, click the Windows button > Windows PowerShell.
Ensure you can ‘ping’ the domain name (see below), Also here I verify that the IP address that responds in my domain controller (Note: this will only work if your DNS zone has a correctly setup reverse DNS zone!)
Click the Windows button > System.
System > About.
Advanced System Settings.
Computer Name.
Change.
Select ‘Domain’ and enter the domain name > OK > enter credentials that have the rights to join a machine to the domain* > OK
*Note: All domain users have the right to join x10 machines to the domain.
OK > OK.
OK > Restart Now > The server will reboot.
Ensure you don’t mistakenly log on as the local administrator > Other User > Then remember if you are logging on as domain administrator use DOMAIN/Administrator, or administrator@domain-name.domain extension.
Solution: PowerShell Windows Server 2025 Domain Join
Windows button > Open an administrative PowerShell window.
As above, before attempting to join the domain, let’s make sure we can ‘resolve’ the domain name, (because most domain join problems are DNS related).
Use the following syntax.
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Add-Computer -DomainName {your-domain-name}
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When prompted, provide credentials that have rights to add computer object to the domain.
When successfully joined, you will be asked to reboot.
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Restart-Computer
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Ensure you don’t mistakenly log on as the local administrator > Other User > Then remember if you are logging on as domain administrator use DOMAIN/Administrator, or administrator@domain-name.domain extension.
Leave a Windows Domain Using PowerShell
Firstly I’m making sure I am correctly domain joined by using the following command.
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Get-WmiObject win32_computerSystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty domain
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Then to ‘leave’ the domain use the following command.
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Remove-Computer
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When prompted reply to Y for yes then to complete the process reboot the server with the following command.
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Restart-Computer
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Leave a Windows Domain Using GUI
To do the same graphically, it’s just the reverse of a domain join, use the instructions above you get you to the following dialog then select workgroup, and enter the workgroup name.
OK > OK.
Close > Restart Now.
