Windows Server 2025 Domain Join

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.

Windows Server 2025 Domain Join

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!)

Server 2025 join domain test DNS

Click the Windows button > System.

Server 2025 join domain System Settings

System > About.

Server 2025 join domain System Settings

Advanced System Settings.

Server 2025 join domain Advanced System Settings   

Computer Name.

Server 2025 join domain Computer Name

Change.

Server 2025 join domain Computer Name

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.

Server 2025 join domain Authenticate

OK > OK.

Server 2025 join domain

OK > Restart Now > The server will reboot.

Server 2025 join domain

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.

Server 2025 joining a domain

Solution: PowerShell Windows Server 2025 Domain Join

Windows button > Open an administrative PowerShell window.

Join Server 2025 to a domain with Powershell

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).

Join Server 2025 domain test DNS

Use the following syntax.

Add-Computer -DomainName {your-domain-name}

When prompted, provide credentials that have rights to add computer object to the domain.

Join domain with PowerShell

When successfully joined, you will be asked to reboot.

Restart-Computer

Join domain with PowerShell

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.

log into domain as administrator

Leave a Windows Domain Using PowerShell

Firstly I’m making sure I am correctly domain joined by using the following command.

Get-WmiObject win32_computerSystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty domain

Then to ‘leave’ the domain use the following command.

Remove-Computer

When prompted reply to Y for yes then to complete the process reboot the server with the following command.

Restart-Computer

Leave domain with PowerShell

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.

Leave domain join workgroup

OK > OK.

Leave domain join workgroup

Close > Restart Now.

Leave domain join workgroup

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

How to Join a Windows Domain

Windows: Join Azure AD (AAD)

Windows Server 2022 Domain Join

How to Join Windows 11 to a Domain

Author: PeteLong

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3 Comments

  1. Server 2024?

    Do you mean Server 2025

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