How To Join Windows 10 Machines To Domain Or Azure AD

In this post, we will learn more about how to Join Windows 10 Machines to a Domain or Azure AD. You can also check the Windows 11 Azure AD Join step-by-step guide: Windows 10 Azure AD Join—Manual Process Explained.

Windows 10 RTM is now available for download; more details are here. I’ve loads of Windows 10-related posts here. This post will cover the Windows 10 AAD join and Classic Domain Join process.

In this post, you will find comprehensive details on how to join Windows 10 machines to a domain or Azure AD, whether you are integrating your devices into a traditional domain environment or purchasing Azure Active Directory capabilities.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to ensure an easy and efficient process. By following these guidelines, you can simplify your setup and improve the management and security of your Windows 10 devices.

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Index
Video – How to Join Windows 10 Machines to Domain or Azure AD
Domain Join Settings
How to Join Windows 10 Machines to Domain or Azure AD
How Do You Enroll a Windows 10 Machine in Microsoft Intune?
How to Rename Windows 10 Machine and How to Perform Domain Join for Windows 10 machine – Video

• What is Windows 10 PIN How to Set PIN for Windows 10 Devices Machines
• Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Widgets on Windows Machines with Intune Policy
• Windows 10 21H2 Support is Ending in June
• Windows 10 ESU is going to Cost $61 USD per Device for 1st Year

Video – How to Join Windows 10 Machines to Domain or Azure AD

In this video, you will find details on all the Windows 10 initial setup options. These options are crucial as they determine how your Windows 10 machine is configured.

One key aspect is deciding who owns the Windows 10 machine. Depending on your choice, the setup process will vary, impacting your device’s overall configuration and management.

Domain Join Settings

There are two ways to join Azure AD with Windows 10. First, go to Settings –> Accounts –> Work Access and click the Join or Leave Azure AD link. Another way is to go to Settings –> System –> About and join a Windows 10 machine to Azure AD.

When you click on the link (Join or Leave Azure AD) mentioned above, it will take you to Windows 10 Settings–>System–>About page. You can change the Windows 10 machine name from the About page before joining Azure AD by clicking Rename PC (Windows 10 PC).

• Click the Join Azure AD button to enter your organization’s Azure AD.

System	Details
Edition	Windows 10 Enterprise
Product ID	00329-00000-00003-AA066
Processor	Intel(R) Atom(TM) x7-Z8700 CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.60 GHz
Installed RAM	4.00 GB
System type	64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch	Pen and full Windows touch support with 10 touchpoints

On this page, you must provide a Work or School ID for Office 365 or any other Microsoft cloud or business solutions. I entered my cloud ID (Azure AD user ID) and password and clicked the Sign-in button.

When your organization has enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Azure AD, you will receive a verification call on your mobile number. Answer the call and press # to complete the authentication process.

How to Join Windows 10 Machines to Domain or Azure AD

If MFA is not enabled, the Azure AD join wizard will ask you to check and confirm your organization’s name and details. Once you are sure about the organization Azure AD domain you want to join, click on the JOIN button on the screen below.

The Windows 10 machine will connect to Azure AD and complete the authentication and AAD join process. Depending on your internet speed, this may take some time. 

It’s all finished now. 🙂 The Windows 10 machine has joined Azure AD. Click on a finish to complete the process. You can have auto-enrollment enabled for Microsoft Intune when machines join Azure AD; in that way, there is no need to search in the Windows Store for the Microsoft Intune company portal and install – enroll it 🙂

To confirm your Azure AD join, go to Settings –> Accounts –> Work Access and confirm whether your organization name shows up there. Then, click on that button and check the Azure AD sync details to see whether policies are getting synced.

How Do You Enroll a Windows 10 Machine in Microsoft Intune?

When you set auto-enrollment for your organization’s AAD tenant, all the devices joined to AAD will automatically be enrolled in Microsoft Intune.

You don’t have to install the Intune company portal separately from the Windows store to enroll the devices. As you can see in the following screen capture, my Surface is enrolled to Intune automatically, and the device type is detected as Mobile. The post here explains more details about auto-enrollment features. 

How to Perform Windows 10 Domain Join?

Domain join is the old classical way of joining your Windows 10 machine to your Work domain. Go to control panel – system properties and click on change settings.

On the system properties window, click on Network ID to join a Windows 10 machine to a domain. The Windows 10 domain wizard has been changed a bit. In the second window, enter a domain or workplace and select one of the options that describes your network.

Select “This computer is part of a business network I use to connect to another computer” or “This is a home computer; it’s not part of a business network“.

How to Rename Windows 10 Machine and How to Perform Domain Join for Windows 10 machine – Video

Select 1st option if you want a Windows 10 machine to a domain. Select the 2nd option if you wish to use a Windows 10 machine for the workplace.

Resources

Windows 10 is the Latest Version Of Client Operating System From Microsoft (anoopcnair.com)

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Author

Anoop C Nair is Microsoft MVP! He is a Device Management Admin with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. He writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc.