If y'all use a calculator at your work or school, it's almost certainly part of a Windows domain. But what does that really hateful? What does a domain do, and what are the advantages of a calculator joining one?

Allow's look at what a Windows domain is, how they work, and why businesses utilize them.

What Is a Windows Domain?

A Windows domain is substantially a network of controlled computers used in a business concern setting. At to the lowest degree one server, chosen a domain controller, is in charge of the other devices. This lets the network administrators (usually IT staff) control the computers on the domain through users, settings, and more than.

Because domains aren't for habitation users, only Professional person or Enterprise versions of Windows can join ane. Yous'll also need a copy of Windows Server for the domain controller, equally it includes necessary software like Agile Directory (more on that after). Keep in mind that Windows Server is different from Windows.

How Do You Know If Your Computer Is on a Domain?

If you lot have a dwelling computer, information technology's very unlikely you lot're on a domain. Y'all could create a domain on your dwelling network, just at that place'due south not much use to doing so. But if you use a computer supplied by your work or school, it's nearly certainly on a domain.

Windows computer domain status

To check if your computer is part of a domain, open the Control Panel and click the System entry. Look nether the Computer name section. If you run across a Workgroup entry with WORKGROUP (the default) or another proper name listed, your figurer is not on a domain. As well, if you see Domain hither, then your computer is on a domain.

These steps too let y'all to detect your domain name on your computer.

Domains vs. Workgroups

Before we talk over more almost domains, we should briefly mention how they compare to workgroups. If a estimator isn't on a domain, then information technology's part of a workgroup. These are much more lax than domains, equally they don't have a central dominance. Every computer has its ain rules.

In modern versions of Windows, Workgroups are actually just a formality, especially with Microsoft retiring the HomeGroup feature. Windows never asks you to configure one, and they're simply used for sharing files among devices on your network. Microsoft wants you to utilize OneDrive for this nowadays, then unless you want to customize your ain workgroup, you don't demand to worry about it.

What Is a Domain User Account?

Unlike a personal machine, a domain-connected PC doesn't employ local account logins. Instead, the domain controller manages the logins. Using Microsoft'due south Agile Directory, a user direction software, the network administrators tin can easily create new users and disable former ones. They can also add users to specific groups to allow admission to individual server folders.

With a domain business relationship, you tin sign into whatsoever calculator that's on the domain. Y'all'll start with a fresh business relationship on that PC, but this enables you to use whatsoever computer in your company when needed. Thank you to domain accounts, ex-employees can't sign back in either. If they try to log in with their old password, they'll see a bulletin that they were denied admission.

The Windows login screen looks a bit different when y'all're using a domain-connected PC. Instead of a local username, you'll have to make sure you're signing into the domain with your domain username. Thus, your login will await something similar MyDomain\StegnerB01.

Domain Command and Group Policy in Windows

The biggest advantage of domains is ease of controlling many computers at once. Without a domain, It staff would have to individually manage each computer in a company. This means configuring security settings, installing software, and managing user accounts past paw. While this might work for tiny company, it's not a scalable approach and would quickly go unmanageable.

Along with Active Directory'southward user management, joining computers to a domain allows you to use Group Policy. We've discussed how Group Policy is useful on your own PC, but it'due south really intended for corporate use.

Using the domain controller, administrators tin configure all sorts of security and use policies for all computers. For example, Group Policy makes all the post-obit practices easy to employ:

  • Removing items from the Start Menu
  • End users from changing internet connection options
  • Block the Command Prompt
  • Redirect a certain folder to employ one on the server instead
  • Foreclose the user from irresolute sounds
  • Map a printer to new computers automatically

This is merely a pocket-sized sampling of what Group Policy allows. Administrators can set these changes up in one case and take them apply to all computers, even new ones they ready later.

Join or Leave a Domain in Windows

Commonly, adding your estimator to a domain or taking it off won't be your chore. Your company's IT staff will accept care of joining earlier you get the computer, and have your figurer back when you leave. For completion'due south sake, though, nosotros'll mention how the process works here.

Caput back to Control Panel > Organization again. On the Computer proper noun, domain, and workgroup settings page, click Change settings. You'll see the System Properties window. Click the Change button next to To rename this calculator or change its domain box.

Hither, you'll run across a box letting you change your PC name (this isn't the only identify to practice so in Windows 10). More than chiefly, you'll meet a Fellow member of box below. Check the Domain bubble and blazon the name of the domain to join it. Windows will authenticate this, then you'll need to really accept a domain to bring together.

Windows change domain

After a PC reboot, your figurer will be on the domain. To go out a domain, repeat this procedure, but select the Workgroup bubble instead. You'll need a domain administrator's password to do this, of course.

The Master's Domain

We've taken a look at what Windows domains exercise and how they're used. Substantially, domains permit administrators to control big numbers of business PCs from a cardinal location. The local user has less control over a domain-controlled PC than a personal one. Without domains, managing corporate computers would be a nightmare for Information technology staff.

With new employees and computers replacing separated employees and old machines all the time, a well-regulated organization is cardinal for business computers to run smoothly. To keep your own PC running smoothly, check out our beginner's guide to fixing Windows ten.

Prototype Credit: kovaleff/Depositphotos

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1809 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his IT task to write full-time in 2022 and has never looked dorsum. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional person writer for over eight years.

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