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Initialize-ADDeviceRegistration

Initializes the Device Registration Service configuration in the Active Directory forest.

Active Directory · Risk: Critical · Documentation Verified

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Microsoft ADFS reference: Initializes the Device Registration Service configuration in the Active Directory forest. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.

Initialize-ADDeviceRegistration -ServiceAccountName <String> [-DeviceLocation <String>]
 [-RegistrationQuota <UInt32>] [-MaximumRegistrationInactivityPeriod <UInt32>] [-Credential <PSCredential>]
 [-Force] [-DiscoveryName <String>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

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Required permissions

Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Initialize-ADDeviceRegistration. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.

Supported environments

Windows / ADFS · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply

Parameters

-Confirm: Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Credential: Specifies a PSCredential object based on a user name and password. This account must be a member of the Enterprise Admins group. To obtain a PSCredential object, use the Get-Credential cmdlet. For more information, type Get-Help Get-Credential.
-DeviceLocation: Specifies the domain in which to store the device objects. Specify a domain in the current forest.
-DiscoveryName: Specifies a discovery name.
-Force: Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.
-MaximumRegistrationInactivityPeriod: Specifies the maximum number of days to elapse before a device object is deleted due to inactivity.
-RegistrationQuota: Specifies the maximum number of devices that an individual user can register.
-ServiceAccountName (required): Specifies the account to which to grant read and write access to the Device Registration service configuration and containers in Active Directory.
-WhatIf: Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Prerequisites

Windows with the ADFS module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.

Security considerations

This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.

Examples

Example 1: Initialize the Device Registration Service

Initialize-ADDeviceRegistration -ServiceAccountName "CONTOSO\svc_adfs" -DeviceLocation "Contoso.com" -RegistrationQuota 10 -MaximumRegistrationInactivityPeriod 90 -Credential ContosoAdmin

This command initializes the Device Registration Service in the Active Directory forest. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.

Sources

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-powershell-docs/blob/b7645dd8c687139b28e845119da30ec670526507/docset/winserver2025-ps/ADFS/Initialize-ADDeviceRegistration.md

https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/adfs/initialize-addeviceregistration?view=windowsserver2025-ps

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