Active Directory · Risk: High · Documentation Verified
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Microsoft ActiveDirectory reference: Creates a new Active Directory computer object. 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.
Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for New-ADComputer. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.
Supported environments
Windows / ActiveDirectory · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply
Parameters
-AccountExpirationDate
Specifies the expiration date for an account. This parameter sets the AccountExpirationDate property of an account object. The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is accountExpires. Use the DateTime syntax when you specify this parameter. Time is assumed to be local time unless otherwise specified. When a time value is not specified, the time is assumed to 12:00:00 AM local time. When a date is not specified, the date is assumed to be the current date.
-AccountNotDelegated
Specifies whether the security context of the user is delegated to a service. When this parameter is set to true, the security context of the account is not delegated to a service even when the service account is set as trusted for Kerberos delegation. This parameter sets the AccountNotDelegated property for an Active Directory account. This parameter also sets the ADS_UF_NOT_DELEGATED flag of the Active Directory User Account Control (UAC) attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-AccountPassword
Specifies a new password value for an account. This value is stored as an encrypted string. The following conditions apply based on the manner in which the password parameter is used: - $Null password is specified: random password is set and the account is enabled unless it is requested to be disabled. - No password is specified: random password is set and the account is enabled unless it is requested to be disabled. - User password is specified: password is set and the account is enabled unless it is requested to be disabled, unless the password you provided does not meet password policy or was not set for other reasons, at which point the account is disabled. Notes: Computer accounts, by default, are created with a 240-character random password. If you provide a password, an attempt is made to set that password. However, this can fail due to password policy restrictions. The computer account is created and you can use Set-ADAccountPassword to set the password on that account. In order to ensure that accounts remain secure, computer accounts will never be enabled unless a valid password is set (either a randomly-generated or user-provided one) or PasswordNotRequired is set to $True. The account is created if the password fails for any reason. The new ADComputer object will always either be disabled or have a user-requested or randomly-generated password. There is no way to create an enabled computer account object with a password that violates domain password policy, such as an empty password.
-AllowReversiblePasswordEncryption
Specifies whether reversible password encryption is allowed for the account. This parameter sets the AllowReversiblePasswordEncryption property of the account. This parameter also sets the ADS_UF_ENCRYPTED_TEXT_PASSWORD_ALLOWED flag of the Active Directory User Account Control (UAC) attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
Prerequisites
Windows with the ActiveDirectory 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: Create a new computer account in an organization unit
This command creates a new computer account in the OU OU=ApplicationServers,OU=ComputerAccounts,OU=Managed,DC=USER02,DC=COM. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.
Specifies the authentication method to use. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - Negotiate or 0 - Basic or 1 The default authentication method is Negotiate. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection is required for the Basic authentication method.
-AuthenticationPolicy
Specifies an Active Directory Domain Services authentication policy object. Specify the authentication policy object in one of the following formats: - A distinguished Name - A GUID - A name This parameter can also get this object through the pipeline or you can set this parameter to an object instance. The cmdlet searches the default naming context or partition to find the object. If the cmdlet finds two or more objects, the cmdlet returns a non-terminating error.
-AuthenticationPolicySilo
Specifies an Active Directory Domain Services authentication policy silo object. Specify the authentication policy silo object in one of the following formats: - A distinguished name - A GUID - A name This parameter can also get this object through the pipeline or you can set this parameter to an object instance. The cmdlet searches the default naming context or partition to find the object. If the cmdlet finds two or more objects, the cmdlet returns a non-terminating error.
-CannotChangePassword
Specifies whether the account password can be changed. This parameter sets the CannotChangePassword property of an account. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-Certificates
Specifies the DER-encoded X.509v3 certificates of the account. These certificates include the public key certificates issued to this account by the Microsoft Certificate Service. This parameter sets the Certificates property of the account object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is userCertificate.
-ChangePasswordAtLogon
Specifies whether a password must be changed during the next logon attempt. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1 This parameter cannot be set to $True or 1 for an account that also has the PasswordNeverExpires property set to $True.
-CompoundIdentitySupported
Specifies whether an account supports Kerberos service tickets which includes the authorization data for the user's device. This value sets the compound identity supported flag of the Active Directory msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1 Warning: Domain-joined Windows systems and services such as clustering manage their own msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute. Therefore any changes to the flag on the msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute is overwritten by the service or system which manages the setting.
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Credential
Specifies the user account credentials to use to perform this task. The default credentials are the credentials of the currently logged on user unless the cmdlet is run from an Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell provider drive. If the cmdlet is run from such a provider drive, the account associated with the drive is the default. To specify this parameter, you can type a user name, such as User1 or Domain01\User01 or you can specify a PSCredential object. If you specify a user name for this parameter, the cmdlet prompts for a password. You can also create a PSCredential object by using a script or by using the Get-Credential cmdlet. You can then set the *Credential* parameter to the PSCredential object. If the acting credentials do not have directory-level permission to perform the task, Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell returns a terminating error.
-DNSHostName
Specifies the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the computer. This parameter sets the DNSHostName property for a computer object. The LDAP display name for this property is dNSHostName.
-Description
Specifies a description of the object. This parameter sets the value of the Description property for the object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is description.
-DisplayName
Specifies the display name of the object. This parameter sets the DisplayName property of the object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is displayName.
-Enabled
Specifies if an account is enabled. An enabled account requires a password. This parameter sets the Enabled property for an account object. This parameter also sets the ADS_UF_ACCOUNTDISABLE flag of the Active Directory User Account Control (UAC) attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-HomePage
Specifies the URL of the home page of the object. This parameter sets the homePage property of an Active Directory object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is wWWHomePage.
-Instance
Specifies an instance of a computer object to use as a template for a new computer object. You can use an instance of an existing computer object as a template or you can construct a new computer object by using the Windows PowerShell command line or by using a script. Method 1: Use an existing computer object as a template for a new object. To retrieve an instance of an existing computer object use Get-ADComputer. Then provide this object to the *Instance* parameter of the New-ADComputer cmdlet to create a new computer object. You can override property values of the new object by setting the appropriate parameters. Method 2: Create a new ADcomputer object and set the property values by using the Windows PowerShell command line interface. Then pass this object to the *Instance* parameter of the New-ADComputer cmdlet to create the new Active Directory computer object. Note: Specified attributes are not validated, so attempting to set attributes that do not exist or cannot be set will raise an error.
-KerberosEncryptionType
Specifies whether an account supports Kerberos encryption types which are used during creation of service tickets. This value sets the encryption types supported flags of the Active Directory msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - None - DES - RC4 - AES128 - AES256 None will remove all encryption types from the account which may result in the KDC being unable to issue service tickets for services using the account. DES is a weak encryption type which is not supported by default since Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Warning: Domain-joined Windows systems and services such as clustering manage their own msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute. Therefore any changes to the flag on the msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes attribute is overwritten by the service or system which manages the setting.
-Location
Specifies the location of the computer, such as an office number. This parameter sets the Location property of a computer. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) of this property is location.
-ManagedBy
Specifies the user or group that manages the object by providing one of the following property values. Note: The identifier in parentheses is the LDAP display name for the property. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - A distinguished name - A GUID (objectGUID) - A security identifier (objectSid) - A SAM account name (sAMAccountName) This parameter sets the Active Directory attribute with an LDAP display name of managedBy.
-Name (required)
Specifies the name of the object. This parameter sets the Name property of the Active Directory object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) of this property is name.
-OperatingSystem
Specifies an operating system name. This parameter sets the OperatingSystem property of the computer object. The LDAP Display Name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is operatingSystem.
-OperatingSystemHotfix
Specifies an operating system hotfix name. This parameter sets the operatingSystemHotfix property of the computer object. The LDAP display name for this property is operatingSystemHotfix.
-OperatingSystemServicePack
Specifies the name of an operating system service pack. This parameter sets the OperatingSystemServicePack property of the computer object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is operatingSystemServicePack.
-OperatingSystemVersion
Specifies an operating system version. This parameter sets the OperatingSystemVersion property of the computer object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is operatingSystemVersion.
-OtherAttributes
Specifies object attribute values for attributes that are not represented by cmdlet parameters. You can set one or more parameters at the same time with this parameter. If an attribute takes more than one value, you can assign multiple values. To identify an attribute, specify the LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) defined for it in the Active Directory schema. Syntax: To specify a single value for an attribute: -OtherAttributes @{'AttributeLDAPDisplayName'=value} To specify multiple values for an attribute -OtherAttributes @{'AttributeLDAPDisplayName'=value1,value2,...} You can specify values for more than one attribute by using semicolons to separate attributes. The following syntax shows how to set values for multiple attributes: -OtherAttributes @{'Attribute1LDAPDisplayName'=value; 'Attribute2LDAPDisplayName'=value1,value2;...}
-PassThru
Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
-PasswordNeverExpires
Specifies whether the password of an account can expire. This parameter sets the PasswordNeverExpires property of an account object. This parameter also sets the ADS_UF_DONT_EXPIRE_PASSWD flag of the Active Directory User Account Control attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1 Note: This parameter cannot be set to $True or 1 for an account that also has the ChangePasswordAtLogon property set to $True.
-PasswordNotRequired
Specifies whether the account requires a password. This parameter sets the PasswordNotRequired property of an account, such as a user or computer account. This parameter also sets the ADS_UF_PASSWD_NOTREQD flag of the Active Directory User Account Control attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-Path
Specifies the X.500 path of the Organizational Unit (OU) or container where the new object is created. In many cases, a default value is used for the *Path* parameter if no value is specified. The rules for determining the default value are given below. Note that rules listed first are evaluated first and once a default value can be determined, no further rules are evaluated. In Active Directory Domain Services environments, a default value for Path is set in the following cases: - If the cmdlet is run from an Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell provider drive, the parameter is set to the current path of the provider drive. - If the cmdlet has a default path, this value is used. For example: in New-ADUser, the *Path* parameter would default to the Users container. - If none of the previous cases apply, the default value of *Path* is set to the default partition or naming context of the target domain. In Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) environments, a default value for Path is set in the following cases: - If the cmdlet is run from an Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell provider drive, the parameter is set to the current path of the provider drive. - If the cmdlet has a default path, this value is used. For example: in New-ADUser, the *Path* parameter would default to the Users container. - If the target AD LDS instance has a default naming context, the default value of *Path* is set to the default naming context. To specify a default naming context for an AD LDS environment, set the msDS-defaultNamingContext property of the Active Directory directory service agent (DSA) object (nTDSDSA) for the AD LDS instance. - If none of the previous cases apply, the *Path* parameter will not take any default value. Note: The Active Directory Provider cmdlets, such as New-Item, Remove-Item, Remove-ItemProperty, Rename-Item, and Set-Ite
-PrincipalsAllowedToDelegateToAccount
Specifies the accounts which can act on the behalf of users to services running as this computer account. This parameter sets the msDS-AllowedToActOnBehalfOfOtherIdentity attribute of a computer account object.
-SAMAccountName
Specifies the Security Account Manager (SAM) account name of the user, group, computer, or service account. The maximum length of the description is 256 characters. To be compatible with older operating systems, create a SAM account name that is 15 characters or less. This parameter sets the SAMAccountName for an account object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is sAMAccountName. Note: If the SAMAccountName string provided does not end with a $, a $ will be appended if needed.
-Server
Specifies the Active Directory Domain Services instance to connect to, by providing one of the following values for a corresponding domain name or directory server. The service may be any of the following: Active Directory Lightweight Domain Services, Active Directory Domain Services or Active Directory snapshot instance. Specify the Active Directory Domain Services instance in one of the following ways: Domain name values: - Fully qualified domain name - NetBIOS name Directory server values: - Fully qualified directory server name - NetBIOS name - Fully qualified directory server name and port The default value for this parameter is determined by one of the following methods in the order that they are listed: - By using the *Server* value from objects passed through the pipeline - By using the server information associated with the Active Directory Domain Services Windows PowerShell provider drive, when the cmdlet runs in that drive - By using the domain of the computer running Windows PowerShell
-ServicePrincipalNames
Specifies the service principal names for the account. This parameter sets the ServicePrincipalNames property of the account. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is servicePrincipalName. To enter multiple values, use the following syntax: ,,.... If the values contain spaces or otherwise require quotation marks, use the following syntax: "","",...""."
-TrustedForDelegation
Specifies whether an account is trusted for Kerberos delegation. A service that runs under an account that is trusted for Kerberos delegation can assume the identity of a client requesting the service. This parameter sets the TrustedForDelegation property of an account object. This value also sets the ADS_UF_TRUSTED_FOR_DELEGATION flag of the Active Directory User Account Control attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-UserPrincipalName
Specifies a user principal name (UPN) in the format @. A UPN is a friendly name assigned by an administrator that is shorter than the LDAP distinguished name used by the system and easier to remember. The UPN is independent of the user object's distinguished name, so a user object can be moved or renamed without affecting the user logon name. When logging on using a UPN, users no longer have to choose a domain from a list on the logon dialog box.
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.