adsiedit.dll is a Microsoft component used by ADSI Edit, the MMC snap-in for viewing and managing Active Directory objects. If Windows says adsiedit.dll is missing, not found, or could not be loaded, the usual problem is that ADSI Edit or its modern RSAT package is not installed, rather than a random application DLL being absent.
The safest fix is to install RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools. Do not download an isolated copy of adsiedit.dll from a DLL catalogue.
What is adsiedit.dll?
| Item | Verified information |
|---|---|
| File | adsiedit.dll |
| Description and internal name | ADSI Edit |
| Publisher | Microsoft Corporation |
| Category | Microsoft application or Windows administration component |
| Historical association | Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating System and older Support Tools |
| Modern delivery | RSAT, under AD DS and AD LDS Tools |
| Reported catalogue builds | 64-bit 10.0.18362.1 and 10.0.18362.113, each reported at about 0.72 MB |
The version and size entries above are historical catalogue reports, not a promise that those are the correct files for your current Windows installation. Microsoft does not distribute adsiedit.dll as a universal standalone download.
ADSI Edit is an administrative interface for Active Directory Service Interfaces. Administrators use it to inspect directory partitions, schema data, configuration objects, and other Active Directory entries that may not appear in the ordinary Active Directory Users and Computers console.
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That power also makes it dangerous. Changing the wrong Active Directory attribute can damage directory operation. A missing-DLL error is not a reason to edit directory objects.
The quickest fix: install RSAT AD DS and AD LDS Tools
On supported Windows 10 and Windows 11 client editions, ADSI Edit is delivered through Remote Server Administration Tools, or RSAT. Microsoft lists ADSI Edit under the AD DS and AD LDS Tools feature.
RSAT is generally available on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Windows Home does not provide the same supported RSAT feature set. Windows Server uses its own Server Manager or server feature installation process.
Install RSAT from Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Optional features.
- Choose View features or Add a feature, depending on your Windows build.
- Search for
RSAT. - Select RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools.
- Select Next, then Install.
- Wait for Windows to download and add the feature.
- Restart Windows if Settings requests it.
Microsoft’s current RSAT instructions and capability details are available in its Install and manage RSAT documentation.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAfter installation, open Start and search for ADSI Edit. You can also press Windows + R, enter:
adsiedit.msc
Then press Enter.
A successful installation should open the ADSI Edit console instead of producing the missing-DLL message. If the console still does not start, verify that the feature actually installed rather than assuming the Settings window completed successfully.
Install RSAT with PowerShell
PowerShell is often more reliable on a managed PC or when the Optional Features interface is slow.
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell.
- Right-click Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
- Run this command:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
- Wait for the result to finish.
- Restart Windows if requested.
- Test the snap-in:
adsiedit.msc
To check whether the capability is installed, run:
Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
Look for:
State : Installed
If the state is NotPresent, the feature is not installed. If the command reports an error, continue to the RSAT installation troubleshooting section below instead of copying a DLL manually.
Install the tools on Windows Server
On Windows Server, the equivalent tools are installed through Server Manager or the server’s feature-management commands.
Server Manager method
- Open Server Manager.
- Select Manage.
- Select Add Roles and Features.
- Continue through the wizard until Features.
- Expand Remote Server Administration Tools.
- Expand Role Administration Tools.
- Select AD DS and AD LDS Tools.
- Continue through the wizard and select Install.
- Restart if Server Manager requests it.
- Open
adsiedit.mscto test the installation.
The exact feature layout can vary by Windows Server release. ADSI Edit may also become available with the relevant Active Directory administration components or server role features.
If you manage the server remotely, confirm that you are installing the administration tools on the computer where you want to run ADSI Edit. Installing a role on a domain controller is not the same as installing the management console on an administrator workstation.
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Why adsiedit.dll may be missing
ADSI Edit was never installed
This is the most likely explanation on a modern Windows client. ADSI Edit is not a general Windows runtime that every consumer PC needs. It is an administrative tool, so a normal Windows installation may not contain its files until RSAT is added.
This also explains why a user can see the error without ever intentionally removing a DLL. The component was simply never present, or it was removed during a Windows feature cleanup or upgrade.
An RSAT installation failed
RSAT is installed as a Windows Feature on Demand. Windows may install the feature metadata but fail to retrieve the actual payload because of:
- Pending Windows updates
- Windows Update connectivity problems
- WSUS or organizational policy
- An unavailable Features-on-Demand source
- An unsupported Windows edition
- A mismatched language pack
- A source that does not match the installed Windows build or architecture
Install all pending Windows updates, restart, and retry the PowerShell command. On a work or school computer, ask the administrator for an approved matching Features-on-Demand source. Do not substitute a package from a different Windows release.
A legacy Support Tools installation is incomplete
ADSI Edit existed in older Microsoft Support Tools packages. Microsoft’s historical documentation identifies it in Windows Server 2003 Support Tools and with RSAT on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
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Windows 2000 and older Server 2003 environments may use the original Support Tools media or package rather than the modern RSAT capability. Install the complete, matching Support Tools package for that operating system. Do not mix an old adsiedit.dll with a newer adsiedit.msc.
For older Windows 10 releases, Microsoft provided RSAT packages named WindowsTH-KB2693643-x86.msu and WindowsTH-KB2693643-x64.msu. Microsoft’s RSAT for Windows 10 download page says those packages apply to older Windows 10 releases, while newer releases use Optional Features.
Antivirus quarantined the file
If ADSI Edit worked previously and suddenly stopped, check your security product’s quarantine and detection history. A quarantine event does not prove that the file was safe or malicious.
Check the file’s publisher, location, and signature before restoring anything. In most cases, reinstalling RSAT is safer than restoring an isolated DLL. Run a Microsoft Defender scan if the file disappeared unexpectedly or other files are changing without explanation.
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If RSAT reports as installed but its files are absent or damaged, Windows’ component store may be corrupted. Repair the component store first, then run System File Checker.
Open Command Prompt as administrator:
- Open Start.
- Type
cmd. - Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- Wait for DISM to complete.
- Run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart Windows.
- Reinstall the RSAT capability if
adsiedit.mscis still unavailable.
DISM repairs the Windows component store that supplies protected files. SFC then checks and replaces damaged protected system files. Microsoft documents this sequence in its System File Checker repair guidance.
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If repeatedly hunting through Windows repairs and command output is slowing you down, Outbyte PC Repair can scan for system problems and show what it finds; its free scan identifies issues, while repair actions require the full version. It is optional, and DISM, SFC, and reinstalling RSAT remain the Microsoft-supported path.
What the common errors mean
“The program can’t start because adsiedit.dll is missing from your computer”
This normally means the program launching ADSI Edit cannot find the required component. On current Windows, install the AD DS and AD LDS RSAT feature first.
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If the message appears when launching an unrelated game or consumer application, identify the actual executable raising it. There is no verified basis for treating adsiedit.dll as a normal game dependency. The application may be misconfigured, damaged, or using an incorrect file association.
“The code execution cannot proceed because adsiedit.dll was not found”
This is another file-resolution failure. It can mean that ADSI Edit is not installed, that the file was removed, or that the launching program is looking in an incorrect location.
Check whether RSAT is installed, then launch adsiedit.msc directly. If the direct launch works but a shortcut fails, repair the shortcut or the application that created it.
“Error loading adsiedit.dll. The specified module could not be found”
This wording does not always mean adsiedit.dll itself is absent. Windows can show it when a dependency required by the DLL cannot be loaded.
Reinstall the complete RSAT feature rather than replacing only one file. Also confirm that you are not mixing a legacy 32-bit Support Tools file with a current 64-bit installation.
“adsiedit.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error”
This usually indicates a damaged, incompatible, or mismatched binary. Possible causes include a partial legacy Support Tools copy, an incorrect architecture, corruption, or an unofficial replacement.
Remove the mismatched file from the troubleshooting equation and install the correct RSAT feature for the operating system. Use DISM and SFC if the official installation still reports damaged Windows components.
Check architecture, path, signature, and package
Do not assume that a file named adsiedit.dll is genuine because its filename looks correct.
Check whether the console exists
Use File Explorer to search for:
adsiedit.msc
You can also use PowerShell:
Get-ChildItem "$env:windir" -Filter adsiedit.msc -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
If neither the snap-in nor its supporting files appear, RSAT is probably not installed correctly.
Check a DLL’s signature
If a file exists:
- Right-click it.
- Select Properties.
- Open the Digital Signatures tab.
- Inspect the signer.
- Open Details and confirm that Windows reports a valid signature.
The expected publisher is Microsoft Corporation. A missing or invalid signature is a reason to reinstall the official component, not to trust the file.
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Check 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility
Use the package matching the operating system and installation method. Older Microsoft RSAT packages distinguish x86 and x64. Do not put a 64-bit file in SysWOW64, and do not copy an old 32-bit Support Tools DLL into a modern Windows directory.
The names System32 and SysWOW64 are confusing: on 64-bit Windows, System32 normally contains 64-bit system files, while SysWOW64 contains 32-bit files for compatibility. Manually moving adsiedit.dll between them is not a repair method.
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When regsvr32 applies
regsvr32 is not a universal DLL repair command. It works only when a DLL implements the registration entry points required by Windows, including DllRegisterServer.
For a modern RSAT installation, registering a random extracted copy is not the normal fix. RSAT installation supplies the snap-in, dependencies, manifests, and package registration as a unit.
There is one historical exception. Microsoft’s older ADSI Edit instructions describe extracting adsiedit.msc and adsiedit.dll from Windows 2000 Server Support Tools and registering the extracted DLL. In that specific legacy scenario, use an elevated Command Prompt:
regsvr32 "%SystemRoot%System32adsiedit.dll"
Use this only with the matching historical Support Tools package and its accompanying files. It cannot repair a missing dependency, replace a corrupted component, correct the wrong architecture, or make an incompatible DLL valid.
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Driver updates are not the primary fix
Device Manager is not normally involved in an adsiedit.dll error. ADSI Edit is a Windows administration component, not a graphics, chipset, audio, or game-controller dependency. Updating a driver will not install RSAT.
Use Device Manager only if the error is actually being reported by a hardware-management utility or if a separate device problem exists:
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand the relevant hardware category.
- Right-click the device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
If you are manually dealing with several unrelated devices and need help identifying stale packages, Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and show driver issues; its free scan identifies problems, while driver installation through the full version is optional. It is not required to restore ADSI Edit, and use official hardware or Windows Update sources when installing drivers.
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What not to do
Do not download adsiedit.dll from a random DLL website
An isolated download can contain malware, the wrong architecture, an incompatible build, or incorrect language resources. Even a genuine-looking DLL may not include adsiedit.msc, dependencies, manifests, registry information, or the rest of the RSAT package.
Use Microsoft Optional Features, Microsoft’s documented RSAT packages for applicable older Windows releases, Windows Server administration features, or matching historical Support Tools media.
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Do not copy the file into System32 or SysWOW64
Copying a DLL into a system directory can create a version mismatch and does not install the management console. It can also make later diagnosis harder by hiding which package supplied the file.
Do not run regsvr32 repeatedly
Registration is meaningful only for a compatible self-registering DLL. Repeating the command cannot repair a missing package or component store.
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Do not use Device Manager as a DLL repair tool
A driver update cannot replace RSAT. Only pursue drivers when the exact application raising the error is a hardware utility and there is evidence of a separate driver problem.
If RSAT still will not install
Work through this order:
- Confirm the Windows edition supports RSAT.
- Install pending Windows updates.
- Restart Windows.
- Confirm the correct language and architecture are installed.
- Run the PowerShell capability command again.
- Check whether WSUS or policy blocks Features on Demand.
- Ask an administrator for a matching Features-on-Demand source if the PC is managed.
- Run DISM followed by SFC.
- Retry RSAT.
- Test from another administrator profile if the feature is installed but only one profile fails.
If adsiedit.msc exists but one profile cannot launch it, press Windows + R, enter:
mmc.exe
Then use File → Add/Remove Snap-in and add ADSI Edit. Testing another administrator profile can distinguish a damaged user profile or shell association from a system-wide installation problem.
If all of these checks fail, identify the exact executable that raises the error, review Event Viewer and Defender history, and consider System Restore or a supported Windows repair installation. Do not continue replacing individual DLLs.
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Is adsiedit.dll part of Windows?
It is a genuine Microsoft Windows administration component, historically associated with Windows 2000 and older Support Tools. On current Windows client systems, it is normally supplied through RSAT’s AD DS and AD LDS Tools rather than being present in every default installation.
Do I need ADSI Edit to play games?
There is no verified evidence that ordinary games require adsiedit.dll. If a game reports this filename, identify the executable producing the message and verify the game’s installation. Do not download a DLL just because a game launcher names it.
Which Windows editions support RSAT?
Microsoft’s current client RSAT installation applies to supported Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Windows Server has its own administration-tool installation path. Windows Home does not provide the same supported RSAT feature set.
Should I download the 64-bit version?
Use the RSAT capability designed for your Windows installation. For older Windows 10 packages, Microsoft provides separate x86 and x64 packages. Do not choose a file based only on a catalogue’s version table.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCan SFC restore adsiedit.dll?
SFC can repair protected Windows files when the correct component is part of the installed Windows image. It does not install RSAT if RSAT was never added. Install the AD DS and AD LDS Tools feature first or after repairing Windows components.
What should I do on Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000?
Use the matching Microsoft Support Tools package or installation media for that operating system. Install the complete toolset, do not mix files from different releases, and follow the historical ADSI Edit procedure only where it specifically calls for extracting and registering the matching files.
Is it safe to edit Active Directory with ADSI Edit?
ADSI Edit is a legitimate Microsoft administration tool, but incorrect changes can seriously damage Active Directory. Restore the missing component first and make directory changes only when you understand the object, attribute, permissions, and recovery implications.
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