How to disable a user account in Active Directory?

Read on to know to disable an Active Directory (AD) user account using PowerShell and how you can get it done easier with ADManager Plus, a comprehensive Active Directory management solution.

Windows PowerShell

Steps to disable a user account using powershell :

  • Identify the domain in which the AD account to be disabled is located.
  • Create and compile the script for disabling the AD account. Execute the script in PowerShell.
  • Sample script to disable an AD User account:
  •  Copied
    PS C:\> Disable-ADAccount -Identity 4b6be1f4-cb58-4d81-ba2f-de88663948a8
    Click to copy entire script
  • To disable AD accounts in bulk, you have to write a separate script.

ADManager Plus

How to disable a user account in bulk :

  • Navigate to Management > User Management > Enable/Disable Users. .
  • Select the Domain and the User Account(s) you wish to disable.
  • Click Apply to disable the AD accounts selected.

Screenshot

Disable user accounts in bulk using ADManager Plus

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Although disabling an AD user account with native tools like PowerShell looks simple, it comes with a few limitations like:

  • PowerShell script can be run only from the computers which have the Active Directory Domain Services role installed in them.
  • Need for a new script, in case multiple AD accounts are to be disabled.
  • The syntax, parameters and iterations need to be correct. A typo or incorrect syntax might be difficult to spot and rectify especially when the script is a long one.
  • Inability to delegate the disabling of AD accounts to help desk technicians.
  • Impossible to configure disable policies for AD accounts. For example, ADManager Plus lets you set conditions for what happens when you disable an AD account like removing or moving disabled accounts to a separate OU automatically, disabling associated licenses and mailboxes, deleting home folders and more.

ADManager Plus helps you perform the same with a few clicks from its web based GUI console with pre-defined reports to list enabled users and disable them right from the reports. It also has options for automating disabling of inactive AD accounts. Learn more about it here.

Manage Active Directory user account settings in bulk with ADManager Plus.

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