How to remove a PC from a local active directory domain. Whether you're decommissioning gear or giving a computer a fresh start, removing a PC from a local active directory ad domain should be done right. In this video, we'll show you how to prepare your system safely, remove it from the domain, and configure it for independent use, all while minimizing downtime and preserving security. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to Ninja One's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Prepping for removal. Step one, check your powers. You'll need local administrator privileges on the pc. Go to user accounts in the control panel and make sure your account has admin rights. If it doesn't time to phone your friendly neighborhood IT team. Step two, create a local user. You don't wanna be locked out after the domain exit, right? So set up a new local account with admin rights. Just head to control panel user accounts, add a new user and give it a strong password. Step three, back up your data. Copy everything. Important documents, application data, personal files to a cloud service, external drive, or network location. Once you leave the domain, those network drives and permissions gone. Time to leave. Alright, let's do this. To leave the domain, right click start, go to system, change settings, computer name tab, click change and select work group. Name it something like work group and hit okay. Enter your domain admin credentials. When prompted Windows will ask you to reboot. Do it after restarting, log in using that local account you created earlier. You're now domain free. Checking everything after removal. Check the following, update your network settings. Verify IP address, DNS, and gateway configurations. Review and adjust your local security policies, firewall, antivirus, and user rights. Verify access to important local resources like printers, files and apps. And here's a pro tip document. Everything you do, if something goes sideways, your notes will be gold. In summary, removing a PC from an ad domain can be a straightforward process when approached methodically. By preparing in advance, safeguarding your data, and following each step carefully, you can ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to remove a PC from an ad domain linked in the description below.