Windows · System Info
Join a domain or workgroup
Lets you configure whether this PC belongs to a home network workgroup or a business network domain, which affects sign-in options, network resource access, and group policy management.
How to open Domain or Workgroup Settings
- Open Settings → System → About
- Click 'Domain or workgroup' under Related links
- Click 'Network ID' or 'Change' to modify membership
- Enter required credentials and restart when prompted
What you should know
- View current workgroup or domain membership
- Join or leave a Windows domain for business network integration
- Change workgroup name for local network grouping
- Access advanced network identification settings
Joining or leaving a domain typically requires a restart and domain administrator credentials, and can change available sign-in options and applied policies.
Why it matters
Domain membership determines whether a PC is managed centrally by an organization's IT department, receiving group policies, centralized authentication, and shared network resource access, versus operating independently in a simple home workgroup. For anyone setting up a PC for a business environment, correctly joining the domain is often a prerequisite for accessing shared drives, printers, and internal resources. For home users, workgroup names mostly matter for organizing device discovery on a local network and rarely need to be changed from the default.
Best practices
- Only join a domain if instructed by your organization's IT department, using provided credentials
- Keep workgroup names consistent across home devices for easier network browsing
- Confirm network connectivity to the domain controller before attempting to join
- Restart after changing domain or workgroup membership to fully apply the change
Common problems and fixes
- Can't join the domain
- Verify network connectivity to the domain controller and confirm you have valid domain administrator credentials.
- Domain-joined PC won't show shared network resources
- Confirm the account is properly authenticated to the domain and check with IT about resource permissions.
- Workgroup name change doesn't seem to help device discovery
- Ensure network discovery is enabled in Network & Internet settings on all devices involved.
Tips and tricks
- Use Azure AD / Microsoft Entra join instead of a traditional domain join for cloud-managed business environments
- Note your current workgroup or domain name before making changes in case you need to revert
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a domain and a workgroup?
A domain is centrally managed by a server, typically in businesses, while a workgroup is a simple peer-to-peer grouping common in homes.
Can I join a domain on Windows 11 Home?
No, joining a domain requires Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
Does leaving a domain delete my files?
No, but it may remove access to domain-based accounts and resources that were signed in through the domain.
Related settings
- About / System InformationAbout shows your PC's core specifications at a glance — processor, installed RAM, device ID, and system type — alongside your exact Windows edition, version, and build number. It's the single quickest place to find the information support technicians, driver downloads, and compatibility checks almost always ask for first.
- Rename This PCLets you change the device name Windows uses to identify this PC on networks, in file sharing, and when pairing devices like Bluetooth accessories.
More System Info guides for Windows
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- ActivationActivation shows whether your copy of Windows is genuinely licensed and linked to your hardware or Microsoft account, which edition you're running, and lets you enter a new product key or upgrade to a different edition, like from Home to Pro. A properly activated Windows unlocks full personalization options and removes the persistent activation watermark.
- Advanced System SettingsAdvanced System Settings (opened via sysdm.cpl or 'Advanced system settings' in search) is a legacy System Properties dialog covering performance options like visual effects and virtual memory, system startup and recovery behavior, user profile management, and manual environment variable editing. These controls predate the modern Settings app and remain the only place for several deeper configuration options.
- System Protection & Restore PointsConfigures System Restore, which periodically saves snapshots of system files and settings so you can roll the PC back to an earlier working state after a problematic driver or software installation.
- Environment VariablesLets advanced users view and edit environment variables such as PATH, TEMP, and custom variables that control how applications, scripts, and the command line locate files and behave.
- User Account Control SettingsControls how often Windows prompts for confirmation before allowing apps or processes to make changes that require administrator privileges, balancing security against interruption frequency.