Active Directory Forest Recovery Guide

Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012

This guide contains best-practice recommendations for recovering an Active Directory forest if forest-wide failure renders all domain controllers (DCs) in the forest incapable of functioning normally. The steps it contains serve as a template for your forest recovery plan, which you can customize for your particular environment. These steps apply to DCs that run Microsoft Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 and 2012 operating systems.

Steps outlined in this guide

• AD Forest Recovery - Prerequisites
• AD Forest Recovery - Devise a custom forest recovery plan
• AD Forest Recovery - Steps to restore the forest
• AD Forest Recovery - Identify the problem
• AD Forest Recovery - Determine how to recover
• AD Forest Recovery - Perform initial recovery
• AD Forest Recovery - Procedures
• AD Forest Recovery - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• AD Forest Recovery - Recover a single domain within a multidomain forest
• AD Forest Recovery - Redeploy remaining DCs
• AD Forest Recovery - Virtualization
• AD Forest Recovery - Cleanup

Legacy guidance

Older operating system guidance is found in the Windows Server archive.