The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded

In this PowerShell Azure tutorial, we will discuss how to fix the error, The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded that comes while trying to import the ActiveDirectory module using the Azure PowerShell cmdlet.

The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded

Recently, while working with Azure PowerShell, I was trying to import the Active Directory module, and I got this error. I was executing the below PowerShell cmdlet.

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Import-Module ActiveDirectory

You can able to see, once I ran the above PowerShell cmdlet, I got the above error.

The specified module ActiveDirectory was not loaded

The complete error message was as below

Import-Module: The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded because no
valid module file was found in any module directory.

At line:1 char:1

  • Import-Module ActiveDirectory
  • ~~~~~~~~~
    • CategoryInfo : ResourceUnavailable: (ActiveDirectory: String) [Import-M
      odule], FileNotFoundException
    • FullyQualifiedErrorId: Modules_ModuleNotFound, Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands. Im
      portModuleCommand

The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded [Solved]

You can follow the below steps to fix this error.

Solution -1:

Step-1: Run the Windows PowerShell or PowerShell ISE in “Run as administrator” mode.

install-module ActiveDirectory

Step-2: Check if the Active Directory Web Services is running on your machine. If it is stopped, you need to start it. You need to search for services.msc to find the Active Directory Web Services status.

Step-3: Now, run the below command to check out if the Active Directory module is present on your machine.

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-module -list

Step-4: Then, You can use the below PowerShell cmdlet to enable the Active Directory module.

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Add-WindowsFeature RSAT-AD-PowerShell

Solution -2:

Case-1:

In case you are using Windows 7/ Windows 10/ Windows 11, etc, You can also try out the below steps to install the Azure Active Directory module which will fix this issue

  1. Navigate to the Control Panel and open it -> click on the Programs and Features -> Turn On/Off Windows Features
  2. Then you need to find out “Remote Server Administration Tools” and expand it.
  3. Now, Expand the “Role Administration Tools” node.
  4. Then, Expand AD DS and AD LDS Tools option.
  5. Make sure to tick the checkbox for Active Directory Module for the Windows Powershell option
  6. Finally, click on the OK button to confirm the installation.

Now, you can run the Import command to import the Azure Active Directory module.

Case-2:

If you are using Windows server 2012 R2, and you are trying to install the ActiveDirectory module but you are not able to then you can follow the below information to install the active directory module.

Step-1: Run the Windows PowerShell or PowerShell ISE as “Run as administrator” mode.

import-module activedirectory not found server 2012 r2

Step-2: Then, run the below PowerShell cmdlet.

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature RSAT-AD-PowerShell

You may also like to follow the below article

Wrapping Up

Well, in this article, we have discussed how to fix the error The specified module ‘ActiveDirectory’ was not loaded. Hope it will help you to fix your issue as well !!!