If this server is not going to be promoted back to a domain controller in the future rerun the Remove Roles and Features Wizard to remove the AD DS Role from the server. Note: The Binaries for AD DS are still installed on the server. Note: When the server restarts it will be a member of the domain that is was previously a domain controller in. To finish the demotion the server will automatically restart.
![active directory domain services role active directory domain services role](https://ittutorials.net/wp-content/uploads/image-526.png)
![active directory domain services role active directory domain services role](https://www.interfacett.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/004-server-roles-demote-domain-controller-in-windows-server-2012-AD-DS.png)
In this blog I will be using the GUI to demote the server manager.
#ACTIVE DIRECTORY DOMAIN SERVICES ROLE WINDOWS#
In Windows Server 2012 we will use Server Manager or PowerShell to demote the DC. In Windows Sever 2012 the DCPROMO utility has been deprecated.
![active directory domain services role active directory domain services role](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-domain-services/media/active-directory-domain-services-overview/aadds-overview.png)
In previous versions of Windows Server to demote a domain controller you would use the DCPROMO.exe utility.
#ACTIVE DIRECTORY DOMAIN SERVICES ROLE HOW TO#
In this blog we will explore how to demote a domain controller in Windows Server 2012 Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).