How to Join Windows 10 to Microsoft Entra ID
Registering Windows 10 devices with an identity provider, like Microsoft Entra ID, is an important part of including endpoints in the Zero Trust security model.
In this article, I’m going to show you how to join Windows 10 to Microsoft Entra ID. You will 1) join an existing Windows 10 device with Microsoft Entra ID using the Settings app in Windows 10. You can also join a new device to Microsoft Entra ID as part of the out-of-box setup experience (OOBE).
Join or register Windows with Azure AD?
In a previous article, I showed you how to register Windows 10 with Microsoft Entra ID (AD). Devices registered with Azure AD are usually Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Registration is supported not just on Windows 10 but also iOS, Android, and macOS. But when you join a Windows 10 device to AAD, users sign in to Windows using their organizational work or school account from the lock screen, either using a password, Windows Hello for Business, or FIDO2.0 security keys. It’s important to understand the difference between register and join when talking about Azure AD.
The security landscape is changing quickly as more users are working remotely and using their own devices. Without a robust security model in place, endpoints can easily become the weakest link in your organization’s security.
Microsoft’s identity-centric Zero Trust solution requires that every user accessing an application must be verified. Zero Trust requires that all requests for access, regardless of where they originate, must be verified as if they come from an untrusted network.
Join Windows to Azure AD
Joining Windows devices to Azure AD provides a centralized location to manage all your security policies, view devices, associated risks, and compliance status.
To join a new Windows machine, you must follow the ‘out of the box experience’ process. The steps involve logging into the machine with your corporate email address, approving the device from your mobile, and configuring the device settings.
The steps to join an existing corporate device to Azure AD are as follows:
- Open the Settings app, and then go to Accounts. And again you must connect to your account.
- On the next window, click Join this device to Microsoft Entra ID and then complete the login using your credentials.
The Windows device will now be joined to Azure AD! And that is it. In a following article, I will show you how to improve security by enabling Windows Hello for Business for your Windows devices.
FAQs
What are the key benefits of joining Windows 10 to Azure AD for remote workforces?
Joining Azure AD with Windows 10 enables seamless remote work by providing single sign-on capabilities across cloud and on-premises resources, automatic device management, and conditional access policies that ensure secure access regardless of location.
Can multiple user profiles be configured on a joined device?
Yes, Azure AD join supports multiple user profiles, allowing different employees to securely access the same device with their individual Azure AD credentials while maintaining separate workspaces and configurations.
What happens to local data when converting from standard Windows login to an Azure AD join?
During the Azure AD join process, existing local data and user profiles are preserved, but it’s recommended to backup important files before proceeding with the join operation to ensure data safety.
How does joining Azure AD with Windows 10 impact network connectivity requirements?
Devices configured with Azure AD join require regular internet connectivity to maintain authentication and policy updates, but can operate offline for limited periods using cached credentials and policies.
What licensing requirements are needed to join Windows 10 with Azure AD?
To implement Azure AD join effectively, organizations need either Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 licenses, with P2 providing additional security features like risk-based conditional access and privileged identity management.
If you experience any problems joining Windows to Azure AD, check out the following two articles on Petri for more help:
How to Solve Invalid_Client Error When Joining Windows 10 to Azure AD
How to Check Whether Windows 10 is Joined to Azure Active Directory
