Redirect New Domain-Joined Devices to a Specific OU

Purpose

By default, when a new computer is joined to an Active Directory domain, it lands in the “Computers” container at the root of the domain. This default behavior doesn’t align with environments that use scoped OU syncing (e.g., Azure AD Connect) or structured device management.

This guide shows how to redirect new domain-joined devices to a custom OU — in this case: OU=Computers,OU=Houston,OU=Malcolm-Lab,DC=malcolmsoto,DC=com.

When I join a new computer to the domain, I want it to be moved to a specific OU. By default, it goes to the “Computers” container.

Steps to Redirect the Default Join Location

Step 1: Log into a Domain Controller

Use an account with Domain Admin privileges.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2: Run the `redircmp` Command

You’ll need the full Distinguished Name (DN) format for the target OU. Here’s an example:

redircmp "OU=Computers,OU=Houston,OU=Malcolm-Lab,DC=malcolmsoto,DC=com"

Step 3: Verify the Redirection

After joining a new computer to the domain, confirm its placement with:

Get-ADComputer -Identity "NewPCName" | Select DistinguishedName

Step 4: Test the Redirection

Join a new PC to the domain and verify its placement.

Verify with PowerShell

You can run a PowerShell command to confirm the computer's placement in Active Directory:

Get-ADComputer -Identity "NewPCName" | Select DistinguishedName

Force a Delta Sync (Entra ID)

If you're using Entra ID with Azure AD Connect, you can manually trigger a delta sync to push recent changes:

Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Delta

Additional Notes

This change only affects new domain joins. Existing devices must be moved manually to the target OU.
Ensure your Azure AD Connect sync scope includes the target OU so hybrid join and Intune policies apply correctly.
For structured environments, consider redirecting based on naming conventions or site codes using automation.