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Get-ADGroup

Use Get-ADGroup to retrieve security and distribution groups from Active Directory.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — Get-ADGroup

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated

Syntax

1PS> Get-ADGroup [-Identity] <ADGroup> [-Filter <String>] [-Properties <String[]>] [-SearchBase <String>] [-Server <String>] [<CommonParameters>]
See the command anatomy

Read the command and its supplied arguments. This example requires real PowerShell or its module; this diagram does not execute it.

Get-ADGroup [-Identity] <ADGroup> [-Filter <String>] [-Properties <String[]>] [-SearchBase <String>] [-Server <String>] [<CommonParameters>]
  1. Stage 1Get-ADGroup-Identity -Filter -Properties -SearchBase -Server

    Try it

    Windows PowerShell

    PowerShell example · browser support is limited.

    Execution scope: The full example below requires PowerShell outside this browser. You can edit this runner to use the supported practice commands; unsupported syntax returns an explanation.

    Interactive simulation · fictional data

    Examples

    Get-ADGroup -Identity "Domain Admins"

    1PS> Get-ADGroup -Identity "Domain Admins" -Properties Description, ManagedBy
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Name           GroupScope  GroupCategory
-------------  ----------  -------------
Sales-Read     Global      Security
IT Operations  Global      Security

    Get-ADGroup -Filter 'GroupCategory -eq "Security"'

    1PS> Get-ADGroup -Filter 'GroupCategory -eq "Security"' | Measure-Object
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Count    : 2
Average  :
Sum      :
Maximum  :
Minimum  :
Property :

    Get-ADGroup -Filter *

    1PS> Get-ADGroup -Filter * | Group-Object GroupScope -NoElement
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Count  Name
-----  ----
2      SampleA
1      SampleB

    Parameters

    Parameter definitions:

    • -Identity
    • -Filter
    • -Properties
    • -SearchBase
    • -Server

    Get-ADGroup on Microsoft Learn

    Practical use and troubleshooting

    Practical scenario: Use Get-ADGroup when you need to retrieve security and distribution groups from Active Directory. Review syntax and sample output, then try an example in the browser lab. Start with one identified target and inspect the returned values before extending the operation to a list. Keep the identity in your report so you can trace each result back to the object or path that produced it.

    Common error and fix: An empty filter result can mean the search base or domain is wrong. Confirm the target directory and query an identified group before applying a broader filter. In an unattended script, capture this failure with its original error record and record which target failed. An empty result and an unsuccessful query must remain distinguishable in the final report.

    See also: Get-ADGroupMember. Get-ADGroup reads group objects and attributes; Get-ADGroupMember reads membership. The group's name and category do not enumerate its members. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

    Get-ADGroup reference on Microsoft Learn

    Recap

    Get-ADGroup Use Get-ADGroup to retrieve security and distribution groups from Active Directory.

    Next: New-ADGroup
    Genie guideGet-ADGroup

    Use Get-ADGroup to retrieve security and distribution groups from Active Directory. The console below is pre-loaded — run it, then change a value and run it again.

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