Get-ADOrganizationalUnit
Use Get-ADOrganizationalUnit to list Active Directory OUs with their distinguished names — the containers Group Policy and delegated administration target.
Documentation: Microsoft Learn — Get-ADOrganizationalUnit
Syntax
See the command anatomy
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Get-ADOrganizationalUnit [-Identity] <ADOrganizationalUnit> [-Filter <String>] [-SearchBase <String>] [-SearchScope <ADSearchScope>] [-Properties <String[]>] [-Server <String>] [<CommonParameters>]- Stage 1Get-ADOrganizationalUnit
-Identity -Filter -SearchBase -SearchScope -Properties -Server
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Examples
Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -Filter *
Show reference output
Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing
Name DistinguishedName ---- ----------------- Sales OU=Sales,DC=corp,DC=local Servers OU=Servers,DC=corp,DC=local
Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -Filter * (2)
Show reference output
Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing
Name LinkedGroupPolicyObjects
---- ------------------------
Sales {cn={31B2F340-016D-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9},cn=policies,cn=system,DC=corp,DC=local}
Servers {}Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -Filter * (3)
Show reference output
Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing
Name DistinguishedName ---- ----------------- Sales OU=Sales,DC=corp,DC=local Servers OU=Servers,DC=corp,DC=local
Parameters
Parameter definitions:
-Identity-Filter-SearchBase-SearchScope-Properties-Server
Practical use and troubleshooting
Practical scenario: Use Get-ADOrganizationalUnit when you need to list Active Directory OUs with their distinguished names — the containers Group Policy and delegated administration target. 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 OU-not-found result may mean the distinguished name points to a container rather than an OU. Inspect the object class and correct the search base before applying OU-specific logic. 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-ADObject. Get-ADObject searches directory objects across classes; Get-ADOrganizationalUnit returns OU objects. An OU query is a clearer choice when the task concerns organisational containers. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.
Recap
Get-ADOrganizationalUnit Use Get-ADOrganizationalUnit to list Active Directory OUs with their distinguished names — the containers Group Policy and delegated administration target.
Next: Get-ADGroupMember