How to Use Get-ADUser in PowerShell: Syntax and Examples

Use the Get-ADUser cmdlet in PowerShell to retrieve user accounts from Active Directory. You can specify a username or filter criteria to get user details like name, email, and more.

Syntax

The basic syntax of Get-ADUser includes specifying the user identity or using filters to find users. You can also select which properties to display.

• -Identity: Specify a username or user object.
• -Filter: Use a query to find users matching conditions.
• -Properties: List additional user properties to retrieve.

powershell

Get-ADUser -Identity <username> [-Properties <property1,property2,...>]
Get-ADUser -Filter <filter-string> [-Properties <property1,property2,...>]

Example

This example shows how to get a user by username and display their name and email address.

powershell

Get-ADUser -Identity jsmith -Properties EmailAddress | Select-Object Name, EmailAddress

Output

Name       EmailAddress
----       ------------
John Smith [e-mail]

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes include not importing the Active Directory module, using incorrect property names, or forgetting to specify -Properties to get extra details.

Also, using -Filter requires a string with proper syntax, not a script block.

powershell

Wrong:
Get-ADUser -Filter {Name -like "*smith*"}

Right:
Get-ADUser -Filter "Name -like '*smith*'" -Properties EmailAddress | Select-Object Name, EmailAddress

Quick Reference

Parameter	Description
-Identity	Specify a single user by username or distinguished name
-Filter	Find users matching a condition, e.g., "Name -like '*smith*'"
-Properties	List extra user properties to retrieve beyond defaults
Select-Object	Choose which properties to display in output

Key Takeaways

Use Get-ADUser with -Identity or -Filter to find Active Directory users.

Add -Properties to retrieve extra user details like email or department.

Always import the Active Directory module before running Get-ADUser.

Use string syntax for -Filter, not script blocks.

Select only needed properties to keep output clear and fast.