Step by Step guide to lower Active Directory Functional Level

In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012, you can lower the Forest and Domain functional level from 2012 to 2008 R2, or from 2008 R2 to 2008. But you cannot lower it beyond 2008. Also, this is not possible by GUI, you have to use PowerShell for doing this. Let’s see how you can do it in the following steps:

1. Import the AD module

Import-Module -Name ActiveDirectory

2. Check the Forest Functional level of your Active Directory

Get-ADForest | Format-Table Name , ForestMode

You can also check it by going to AD Domain and services.

3. Lower the Forest Functional Level and then the Domain Functional Level

Set-ADForestMode –Identity “woodgrovebank.com” –ForestMode Windows2008Forest

Set-ADDomainMode –Identity “woodgrovebank.com” –DomainMode Windows2008Domain

4. To Confirm your Forest Functional level of your Active Directory

Get-ADForest | Format-Table Name , ForestMode

Hope this helps. Happy reading!