How to transfer FSMO Roles in Windows 2012 R2 - Step by step with screenshots

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Right click your domain and select Operations Masters in the sub menu.
3. In the Operations Masters window, ensure the RID tab is selected.
4. Select the Change button.

5. Select Yes when asked about transferring the operations master role.
6. Once the operations master role has successfully transferred, click OK to continue.
7. Ensure the Operations Master box now shows your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.
8. Repeat steps 4 to 6 for the PDC and Infrastructure tabs.
9. Once completed, click Close to close the Operations Masters window.
10. Close the Active Directory Users and Computers window.

Changing the Active Directory Domain Controller
1. Open the Active Directory Domains and Trusts console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Right click your domain and select Change Active Directory Domain Controller... in the sub menu.
3. In the Change Directory Server window, select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance.

4. Select your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.

1. Click OK to continue.

2. Back in the Active Directory Domains and Trusts window, hover over the Active Directory Domains and Trusts found in the folder tree on the left hand side to ensure the server now reflects your new 2012 R2 Windows server.

3. Right click Active Directory Domains and Trusts found in the folder tree and select Operations Manager... in the sub menu.

4. In the Operations Master window, click Change to transfer the domain naming master role to the 2012 R2 Windows Server.

5. When asked if you are sure you wish to transfer the operations master role to a different computer, click Yes.

6. Once the operations master is successfully transferred, click OK to continue.

7. Click Close to close the Operations Master window.

8. Close the Active Directory Domains and Trusts console.

Changing the Schema Master
1. Open a command prompt in administration view on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. On the command prompt window, enter regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll and hit enter.
3. Once completed successfully, click OK to close the RegSvr32 window.

4. Close the command prompt.

Add the Active Directory Schema Console from MMC
1. Open a MMC console on your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer.
2. Click File > Add/Remove Snap-in...
3. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins window, select Active Directory Schema and click the Add > button.

1. Click OK to continue.

Change the Schema Master

1. In the same MMC console, right click Active Directory Schema and select Change Active Directory Domain Controller... in the sub menu.

2. In the Change Directory Server window, select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance.

3. Select your new 2012 R2 Windows Server.

4. Click OK to continue.

5. A warning will appear stating that the Active Directory Schema snap-in in not connected. Click OK to continue.

6. Hover over the Active Directory Schema folder in the folder tree to ensure the new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer is shown.

7. Now right click Active Directory Schema and select Operations Master... in the sub menu.

8. In the Change Schema Master window, click Change to transfer the schema master role to the 2012 R2 Windows Server.

9. When asked if you are sure you wish to transfer the schema master role to a different computer, click Yes.

10. Once the schema master is successfully transferred, click OK to continue.

11. Click Close to close the Change Schema Master window.

12. In the MMC, click File > Exit.
13. When asked to save the console, click No.

Once completed, open the Active Directory Users and Computers console to verify that the Active Directory database successfully replicated to your new Windows Server 2012 R2 computer. Be aware that the database replication may take some time depending on the number of objects in Active Directory.

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