Join a Windows 8.1 client to your Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials domain By Mariette Knap join domain It is really not much work joining a Windows 8.1 client to your domain but as I needed to do that anyway I decided to write a little article on that subject that includes all steps and screenshots so that even somebody who does not do this kind of work on a daily basis can do this. From a Windows 8.1 client start Internet Explorer and in the address bar type http:///connect. Click on Download software from Microsoft. Click Run. Click Yes. Click Next Setup downloads the Connector and updates from the Internet. Fill in your credentials and click Next. Click Restart This time I choose to set up the computer for myself. Click next. Fill in a computer description and click Next I choose to wake up my computer for backups. Click Next Click Finish You are now ready to use your computer joined to the domain. Login with your domain credentials and enjoy!