Exchange Server Prerequisites

Get started with the prerequisites that are needed before installing Exchange Server 2019. After you've prepared your environment for Exchange Server, use the Exchange Deployment Assistant for the next steps in your actual deployment.

Before you begin:


  • Verify the computer is joined to the appropriate internal Active Directory domain.
  • Install the latest Windows updates on your computer.


Prerequisites for preparing Active Directory

You can use any member of the Active Directory domain to prepare it for Exchange 2019.

  • The computer requires .NET Framework 4.8 or later and Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012.

Note: The Visual C++ Redistributable package is required if you're using the Exchange Setup Wizard to prepare Active Directory. If you're using unattended Setup from the command line to prepare Active Directory, this package is not required.

  • Install the Remote Tools Administration Pack by running the following command in Windows PowerShell: 
  • Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS


Prerequisites for Exchange 2019

The requirements to install Exchange 2019 on Windows Server 2019 computers are described in the following. It is recommended to use one of the following methods to install the Windows prerequisites for Exchange 2019:

  • Use the /InstallWindowsComponents switch in unattended Setup mode.
  • Select the check box in the Exchange Setup Wizard to install Windows prerequisites.

Note: When you choose one of these options you don't need to restart the computer after the Windows components have been added.



Exchange 2019 Mailbox servers on Windows Server 2019

  1. Install the following software:
    1. .NET Framework 4.8 or later
    2. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012
    3. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2013
  2. Add the required Lync Server or Skype for Business Server components:
  3. Install the Server Media Foundation windows feature by executing the following command in Windows PowerShell:
    1. Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation

b.. Install Unified Communications Managed API 4.0. This package is available for download and in the \UCMARedist folder on the Exchange Server media.


  1. If you are not going to use Exchange Setup to install the required Windows components (in the wizard or from the command line), run the one of the following commands in Windows PowerShell:
  • Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-Identity-Foundation, RSAT-ADDS

  • Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, RSAT-ADDS


Exchange 2019 Edge Transport servers on Windows Server 2019


  1. Install the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012
  2. If you are not going to use Exchange Setup to install the required Windows components (in the wizard or from the command line), run the following command in Windows PowerShell:
    • Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS


Windows 10 client prerequisites for the Exchange 2019 management tools

  1. Install the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012
  2. If you are not going to use Exchange Setup to install the required Windows components (in the wizard or from the command line), run the following command in Windows PowerShell:
    1. Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-ManagementScriptingTools,IIS-ManagementScriptingTools,IIS-IIS6ManagementCompatibility,IIS-LegacySnapIn,IIS-ManagementConsole,IIS-Metabase,IIS-WebServerManagementTools,IIS-WebServerRole