Fix ERROR_DS_OBJ_CLASS_VIOLATION (0X00002014) Fast

1. Wrong object class in group membership (most common cause)

This error shows up when you try to add a security principal—like a user, computer, or group—to a group that doesn't accept that object class. I've seen it happen most often with domain local groups: you try to add a global group from another domain, but the group's scope doesn't allow it. The fix is straightforward.

Real-world trigger: You're setting up cross-domain access and run dsadd group "CN=MyDomainLocal,CN=Users,DC=contoso,DC=com" -addmembers "CN=ForeignGroup,DC=other,DC=net" and get error 0x00002014.

Fix it:

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC).
2. Right-click the target group and pick Properties > Members tab.
3. Check which object types the group accepts. Domain local groups can contain users, computers, and global groups from any domain, but not universal groups or other domain local groups unless they're from the same domain.
4. Convert the member object to an accepted class. For example, if you're adding a universal group, change it to a global group first (but be careful—that can break permissions elsewhere).
5. Or use ADSI Edit to force the membership if you're sure the schema allows it (advanced users only).

# PowerShell equivalent - check group scope
Get-ADGroup "DomainLocalGroup" -Properties groupType, member
# Then add a compatible member
Add-ADGroupMember -Identity "DomainLocalGroup" -Members "GlobalGroupFromOtherDomain"

I know this error is infuriating because the message doesn't tell you what class is wrong. But 90% of the time, it's a group scope mismatch.

2. Object class not allowed in container (second most common)

Another frequent cause: you're creating or moving an object (like a user or a group) into an organizational unit (OU) or container that doesn't permit that class. Active Directory has strict rules about what can live where—for example, you can't put a group into a Users container if the container's schema doesn't allow group objects. This tripped me up the first time too.

Real-world trigger: You try to dsadd user "CN=JohnDoe,CN=Users,DC=contoso,DC=com" but the Users container's objectClass attribute only allows user and contact objects, not organizationalPerson. The fix is to move the object to a correct OU or container.

Fix it:

1. Open ADSI Edit (install it via Server Manager if needed).
2. Connect to the domain partition (default naming context).
3. Browse to the target container—say CN=Users,DC=contoso,DC=com.
4. Right-click the container, choose Properties, and check the objectClass attribute. That list shows which object types are allowed as children.
5. If your object class isn't in the list, you have two options:
   • Best: Create the object in a different OU that permits it—like OU=Sales,DC=contoso,DC=com.
   • Risky: Modify the container's allowedChildClasses attribute via ADSI Edit. I only recommend this if you fully understand the schema impact. Don't do it in production without a lab test.

I'll be honest: modifying the schema is the nuclear option. In 99% of cases, you're better off moving the object to a compatible container.

3. Schema conflict or stale object (least common but tricky)

Sometimes the error pops up when you're modifying an object attribute and the change violates a schema rule—like setting a groupType to a value that isn't allowed for that group's scope. Or you're dealing with a corrupted object from a partial replication or a failed upgrade.

Real-world trigger: You run a script that sets groupType on a global group to '1' (which is for universal groups) and the schema says global groups must have groupType = '2'. Boom: 0x00002014.

Fix it:

1. Identify the offending attribute. Use Repadmin to check replication status: repadmin /showobjmeta * "DN_of_the_object". Look for any attribute with conflicting values.
2. If it's a schema issue (like a custom class you extended), you might need to delete the attribute and re-add it with the correct values.
3. For a stale object, use Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) or PowerShell to delete and re-create the object:

   Remove-ADObject -Identity "DN_of_bad_object" -Recursive
   New-ADGroup -Name "FixedGroup" -Path "OU=Groups,DC=contoso,DC=com" -GroupScope Global -GroupCategory Security

One more thing: if you've recently upgraded from Windows Server 2008 to 2012 or later, schema updates can cause this error for legacy objects. Run adprep /forestprep and adprep /domainprep to ensure the schema is up to date. I've seen that fix more than a few times.

Quick-reference summary table

If none of these work, the problem might be deeper—like a domain controller with corrupt database (run ntdsutil and check integrity). But start with the table above; it covers 95% of cases. Good luck.