---
id: python-active-directory
version: "2.0.1"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# python-active-directory — An Active Directory client library for Python

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 163.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

python-active-directory is a client library for querying and managing objects in Active Directory from Python applications running on UNIX/Linux systems. It wraps LDAP protocol operations through python-ldap, dnspython, and ply to provide a higher-level interface for directory operations.

The library targets developers building directory-aware applications on Linux servers that need to integrate with Active Directory infrastructure. It requires system LDAP libraries and network access to a reachable directory server. The package is classified as Production/Stable but has been in abandoned maintenance since 2022-11-11.

Use it for:

- Query user and group information from Active Directory in Python applications on Linux
- Authenticate users against an Active Directory domain from a UNIX/Linux application
- Manage directory objects programmatically via LDAP protocol operations
- Integrate on-premises Active Directory with Python-based infrastructure tools

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

An Active Directory client library for Python on UNIX/Linux systems that provides directory queries and object management through LDAP.

Yes, with conditions. The package is stable and permissively licensed under MIT, but abandoned maintenance since 2022-11-11 is a significant concern for long-term reliability. Install only if you have an existing codebase already using it, need Active Directory integration on Linux without alternatives, and can accept the risk of no upstream fixes. For new projects, evaluate actively maintained alternatives first.

## Install

pip install python-active-directory
uv add python-active-directory
poetry add python-active-directory

## Installing python-active-directory

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for multiple Python versions and architectures. Package is in abandoned maintenance status with no releases since 2022-11-11; last commit was 2022-11-11. Depends on python-ldap, which typically requires system LDAP libraries.

License in practice: MIT license (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, requiring only license attribution.

Quickstart:

pip install python-active-directory

import python_active_directory
# Query Active Directory through python-ldap, dnspython, and ply dependencies

Requires system LDAP libraries and an accessible Active Directory server; python-ldap dependency may need compilation on some systems.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.8 despite wheel availability for 3.10 and 3.11
- Current compatibility with modern Active Directory implementations and LDAP protocol versions
- Whether abandoned status affects real-world usability or if the library is stable enough for production without active maintenance
- Specific API surface and usage patterns beyond the general LDAP query capability

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 163.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

active directory python client, ldap directory queries, ad authentication unix linux, python active directory library, directory service integration, ldap, active-directory, authentication

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