How to Enable Windows Features in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Overview

What Are Windows Components and Optional Features?

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include many built-in components that are not always enabled by default. These components can add virtualization, legacy compatibility, developer tools, printing options, network protocols, and administration utilities.

There are two similar but different areas in Windows:

Windows Features — classic system components such as Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, .NET Framework 3.5, Internet Information Services, SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support, Telnet Client, and Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Optional Features — add-on Windows capabilities such as OpenSSH Client, RSAT tools, language-related components, Wireless Display, XPS Viewer, and Notepad on some Windows builds.

⚠️

Important Enable only the components you actually need. Some features can increase the attack surface, consume extra disk space, or require virtualization support in BIOS/UEFI.

Preparation

Before You Enable Windows Components in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Most components can be enabled safely, but some require administrator rights, Internet access, or a restart. Before changing anything, check the following:

Use an administrator account. Standard users can view some options, but they usually cannot install or remove system components.
Save open work. Features such as Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Platform, Windows Sandbox, and WSL may require a reboot.
Connect to the Internet. Windows may need to download missing files, especially for .NET Framework 3.5 or optional capabilities.
Check your Windows edition. Some features are available only in Pro, Enterprise, Education, or specific Windows builds.
Create a restore point if you are enabling low-level components such as virtualization, legacy networking, or server features.

Method 1

How to Enable Windows Features Using “Turn Windows Features On or Off”

This is the standard graphical method for enabling classic Windows components in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
In the left sidebar, click Turn Windows features on or off.
Find the component you want to enable.
Check the box next to the feature name. If a feature has subcomponents, expand it and select only the items you need.
Click OK.
Wait while Windows applies the changes.
Restart the computer if Windows asks you to do so.

Alternative path: Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off.

💡

Tip A filled square instead of a check mark means only part of that feature group is enabled. Expand the group to see which subcomponents are selected.

Method 2

How to Install Optional Features from Windows Settings

The Settings app is the best place to install modern optional features, especially OpenSSH, RSAT tools, Wireless Display, fonts, language components, and viewers.

Windows 11

Open Settings with Win + I.
Go to System → Optional features.
Click View features next to Add an optional feature.
Search for the feature you need.
Select it, click Next, then click Install.

Windows 10

Open Settings with Win + I.
Go to Apps → Optional features.
Click Add a feature.
Select the feature you want to install.
Click Install and wait for the installation to complete.

Method 3

How to Open Windows Features Quickly with the Run Command

If you frequently enable or disable Windows components, the fastest way is to open the classic Windows Features dialog directly.

Press Win + R.
Type optionalfeatures or optionalfeatures.exe.
Press Enter.
Select the required components and click OK.

optionalfeatures.exe

Method 4

How to Enable Windows Components with DISM in Command Prompt

DISM is useful when the graphical window does not work, when you need an exact feature name, or when you are preparing a script for several computers.

List Available Windows Features

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

DISM /Online /Get-Features /Format:Table

Enable a Feature

Use this command format:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:FEATURE-NAME /All

For example, to enable the legacy Telnet Client:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient /All

For example, to enable Internet Information Services core web server components:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:IIS-WebServerRole /All

ℹ️

What /All means The /All parameter enables the parent features required by the component. Without it, DISM may fail if dependencies are not already enabled.

Method 5

How to Enable Windows Optional Features with PowerShell

PowerShell provides a readable way to list, filter, enable, and disable Windows optional features.

List Disabled Features

Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as administrator and run:

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where-Object State -eq Disabled | Sort-Object FeatureName

Enable a Feature

Use the following command format:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName FEATURE-NAME -All

For example, to enable Windows Sandbox:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Containers-DisposableClientVM -All

For example, to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux -All

If PowerShell asks for confirmation, type Y and press Enter. Restart Windows after enabling features that require virtualization or kernel-level changes.

Reference

Popular Windows Components You Can Enable

The exact list depends on your Windows version, edition, installed updates, and language pack. The components below are among the most commonly used.

Hyper-V

Microsoft virtualization platform for running virtual machines. Usually requires Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education.

Windows Sandbox

A temporary isolated desktop environment for safely testing apps and files.

.NET Framework 3.5

Required by older applications and some legacy business software.

Windows Subsystem for Linux

Allows you to run Linux command-line tools and distributions on Windows.

Virtual Machine Platform

Required for WSL 2 and some virtualization-based tools.

Internet Information Services

Windows web server components for development, testing, and local hosting.

Telnet Client

A legacy network testing tool, often used for simple port connectivity checks.

SMB 1.0/CIFS Support

Legacy file sharing protocol support. Enable only when required by old network devices.

Component	Common Use	Restart Usually Required?	Notes
.NET Framework 3.5	Older applications	No or Yes	May require Windows Update or installation media.
Hyper-V	Virtual machines	Yes	Requires CPU virtualization support.
Windows Sandbox	Isolated testing	Yes	Not available in all editions.
OpenSSH Client	SSH connections	No	Installed from Optional Features in Settings.
Wireless Display	Miracast receiving/projecting	Sometimes	Installed from Optional Features in Settings.
SMB 1.0/CIFS	Old NAS/printers	Yes	Use only when no modern SMB option is available.

Troubleshooting

What to Do If Windows Features Will Not Enable

1. Run Windows Update

Some features require packages that Windows downloads automatically. Install pending updates, restart the PC, and try again.

2. Use Administrator Rights

If you see Access is denied, open Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or the Control Panel item as an administrator.

3. Repair the Component Store

If the Windows component store is damaged, feature installation may fail. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

4. Check Group Policy or Corporate Restrictions

On work or school PCs, your organization may block feature installation, Windows Update downloads, or access to optional components.

5. Install .NET Framework 3.5 from Windows Media

If .NET Framework 3.5 fails to install online, mount a Windows ISO that matches your version and run:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:D:\sources\sxs

Replace D: with the drive letter of your mounted Windows ISO.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Enabling Windows Components

Q What is the fastest way to open Windows Features? ▾

Press Win + R, type optionalfeatures, and press Enter. This opens the classic Turn Windows features on or off window directly.

Q Are Windows Features and Optional Features the same thing? ▾

Not exactly. Windows Features usually refers to classic system components managed by optionalfeatures.exe. Optional Features in Settings usually refers to installable capabilities such as OpenSSH Client, RSAT tools, Wireless Display, fonts, and viewers.

Q Why is a component missing from my Windows Features list? ▾

The component may not be available in your Windows edition, may require a newer Windows build, or may be installed from Settings instead of the classic Windows Features dialog.

Q Is it safe to enable SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support? ▾

Enable SMB 1.0 only when you must connect to old devices that do not support modern SMB versions. For security reasons, it is better to update or replace old network storage, printers, or media devices whenever possible.

Q How do I disable a Windows component again? ▾

Open optionalfeatures.exe, clear the check box next to the component, click OK, and restart if prompted. In PowerShell, you can use Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName FEATURE-NAME.

Q Do I need to restart after enabling Windows Features? ▾

Some features work immediately, but components related to virtualization, networking, system services, or Windows internals often require a restart. If Windows asks you to restart, do it before troubleshooting the feature.

Conclusion

Best Way to Enable Windows Features in Windows 10 and Windows 11

For most users, the easiest method is the classic Turn Windows features on or off dialog. Press Win + R, run optionalfeatures, select the component, and click OK.

Use the Settings app when you need modern optional capabilities such as OpenSSH Client, RSAT tools, Wireless Display, or language-related features. Use DISM or PowerShell when you need exact feature names, repeatable commands, or a way to enable features on multiple PCs.

Quick Recommendation

Start with optionalfeatures.exe. If the feature is not listed there, check Settings → Optional features. If both graphical methods fail, use DISM or PowerShell as administrator.