How to add or remove optional features on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you lot can add or remove many "optional features" to extend your computer'due south functionalities. For example, yous can configure features such as Windows Subsystem for Linux, Windows Sandbox, Microsoft Defender Application Baby-sit, Hyper-Five, Windows Hello Face up, Windows Developer Mode, Print Direction, and many more.

Some of these features can be enabled directly from the "Windows Features" folio since the components are available on every installation, and others, you can only download through the Settings app since they are not function of the default setup.

Too, a lot of these features are advanced and won't apply to most users, as turning them on can potentially make the organization vulnerable or crusade performance issues if not configured correctly. However, they tin can make Windows 11 even more capable in the right situation.

In this Windows eleven guide, you lot will acquire the different ways yous add and remove optional features on your computer.

How to manage optional features via Settings
How to manage optional features via Control Panel

How to manage optional features via Settings

On Windows 11, the Settings app lets you install additional features to extend the system'south functionalities. You will need an internet connection to download these features since the components are not stored in the default installation.

Add optional features

To download and install optional features through the Settings app, utilise these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Optional features page on the correct side.

Source: Windows Central
Click the View features button for the "Add an optional feature" setting.

Source: Windows Central
Select the feature to install on Windows xi.

Source: Windows Fundamental

Quick tip: Click the down-arrow button to see more details about the feature. You tin can select multiple features at one time.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.

One time you complete the steps, the feature will install without restarting the computer (in near cases).

Remove optional features

To remove features from the "Optional features" settings, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Optional features folio on the correct side.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Under the "Installed features" section, select the feature to remove and click the Uninstall button.

Source: Windows Central

Later you complete the steps, the feature will be removed from the installation.

How to manage optional features via Control Panel

The features bachelor through the "Windows features" interface can as well aid y'all to extend the functionality of Windows eleven. However, since these components come up on every setup, you don't need an internet connection to enable them.

Add optional features

To turn on Windows features, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Optional features folio on the right side.

Source: Windows Central
Under the "Related settings" section, click the More Windows features setting.

Source: Windows Central
Check the Windows eleven feature to install.

Source: Windows Central
Click the OK push button.
Click the Restart button.

Once yous complete the steps, the computer will restart to cease applying the feature.

On Windows eleven, you lot tin can add a number of optional features, depending on your edition, since the Pro edition has more advanced components than the Home edition.

Hither are the Windows features you can turn on or off on Windows xi Pro:

.Internet Framework 3.five (includes .Internet 2.0 and iii.0): Runs app built using Microsoft .NET software framework version 3.5 or older. You can safely enable this older support, but usually, information technology'll enable on need when needed.
.NET Framework 4.8 Advanced Services: Required for apps built with version 4.8 of the framework.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services: Adds Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) support for directory-enabled apps. This is an alternative to Windows Active Directory. Typically, y'all'll have to turn on this characteristic in specific corporate network scenarios.
Containers: Provides services and tools to create and manage Windows Server Containers and Hyper-5 containers.
Data Centre Bridging: This is an IEEE standard that enables converged fabrics in a data center, where network, storage, clustering, and traffic managements share the same Ethernet network infrastructure. Data center bridging is only useful in corporate networks.
Device Lockdown: Adds services and tools for a more than controlled feel, such as when setting up a kiosk or temporary workstation.
Guarded Host: Creates an environment to provide stronger protection for virtual machines to preclude tampering and theft by malicious individuals and malware.
Hyper-V: Virtualization component to create and manage virtual machines on Windows eleven.
Cyberspace Data Services: It'due south known as "IIS," and it's a service that allows to ready an FTP server or a server to host websites with management services.
Internet Information Services Hostable Web Core: Creates an environment to host apps on the spider web.
Legacy Components: Adds support for old components, including DirectPlay, a feature formerly part of DirectX.
Media Features: Allows yous to add or remove the classic Windows Media Role player app. This option is as well part of the "Optional features" settings page.
Microsoft Defender Application Baby-sit: Creates up an isolated virtualized environment to examination apps and browse untrusted sites to forestall sometime and newly emerging attacks on the concrete automobile.
Microsoft Bulletin Queue (MSMO) Server: Enables apps to run correctly on unreliable networks past queuing letters instead of sending them every bit they're generated.
Microsoft Impress to PDF: Allows printing to a PDF file instead of a physical printer.
Microsoft XPS Document Writer: This is an old Microsoft characteristic similar to PDF. You can still impress documents to XPS, but PDF is a format that's more widely supported.
MultiPoint Connector: Allows yous to monitor and manage a computer using MultiPoint Manager and MultiPoint Director Dashboard applications.
Print and Document Services: Adds printing services to Windows 11, including scan, fax, and network printing.
Remote Differential Pinch API Support: Provides synchronization algorithm that intelligently compares two files that are virtually to be synchronized and only updates the differences between them. Merely specific apps can apply this characteristic.
Services for NFS: Provides file admission using the Network File Arrangement (NFS) protocol. For instance, when yous need access files on Network Attached Storage (NAS).
Simple TCPIP Services (i.eastward., echo, daytime, etc.): Adds support for additional TCP/IP protocol services, including "Echo," "Character Generator (CHARGEN)," "Daytime," "Discard," and "Quote of the Mean solar day (QUOTE)."
SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support: Adds support to configure file and printer sharing for previous versions of Windows, including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 R2.
SMB Direct: Allows the apply of network adapters with Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) adequacy to improve file-sharing support using SMB 3.x.
Telnet Client: Enables command-line utility to connect to other devices, such every bit routers and switches, running a Telnet server. This network protocol isn't secure, and you shouldn't use it outside of your network.
TFTP Client: Enables command-line utility to upload and download files using Piddling File Transfer Protocol. This protocol isn't secure, and you shouldn't apply it unless required.
Virtual Car Platform: Add together platform back up for virtual machines, and yous can leverage this characteristic to create MSIX app packages for App-V or MSI. You lot must enable this option to set upwardly the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2).
Windows Hypervisor Platform: Enables the virtualization components to run the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor.
Windows Identity Foundation three.5: This may be needed for apps created with older .NET technologies.
Windows PowerShell 2.0: Enables or disables PowerShell scripting command-line awarding on Windows 11.
Windows Process Activation Service: Installs services that may exist required when using IIS web services.
Windows Projected File System: As well known every bit (ProjFS), this feature allows an app (provider) to present hierarchical data from a bankroll data store into the file system, making it seem similar files are in the file arrangement.
Windows Sandbox: Creates a lightweight virtual automobile to test applications and navigate untrusted web pages in an isolated surround. When you lot close the sandbox, everything will be deleted. The side by side fourth dimension you lot open the app, a new sandboxed case will be created.
Windows Subsystem for Linux: Installs the platform to install and run Linux distros aslope Windows eleven.
Windows TIFF iFilter: Allows the arrangement to index and search Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) using optical grapheme recognition (OCR), but it typically uses more system resources than traditional file indexing and searching.
Piece of work Folders Customer: Allows file synchronization with network file servers.

Other features like RIP Listener, RAS Connection Managing director Assistants Kit (CMAK), and Unproblematic Network Management Protocol (SNMP) are now function of optional features through the Settings app.

Remove optional features

To turn off Windows features, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Optional features page on the right side.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Under the "Related settings" section, click the More Windows features setting.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Clear the Windows xi feature to install.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the OK button.
Click the Restart button.

After you lot complete the steps, the feature volition no longer exist bachelor on Windows 11.

More than Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions nearly Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
Windows xi assistance, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 on Windows Central — All y'all need to know

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