Home Windows 11 Optional Features: Add or Remove?

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Windows 11 Optional Features: Add or Remove?

Learn how to install or uninstall optional features in Windows 11 using Settings, Control Panel, or Terminal. Step-by-step guide for all user levels.

byDev Solutions

October 9, 2025

Windows 11 optional features split-screen showing chaotic vs optimized developer desktop, with toggle switch and key features like WSL and Hyper-V

⚙️ Optional features in Windows 11 let users customize performance, security, and tools to fit how they work.
💼 Developers get native Linux support, virtualization, and web hosting through specific optional components.
🛠 PowerShell and DISM allow automatic setup of many development environments.
🔐 Removing important parts can break apps and create security gaps.
📦 Modular setups make it easier to learn, reduce clutter, and help all team members have the same setup.

What Are Optional Features in Windows 11?

Windows 11 optional features are parts of the operating system that users can choose to install or remove. This depends on what they need. These are built-in tools, but they aren't always needed. They include things like virtualization platforms, media codecs, older runtimes, developer tools, and advanced network rules. Microsoft keeps these features separate and optional. This helps users make their system light, custom, and more secure for how they work. It also keeps the operating system from getting too big with things they don't need.

Optional features fall into groups. Some are for development (like Hyper-V and WSL). Some are for older programs (like .NET Framework 3.5). And others are for system services (like SMB or IIS). This setup makes the system run better. It also makes the system safer by removing services not in use. Users, especially developers, can make their systems work best for speed, compatibility, and getting things done.

💡 Devsolus Tip: Only activate components you understand and actively use to keep your system lean and secure.

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Why Developers Should Care About Optional Features

For today's developer, Windows 11 optional features are more than just extra tools. They are basic parts that can shape how you build software. With optional features, you can turn on powerful functions. These include virtual machines, containers, SSH servers, and even a full Linux subsystem. You don't need to install other programs for any of this.

Developers get simpler testing setups, quicker ways to deploy code, and local virtual machine labs. This is thanks to options like Hyper-V, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and IIS. These features replace whole types of outside tools. This makes them work better with the system. And it means less work to keep your tools running over time.

For example:

Want to run Linux command-line tools or bash scripts? You’ll need WSL.
Need to build, test, or isolate apps in a VM? Turn on Hyper-V.
Hosting ASP.NET sites? Enable IIS.
Automating everything with DevOps? PowerShell and DISM make it so you can script your setup from the start.

By choosing which features are on your machines or VMs, you can make sure your tech stack is the same everywhere. You also need less specific hardware for local tests. And this fixes problems that happen with quick, unplanned setups. It's not just about turning on features. It's about taking charge of how you develop software.

How to Install or Remove Features in Windows 11

Windows 11 gives you three main ways to install or remove features well, whether you are new to this or an expert:

Settings App – A clean, modern look that works well for users who like visual steps.
Control Panel – The older look, often used for features not shown in Settings.
Terminal/PowerShell/DISM – This is the choice for pros who like automatic setup, scripting, or managing things from afar.

Choosing the right way depends on how often you work with optional features. And it depends on how much you need your setup to be automatic or easy to repeat.

Using Windows 11 Settings

The Settings app is the easiest way to add or remove optional features. It's great for quick changes or for users who don't know much about scripting or terminal programs.

✅ Steps to Install Features:

Open the Start Menu and go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features
Click View features under the "Add an optional feature" section
Use the search bar to find features like RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) or Graphics Tools
Select your desired feature and press Install
Wait for Windows to install and confirm. Some features may require a system reboot.

❌ Steps to Remove Features:

In Optional Features, scroll down to the “Installed features” list
Click the feature you want to remove
Select Uninstall

🧠 Best for: Beginners, occasional tweaks, or visual learners who need an overview of installed features.

Using the Classic Control Panel

Windows is moving to the modern Settings app. But the Control Panel still offers strong control, especially for older features or those deep within the operating system.

🛠 Steps:

Launch the Control Panel (search in Start)
Go to Programs > Turn Windows features on or off
A hierarchical tree list of Windows optional features will appear
Check boxes to install features or uncheck to remove them
Click OK, and reboot if Windows prompts you after the change

This panel lets you have fine-tuned control over old, but very important, parts. These include:

.NET Framework 3.5: Important for older .NET applications
Internet Explorer 11: Still needed for some older intranets
SMB 1.0 File Sharing: For working with older NAS devices

⚠️ Best for: Managing deeply integrated or legacy features not visible in the Settings app.

Using Terminal, PowerShell, or DISM

Professional developers, system architects, and DevOps teams often use Command Prompt, PowerShell, or DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to set up many optional features at once.

📜 Using DISM (Command Line)

List all available features:

DISM /Online /Get-Features /Format:Table

Enable a feature by name:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V-All /All

Disable a feature by name:

DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:SimpleTCP

🔧 Using PowerShell

View all optional features and their status:
```
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online
```

Enable a specific feature:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -All

Disable a specific feature:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All

🧪 Best for: Power users, sysadmins, and DevOps teams making repeatable setups or remote ones.

Key Optional Features Developers Should Know

Learning about these important optional features helps you build, test, and ship apps faster and more reliably on Windows.

Feature	Why It Matters
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)	Native Linux toolchain access on Windows. WSL setup guide
Virtual Machine Platform	Provides base layer for virtualization, required by WSL 2 and Hyper-V
Hyper-V	Build and run virtual networks and environments without 3rd-party VMs
Containers	Native support for Docker and OCI containers in Windows
IIS (Internet Information Services)	Run and test ASP.NET, PHP, and static sites locally
.NET Framework 3.5	Run legacy .NET apps not compatible with newer versions
OpenSSH Client & Server	Securely connect remotely or host via SSH right from the Windows terminal

Choose features based on your projects. For example:

Frontend/JS developers: WSL + OpenSSH
.NET stack: IIS + .NET Framework
DevOps/Platform engineers: Hyper-V + Containers + PowerShell

Managing Features for DevOps and Teams

Consistency is very important when many developers work together. By writing scripts to set up optional features, teams can make sure everyone’s setup works the same. This cuts down on bugs, wrong settings, and the time it takes to get new people started.

👨‍💻 Good Ways to Do This:

Add feature setup to CI/CD scripts using PowerShell or DISM

Make .ps1 files that install everything needed:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All -All

Use tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet to keep settings consistent in large company development setups.
Set up base VMs or Windows Container images with all needed features already installed for new team members.

This way, your team won't face the well-known “it works on my machine” problem ever again.

Risks of Removing Windows 11 Features

Turning off optional features might seem like a way to simplify or secure your setup. But you must do it carefully.

⚠️ Things to Watch For:

Hidden dependencies: Some apps may quietly need features like .NET 3.5 or SMB.
Problems with debugging: Removing parts like Remote Debug Tools can stop local tests.
Shared or virtual labs: Taking away features might impact other team members' setups or automatic processes.

🛡️ Safe Practice:

Always back up your current feature settings before making changes:

DISM /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\backups\features-export.xml

Keep a record of changes when you install or remove features. Do this especially when taking features out of shared base images or VMs.

Troubleshooting Optional Feature Issues

Optional feature installations sometimes don't work. This can be because of policy blocks, missing files, or system damage.

🔍 Common Problems & Fixes:

Problem	Solution
Feature download stops	Make sure Windows Update is not blocked; some features get files from Microsoft servers
Group Policy restrictions	Ask IT for permission, especially on devices connected to a domain
Damaged image store	Run DISM repair: `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth`
Missing log files	Check for logs in `C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log` to find out why they failed

Keeping Windows updated and running SFC and DISM scans often can stop most of these problems.

Best Practices for Developer Environments

Building and keeping a good development setup means managing optional features ahead of time.

🧰 Dev Environment Setup Tips:

Create a master list of required features per project/team
Prefer command-line scripts for setup — they’re easier to write down and track changes for
Avoid enabling every feature “just in case”
Store base VM snapshots with features pre-installed for fast setup
Use containers or virtualization for risky experimentation, keeping the host OS clean

Less is more. The fewer features you don't need running, the steadier, safer, and quicker your setup becomes.

Building Your Ideal DevOS

With the right mix of optional features, Windows 11 can change from a general operating system into a strong development system with all the features you need. You might be setting up containers, starting VMs, or pushing code to a server with SSH. In any case, every piece can work directly with how you do things.

Don't be afraid to install Windows features specific to your programming tools or team needs. But always keep a record of your changes. When used with settings you can export and automation, Windows 11 optional features help you make a safe, light, and steady development operating system that gets better as you do.