information   Information
Some programs and features included with Windows, such as Internet Information Services, must be turned on before you can use them. Certain other features are turned on by default, but you can turn them off if you don’t use them.

The Windows Features dialog allows you to turn on and off features in Windows 10.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable access to Windows Features for specific or all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable access to Windows Features.

CONTENTS:
  • Option One: Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Windows Features disabled
Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features in Windows 10-windows_features_disabled.png






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features in Local Group Policy Editor


Note   Note
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Programs. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features in Windows 10-windows_features_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Programs, double click/tap on the Hide "Windows Features" policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Access to Windows Features

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Access to Windows Features

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features in Windows 10-windows_features_gpedit-2.jpg

7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Access to Windows Features using a REG file


Note   Note
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Programs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Programs

NoWindowsFeatures DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable

1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Access to Windows Features for All Users

NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Windows_Features.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Access to Windows Features for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Windows_Features.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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