Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10  

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    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10

    How to Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    03 Jul 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10

    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.

    Turning off a feature doesn't uninstall it from your PC or reduce the amount of hard drive space used by it. After you turn off a feature, you can turn it back on at any time.

    This tutorial will show you how to turn Windows features on or off for all users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to turn Windows features on or off.

    If Windows Features is empty or blank, then double check to make sure that the Windows Modules Installer service is enabled and set to Automatic.



    Contents







    OPTION ONE

    To Turn On or Off Windows Features from Windows Features


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Programs and Features icon.

    2 Click/tap on the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left side. (see screenshot below)

    This will open the C:\Windows\System32\OptionalFeatures.exe file.

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-windows_features-1.png

    3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    4 Turn on (check) or off (uncheck) the Windows features you want, and click/tap on OK when finished. (see screenshot below)

    Some Windows features are grouped together in folders, and some folders contain subfolders with additional features.
    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-square.png = Indicates that you have the feature for the main folder turned on, but not all of the features in it's subfolders are turned on.
    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-check.png = Indicates that a feature, or features for a main folder and all subfolders, are turned on.

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-windows_features-2.png

    5 You may be prompted by Windows to restart the computer to finish turning a feature on or off.






    OPTION TWO

    To Turn On Windows Features in PowerShell


    For more Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command usage details, see: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs

    For more Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature command usage details, see: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. Make note of the FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") for the disabled Windows Feature you want to enable. (see screenshot below)

    (without full details)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Disabled"}

    OR

    (with full details)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName * -Online | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Disabled"}

    OR

    (output to grid view)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -OnLine | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Disabled"} | Out-GridView

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-get-windowsoptionalfeature-disabled.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "FeatureName" -All -Online

    Substitute FeatureName in the command above with the actual FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") from step 2 above you want to enable.

    For example: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -All -Online


    4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y, and press Enter when ready to do so. (see screenshot below)

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-enable-windowsoptionalfeature_powershell.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Turn Off Windows Features in PowerShell


    For more Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command usage details, see: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs

    For more Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature command usage details, see: Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. Make note of the FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") for the enabled Windows Feature you want to disable. (see screenshot below)

    (without full details)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Enabled"}

    OR

    (with full details)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName * -Online | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Enabled"}

    OR

    (output to grid view)
    Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -OnLine | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Enabled"} | Out-GridView

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-get-windowsoptionalfeature-enabled.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "FeatureName" -Online

    Substitute FeatureName in the command above with the actual FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") from step 2 above you want to disable.

    For example: Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -Online


    4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y, and press Enter when ready to do so. (see screenshot below)

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-disable-windowsoptionalfeature_powershell.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Turn On Windows Features in Command Prompt


    To see more usage options for the DISM command, see: Enable or Disable Windows Features Using DISM - Microsoft


    1 Open an elevated Command Prompt.

    2 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. Make note of the FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") for the disabled Windows Feature you want to enable. (see screenshot below)

    DISM /online /get-features /format:table | find "Disabled"

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-turn_off_windows_features_command-1.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"FeatureName" -All

    Substitute FeatureName in the command above with the actual FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") from step 2 above you want to enable.

    For example: Dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -All


    4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y when ready to do so. (see screenshot below)

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-turn_on_windows_features_command-2.jpg






    OPTION FIVE

    To Turn Off Windows Features in Command Prompt


    To see more usage options for the DISM command, see: Enable or Disable Windows Features Using DISM - Microsoft


    1 Open an elevated Command Prompt.

    2 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. Make note of the FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") for the enabled Windows Feature you want to disable. (see screenshot below)

    DISM /online /get-features /format:table | find "Enabled"

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-turn_on_windows_features_command-1.png

    3 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"FeatureName"

    Substitute FeatureName in the command above with the actual FeatureName (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") from step 2 above you want to disable.

    For example: Dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64"


    4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y when ready to do so. (see screenshot below)

    Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-turn_off_windows_features_command-2.jpg


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 153
    Windows 10 64-bit
       #1

    thanks a lot Shawn, your tutorials are one of the most organized ones that I have ever seen...absolutely brilliant!
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,660
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    I'm glad they can help onlytanmoy. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 56
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

    Hi Brink, Is it safe to turn off "internet Explorer 11" feature if I am only using Edge? Thanks John
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,660
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello John, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    I wouldn't recommend to turn off Internet Explorer since so many other features in Windows use IE as well. Turning off IE could cause issues with them.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 10
    windows 10
       #5

    ok, i'm about to punch my laptop, trying to turn on media feature so I can get iCloud 5.1 for windows to install but have not media features option, how else can I turn them on? thanks Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10-screenshot_176.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,660
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Reece, :)

    Media Features is not included in the Windows 10 N or KN versions by default. However, you can download and install it from Microsoft below.

    Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 10
    windows 10
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello Reece, :)

    Media Features is not included in the Windows 10 N or KN versions by default. However, you can download and install it from Microsoft below.


    Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10
    thanks so much :) will download now
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,660
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're most welcome. :)
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #9

    I need help!


    Hey, could someone, for love of god, print a standard windows features window? If possible, all expanded? I've mess up with mine and now my right click menu in google chrome have a huge delay.
    Thanks
      My Computer


 

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