How to Manage Optional Features in Windows 10
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove optional features for all users in Windows 10.
Starting with Windows 10 build 18963, Microsoft made a number of usability improvements to the Optional Features page in Settings (Settings > Apps & Features > Optional Features).
- Multi-select: You can now select and install multiple optional features at the same time.
- Better list management: You can now search through lists of optional features and sort them by Name, Size, and Install date.
- More useful information: You can now see the install date for each optional feature in your ‘Installed features’ list. Microsoft also added feature dependencies to the description of each optional feature in the list of features available for install.
- Easier page navigation: View the status of your latest installs/uninstalls/cancels right on the main page in the ‘Latest actions’ section. You can now add optional features and view your history via pop-up dialogues, so you never have to navigate away from the main page
Starting with Windows 10 build 19037.1, Windows PowerShell ISE is now a Feature on Demand (installed by default), and you will see it in the list in Optional Features Settings.
Contents
- Option One: Manage Optional Features in Settings
- Option Two: Manage Optional Features in Command Prompt
- Option Three: Manage Optional Features in PowerShell
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.
2 Click/tap on Apps & features on the left side, and click/tap on the Optional features link on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Do step 4 (history), step 5 (add), step 6 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on the See optional feature history link. (see screenshot below)
B) You will now see the last 7 days of added and removed optional feature history. Go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on Add a feature. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on an optional feature you want to add, click/tap on Install, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on an added optional feature you want to remove, click/tap on Uninstall, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
For more command usage details for this option, see: DISM Capabilities Package Servicing Command-Line Options | Microsoft Docs
1 Open an elevated command prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. This will give you a list of all optional features with their Capability Identity (name) and their current State as either Installed (added) or Not Present (removed). (see screenshots below)
Make note of the name (ex: "XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0") of the optional feature (ex: "XPS Viewer") you want to add or remove.
(Show both "Installed" and "Not Present" features)
DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities /Format:Table
OR
(Show only "Installed" features)
DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities /Format:Table | Find "Installed"
OR
(Show only "Not Present" features)
DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities /Format:Table | Find "Not Present"
3 Do step 4 (add) or step 5 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:name
Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to add.
For example:DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:name
Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to remove.
For example:DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
6 You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.
For more command usage details for this option, see:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs
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. This will give you a list of all optional features with their FeatureName and their current State as either Enabled (added) or Disabled (removed). (see screenshots below)
Make note of the name (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") of the optional feature (ex: "Internet Explorer") you want to add or remove.
(Show both "Enabled" and "Disabled" features)
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | FT
OR
(Show only "Enabled" features)
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where State -Like Enabled* | FT
OR
(Show only "Disabled" features)
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where State -Like Disabled* | FT
3 Do step 4 (add) or step 5 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "name" -All -Online
Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to add.
For example:Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -All -Online
A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "name" -Online
Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to remove.
For example:Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -Online
6 If prompted to restart the computer to apply, type Y, and press Enter.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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Manage Optional Features in Windows 10
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New #1
Thanks for this Shawn.
It's a shame that everything is just on one list. I was looking for the Insider Hub and almost missed it in among all those language features.
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New #4
Hey Shawn, have you already tried uninstalling WMP and/or IE11 with the manage optional features?
I was just wondering if it had any negative side effects, as I do not use either anymore, on this machine at least.
I probably could get rid of XPS viewer too, as I have never, ever used it, unless you know a reason I should leave it on the system...
I'm on 1803 RP in case these three are not showing up on your system.
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New #5
I removed IE from my 1803 a couple days ago. I have not ran into any issues. Edge still works fine without it. I do not know about WMP and XPS.
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New #7
Welcome
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New #8
Hey Cliff, :)
I tried, but it doesn't do anything for me when I click on the Uninstall button in Manage Optional Features.
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Manage Optional Features in Windows 10
How to Manage Optional Features in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Apps & Features
05 May 2021
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