Apps Add or Remove Optional Features in Windows 11


  • Staff
Optional_Features_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove optional features for all users in Windows 11.

You can add optional features in Windows 11 for extra functionality for your device.


You must be signed in as an administrator to add and remove optional features and Windows features.

Features listed in Optional Features vs Windows Features will be different, so you may need to check both for the feature(s) you want to add or remove.



Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove Optional Features in Settings
  • Option Two: Add or Remove Windows Features in Windows Features
  • Option Three: Add or Remove Optional Features using DISM Command
  • Option Four: Add or Remove Windows Features using DISM Command
  • Option Five: Add or Remove Windows Features in PowerShell




Option One

Add or Remove Optional Features in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Apps on the left side, and click/tap on Optional features on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Optional_Features_Settings-1.png

3 Do step 4 (add) or step 5 (remove) below for what you want.

4 Add Optional Features

A) Click/tap on the View features button. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-2.png

B) Check the features you want to add, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-3.png

C) Click/tap on Install to confirm. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-4.png

D) The selected feature(s) will now get installed. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-5.png

E) You can now close Settings if you like.​

5 Remove Optional Features

A) Under Installed features, click/tap on the feature (ex: "Wireless Display") you want to uninstall to expand it open, and click/tap on the Uninstall button. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-6.png

B) The selected feature will now get uninstalled. (see screenshot below)​

Optional_Features_Settings-7.png

C) You can now close Settings if you like.​




Option Two

Add or Remove Windows Features in Windows Features


1 Open Windows Features (OptionalFeatures.exe).

2 Check (add) and uncheck (remove) the feature(s) you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

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.


Windows_Features-1.png
Windows_Features-2.png

3 If prompted to restart the computer, click/tap on Restart now to finish adding or removing the feature(s). (see screenshot below)

Windows_Features-3.png




Option Three

Add or Remove Optional Features using DISM Command


To see more command usage details for this option, see: DISM Capabilities Package Servicing Command-Line Options | Microsoft Docs


1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see the current State of optional features as Installed (added) or Not Present (removed).

DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities /Format:Table​

Make note of the Capability Identity (ex: "App.WirelessDisplay.Connect~~~~0.0.1.0") you want to add or remove. (see screenshot below)


Optional_Features_DISM-1.png

3 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(Add feature)​
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:<name>​

OR​

(Remove feature)​
DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:<name>​

Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "App.WirelessDisplay.Connect~~~~0.0.1.0") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to add or remove.

For example:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:App.WirelessDisplay.Connect~~~~0.0.1.0

DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:App.WirelessDisplay.Connect~~~~0.0.1.0


4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y to restart now.

Optional_Features_DISM-2.png

Optional_Features_DISM-3.png





Option Four

Add or Remove Windows Features using DISM Command


To see more command usage details for this option, see: Enable or Disable Windows Features Using DISM | Microsoft Docs


1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see the current State of optional features as Installed (added) or Not Present (removed).

DISM /Online /Get-Features /Format:Table​

Make note of the Feature Name (ex: "Containers-DisposableClientVM") you want to add or remove. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Features_DISM-1.png

3 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(Add feature)​
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"<name>" /All​

OR​

(Remove feature)​
DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"<name>"​

Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "Containers-DisposableClientVM") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to add or remove.

For example:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM"

DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM"


4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y to restart now.

Windows_Features_DISM-2.png

Windows_Features_DISM-3.png





Option Five

Add or Remove Windows Features in PowerShell


To see more command usage details for this option, see:

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature | Microsoft Docs


1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see the current State of optional features as Enabled (added) or Disabled (removed).

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | FT​

Make note of the Feature Name (ex: "Containers-DisposableClientVM") you want to add or remove. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Features_PowerShell-1.png

3 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(Add feature)​
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "<name>" -All​

OR​

(Remove feature)​
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "<name>"​

Substitute name in the command above with the actual name (ex: "Containers-DisposableClientVM") of the optional feature from step 2 you want to add or remove.

For example:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM"


4 If prompted to restart the computer, type Y and press Enter to restart now.

Windows_Features_PowerShell-2.png

Windows_Features_PowerShell-3.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


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Last edited:
Click to expand...
Brink,
If we add a /NoRestart to the end of the add or remove capability command, would that supress the reboot question?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    WMI says "To be Filled By OEM"
    Keyboard
    Plastic
    Mouse
    I have not seen any lately
    Internet Speed
    Insert AIM ICON :)
    Browser
    The first one I find to double click on.
    Antivirus
    Sandbox
JagoWu said:
Brink,
If we add a /NoRestart to the end of the add or remove capability command, would that supress the reboot question?
Click to expand...

It should, but it will also automatically restart the computer if required though.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    1TB Samsung 980 PRO M.2,
    6TB WD Black WD6001FZWX
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1
    CPU
    i7-1065G7 3.9 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR4-3200
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" 4K UWVA AMOLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
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