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ViVeTool GUI is a graphical front end for changing Windows Feature Store settings, but it is no longer maintained: its GitHub repository was archived on December 18, 2025, and the project is marked deprecated. You can still get its legacy releases from the original GitHub releases page. For current experimentation, the better-supported route is the separate ViVeTool command-line project. Neither tool guarantees that a feature will work on your Windows build.

What ViVeTool GUI does—and what it does not

ViVe is a library for interacting with Windows feature-control APIs. ViVeTool is the command-line utility built around that library; ViVeTool GUI is a separate, third-party graphical interface for common actions. It can load feature lists, search by name or numeric ID, show feature state, and apply enable, disable, or reset actions.

It is not Microsoft software, a Windows Settings feature, or a supported way to install any feature you want. “Hidden feature” generally means a capability already present in a particular Windows build but controlled by a feature flag or staged rollout. A flag may expose unfinished code, depend on other flags, be limited to an Insider build, or have an interface that is not fully implemented. ViVeTool cannot add code that is absent from the installed build.

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Windows Optional Features and Features on Demand are different. If you need to add or remove a Windows component, use the appropriate built-in mechanism—such as Settings > System > Optional features, PowerShell, DISM, Group Policy, or device-management policy. Microsoft documents those separately from internal feature-flag changes: Windows client management tools.

Is ViVeTool GUI safe to download in 2026?

The original project is open source and its releases remain available, but its archived, deprecated status means you should treat the GUI as legacy software, not a maintained utility with guaranteed compatibility updates. Download it only from the original repository or its releases page. Avoid third-party download portals and repackaged executables. Some release entries provide SHA-256 checksums; when available, compare the downloaded file with the checksum published for that exact release.

Changing feature flags can cause visual glitches, crashes, unstable behavior, or problems after Windows updates. The GUI project itself disclaims responsibility for damage or unintended side effects. A feature ID that worked for another person may not suit your Windows build, edition, architecture, or Insider channel.

  • Back up important files and create a restore point if System Protection is available.
  • Record your Windows version and build: press Win + R, enter winver, and note the details.
  • Change one feature at a time; keep a record of its ID and action.
  • Restart after a change, and avoid feature-ID bundles unless you know what every entry does.

Requirements and compatibility

The GUI README lists Windows 10 Build 18963 (version 2004) and newer, including Windows 11, and requires .NET Framework 4.8. Those requirements mean the application may run; they do not mean a particular feature ID will work. IDs and behavior vary between Windows builds and may differ across production, Release Preview, Beta, Dev, and Canary channels.

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The current ViVeTool releases page lists version 0.3.4 and separate archives for Intel/AMD x86/x64 PCs and Snapdragon/Microsoft SQ ARM64 PCs. Choose the package that matches the device: ViVeTool releases. Do not confuse the latest CLI release with the GUI’s older releases.

Download the legacy GUI

  1. Open the official ViVeTool GUI releases page.
  2. Choose a release asset, such as its installer or portable archive, understanding that it is unmaintained legacy software.
  3. If you download a ZIP, you can right-click it, choose Properties, and review whether Windows shows an Unblock option before extracting it. Extract to a dedicated folder, for example C:ViVeToolGUI.
  4. Install or launch the extracted application. If Windows denies access or an action fails, try launching it with administrator privileges.

Installing the GUI does not make it supported or ensure its built-in feature list matches your installed build. Confirm the build with winver even if the program offers a list of builds.

Enable a feature with the GUI

  1. Launch ViVeTool GUI and select the Windows build for which you want to load the feature list.
  2. Wait for the list to load, then search by feature name or browse the groups. The GUI can sort by name, ID, or state and group entries by default or modifiable state.
  3. Confirm that the feature information applies to your exact build and channel. Do not treat a matching name alone as proof that the ID is appropriate.
  4. Select the feature, choose Perform Action, then choose the desired operation, such as enable, disable, or reset.
  5. Restart Windows, then check whether the feature is available and behaving as expected.

Use this as a record for a verified feature rather than copying an unqualified ID from an old tutorial:

Rank #3
Feature name: <feature name>
Feature ID:   <ID confirmed for this exact build>
Action:       Enable
Restart:      Required or recommended

Enter a feature ID manually

If you have an ID verified for your build, choose Manually change a Feature, enter the numeric ID, choose Perform Action, and apply the desired operation. The GUI README lists F12 as the shortcut for manual feature changes.

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Feature IDs are not permanent universal switches. Before using one, look for documentation that identifies the Windows version and build, channel, and date on which it was checked. The ViVeTool feature wiki warns that instructions for another Windows version or build may not work.

Use the current ViVeTool command-line release

If the GUI cannot load a list, lacks a needed operation, or you want the current release, download the appropriate archive from the ViVeTool releases page and extract it. Open an elevated Terminal or Command Prompt in the extracted folder. Replace <FEATURE_ID> below with the ID verified for your build:

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vivetool /enable /id:<FEATURE_ID>
vivetool /disable /id:<FEATURE_ID>
vivetool /reset /id:<FEATURE_ID>

Enable turns on the override, disable turns it off, and reset removes the custom override for that ID. Restart Windows to check the result. Confirm supported syntax against the documentation for the version you downloaded; switches can change between versions.

Current release notes also list vivetool /fullreset. This is a broad recovery option, not the first choice for undoing one change: it can affect multiple custom feature overrides. Use it only after understanding its scope. Release notes also describe /fixpriority for repairing or upgrading manual overrides created by older versions and restoring automated A/B feature delivery. That command is version-specific; do not run it as a routine fix unless the relevant release documentation applies.

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Undo a change and recover

  1. For one changed feature, use the same ID and choose Reset in the GUI, or run vivetool /reset /id:<FEATURE_ID>.
  2. Restart Windows and check whether the behavior is restored. If the documented state requires the feature to be off rather than returned to its default, use the matching disable action.
  3. If you made multiple changes or do not know which override caused the problem, consider /fullreset only after reviewing its scope and the documentation for your ViVeTool version.
  4. If Windows is unstable, use System Restore if available. If Windows will not start, use Windows Recovery Environment or Safe Mode to troubleshoot; depending on the cause, uninstalling the update that introduced the problem may also be appropriate.

Resetting a flag cannot guarantee that every side effect will disappear. Feature flags can interact with one another, cached interface state, policy, and later Windows updates.

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Why a feature ID may not work

  • The ID is for another build. Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds can use different IDs or implementations.
  • The channel differs. Stable, Release Preview, Beta, Dev, and Canary builds do not necessarily expose the same code or feature store.
  • The feature is absent or unfinished. A flag cannot supply missing implementation code, and an exposed feature may still be incomplete.
  • More than one ID is needed. Some features rely on a group of flags or dependencies, not one switch.
  • You have not restarted. Windows or the shell may not have reloaded the changed state.
  • The list is stale. A GUI feature list may describe another build; verify your build independently with winver.
  • Another control takes precedence. Policy, staged rollout logic, or a conflicting override may prevent the expected result.
  • The feature changed or was removed. Preview features can be renamed, replaced, or withdrawn.
  • It is not a feature flag. Optional Windows components and managed settings require their own Windows tools, not ViVeTool.

Should you use the GUI, CLI, or neither?

Use ViVeTool GUI only if you specifically prefer its older visual workflow and accept that it is deprecated. Its search and feature-state display can be convenient, but it is not the best choice when you need a current, maintained path.

Prefer the official ViVeTool CLI for current releases, repeatable commands, scripting, or switches unavailable in the GUI. Use neither tool on a critical production or managed business PC unless you understand the risk and have an appropriate recovery path. If you want officially distributed preview features, consider the Windows Insider announcements; Insider features may still be incomplete or change before release.

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