Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor the classic Windows component list, open Start, search for Windows features, choose Turn Windows features on or off, select the feature’s checkbox, and choose OK. Windows may install files and request a restart. Some components—including the Media Feature Pack on Windows N—are installed from the separate Optional features page in Settings instead.
Choose the right Windows feature control first
Windows exposes optional components through two different interfaces. The classic Windows Features dialog contains feature checkboxes such as Virtual Machine Platform. The Settings-based Optional features page handles other packages, language-related components, and edition-specific add-ons. Neither interface is a universal replacement for the other.
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| What you are installing | Primary route | Version or edition notes | Completion requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Machine Platform and similar built-in Windows components | Start search for Windows features > Turn Windows features on or off | Documented by Microsoft for Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Select the checkbox, choose OK, and restart if prompted |
| Media Feature Pack | Settings > Optional features | For Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N editions | Microsoft requires a restart after installation, even when Windows does not ask for one |
| Newer release-specific components such as Sysmon in Windows 11 version 26H1 | Settings > System > Optional features > More Windows features, or a documented DISM command | Path and command are specific to the March 26, 2026 preview release notes for build 28000.1764 | Sysmon additionally needs sysmon -i; remove an existing Sysinternals Sysmon installation first |
If a component is absent from one interface, do not assume it cannot be installed. Check the other interface, then verify the Windows edition and release before trying a command-line method.
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This is the quickest graphical route for many built-in Windows capabilities.
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- Open Start.
- Type Windows features.
- Choose Turn Windows features on or off from the search results. The classic Windows Features window opens.
- Scroll through the list, or expand a category, and select the checkbox beside the component you need. A filled or partially filled box can indicate that only some subfeatures are selected.
- Choose OK. Windows searches for the required files, applies the change, and reports whether a restart is necessary.
- Restart when Windows requests it. If the feature has its own setup step, complete that after Windows starts again.
Do not close the dialog with the Cancel button after checking a box; Cancel discards the pending change. If Windows cannot find source files, the problem is usually component availability, servicing policy, or a mismatch between the requested feature and the installed edition—not the search procedure itself.
Use Settings for features that are packaged as Optional features
Settings has a separate inventory and installation workflow. Menu wording changes between releases, so use the path that matches your edition.
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Optional features.
- Next to Add an optional feature, select View features.
- Search or browse for the package, select its check box, choose Next, and then select Install if those buttons appear.
- Return to the Optional features list to confirm that the package is installed. Restart when the package’s instructions require it.
Windows 10
- Open Settings and select Apps.
- Choose Apps & features, then select Optional features.
- Choose Add a feature.
- Select the component and install it, then restart if required.
Microsoft’s Media Feature Pack instructions specifically use these Settings paths for Windows 11 N and Windows 10 N. A regular (non-N) edition will not necessarily show the same package because the N edition is the prerequisite.
Example: enable Virtual Machine Platform
Virtual Machine Platform is a common reason people search for optional Windows features. Microsoft’s documented graphical procedure applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Search Start for Windows features.
- Open Turn Windows features on or off.
- Select Virtual Machine Platform.
- Select OK and allow Windows to apply the change.
- Restart if prompted.
Virtual Machine Platform is a Windows component, but virtualization support also depends on firmware. Microsoft’s virtualization guidance says to check UEFI/BIOS virtualization when needed and notes that many devices already have it enabled. Do not change unrelated firmware settings: an incorrect firmware change can prevent Windows from starting or being accessed normally. Firmware instructions vary by computer manufacturer, so use the device maker’s documentation for that part.
Example: install the Media Feature Pack on Windows N
Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N omit certain media technologies. The Media Feature Pack restores those technologies as an Optional Feature; it is not the same operation as checking a box in the classic Windows Features dialog.
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Windows 11 N procedure
- Open Settings and select Apps.
- Open Optional features.
- Next to Add an optional feature, select View features.
- Find Media Feature Pack, select it, and install it.
- Restart Windows after installation. Microsoft states that the restart is required even if Windows does not display a restart prompt.
Windows 10 N procedure
- Open Settings and select Apps.
- Choose Apps & features, then Optional features.
- Select Add a feature.
- Select Media Feature Pack, install it, and restart.
If Media Feature Pack is missing from the list, confirm that the installed edition is Windows 10 N or Windows 11 N. The package is tied to those editions; changing to the wrong path will not make it appear.
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Version-specific example: Sysmon in Windows 11 version 26H1
Microsoft’s March 26, 2026 preview release notes for Windows 11 version 26H1 (OS Build 28000.1764) give a release-specific example of the two interfaces. In that release, the graphical path is Settings > System > Optional features > More Windows features. The notes also show this DISM command:
Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:SysmonThat command is not a universal recipe for every Windows feature. It is tied to the feature name and release documentation. After enabling Sysmon, the same notes say to finish setup with:
sysmon -iIf Sysinternals Sysmon is already installed, uninstall it before using the in-box version described by those release notes. Treat this as a version-specific example: menu locations, availability, and feature names can differ on another Windows release.
Enable or inspect features from the command line
Command-line administration is useful for repeatable setup, remote management, and servicing an online or offline Windows image. It also removes some of the safety checks provided by the graphical interface, so identify the exact feature name and target before running a command.
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The DISM pattern for an online installation is:
Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:FeatureNameReplace FeatureName with the exact name documented for the component. The /Online switch targets the currently running Windows installation. A feature may require additional switches or a restart; use the component’s Microsoft documentation rather than adding options at random.
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PowerShell cmdlets
Microsoft Learn documents Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature for enabling a feature and Get-WindowsOptionalFeature for inspecting feature state. A typical inspection pattern is:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -OnlineTo enable a named feature in the running installation, the cmdlet form is:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName FeatureNameUse an elevated PowerShell window when Windows requests administrator rights. For offline images, replace the online target with the correct image path and parameters documented for that servicing scenario. An incorrect target can modify a different installation—or fail without changing the Windows copy you intended to service.
Before running a command
- Confirm the Windows edition and release, especially when following release-note instructions.
- Obtain the exact feature name; display names and command names are not always identical.
- Decide whether the target is the running system (
/Onlineor-Online) or an offline image. - Save work and plan for a restart if the component changes protected system files.
- Run commands from an administrator console and read the resulting error code instead of repeating the same command.
Understand edition, release, and naming differences
Optional-feature instructions are unusually sensitive to the Windows edition and release. “Windows 11” alone may not identify the path shown on your computer. A feature can be available only in a particular edition, exposed under a different Settings heading, or documented with a different internal name for command-line servicing.
The N-edition distinction is especially important. The Media Feature Pack is intended for Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N, where media technologies were omitted. Installing it is not a general way to add media components to every Windows installation, and a non-N edition may not list it at all. Check the edition shown in Windows before troubleshooting a missing package.
Likewise, the Sysmon example from Windows 11 version 26H1 is tied to the March 26, 2026 preview notes and build 28000.1764. It illustrates how a release can expose a component through More Windows features and DISM, but it does not establish that every Windows 11 build uses that same path. Follow documentation for the build actually installed.
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What to do when a feature is not listed
Missing entries usually indicate that the wrong control, edition, release, or feature name is being used. Work through these checks in order.
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- Check the other interface. Search Start for Turn Windows features on or off, then inspect Settings > Optional features. A component documented for Settings will not necessarily appear in the classic list.
- Verify the edition. Media Feature Pack requires Windows 10 N or Windows 11 N. Other components can be limited to particular editions or builds.
- Check the release and labels. Windows 11 menu names and locations can change. A path from Windows 11 version 26H1 should not be assumed to describe every Windows 11 release.
- Use the exact command name. DISM and PowerShell require the feature’s internal name, not an approximate phrase typed into the Start search box.
- Check servicing access. Windows may need access to component files through Windows Update, a configured repair source, or installation media. Organization-managed PCs can also restrict optional-feature installation through policy.
- Restart and check again. Some components do not become visible or usable until pending servicing operations finish and Windows has restarted.
Restart and post-installation checks
A checkbox changing state is not always the end of setup. Use this short verification routine:
- Restart whenever Windows or the feature’s documentation requires it. Media Feature Pack on Windows N requires a restart even without a prompt.
- Reopen the same interface and confirm the feature is listed as enabled or installed.
- Launch the application or Windows capability that required the component.
- For Virtual Machine Platform, verify that the virtualization-dependent workload now starts; if it still reports that hardware virtualization is unavailable, inspect UEFI/BIOS virtualization rather than repeatedly toggling the Windows checkbox.
- For Sysmon in the 26H1 example, run
sysmon -iafter enabling the Windows feature and remove any conflicting Sysinternals Sysmon installation first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Settings for a classic-dialog feature. If Microsoft’s instructions name Turn Windows features on or off, searching Optional features may never show the checkbox.
- Using the classic dialog for a Settings package. Media Feature Pack is installed from Optional features on N editions, not by guessing at a similarly named checkbox.
- Skipping a required restart. Windows may not display a prompt for every package. Media Feature Pack still requires a restart after installation.
- Copying a command without checking the build. The Sysmon command is documented for a specific Windows 11 version 26H1 preview release, not every release.
- Confusing display names with feature names. DISM and PowerShell need the internal name documented for the component.
- Changing firmware unnecessarily. Virtual Machine Platform may involve UEFI/BIOS virtualization, but unrelated firmware changes can make Windows inaccessible. Change only the setting required by the device documentation.
Which route should you use?
| Your situation | Use this route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You know the component appears in the classic Windows Features list | Start search > Turn Windows features on or off | Fastest supported graphical path for built-in checkbox-based features |
| You are installing Media Feature Pack or another package shown in Settings | Settings > Optional features | These packages are managed separately from the classic dialog |
| You are following a release note for a particular Windows build | Use the exact Settings path or command in that release note | Availability and names can be version-specific |
| You administer several systems or an offline image | DISM or PowerShell | Supports scripted and image-targeted servicing, provided the feature name and target are correct |
There is no blanket “best” route. The component’s documentation, Windows edition, release, target (online or offline), and restart requirements determine the appropriate method.
Quick checklist
- Identify the exact Windows component you need.
- Check whether Microsoft documents it in the classic dialog or Settings Optional features.
- Confirm Windows 10 versus Windows 11, and whether the edition is N.
- Use Start search for Windows features when the classic dialog is appropriate.
- Use Settings > Apps > Optional features for the documented Settings workflow; on Windows 11 version 26H1 examples, the path may begin at Settings > System > Optional features.
- For DISM or PowerShell, verify the exact internal feature name and whether the target is online or offline.
- Restart when required, then perform the feature’s own setup or verification step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Windows Features and Optional features the same thing?
No. Turn Windows features on or off is the classic checkbox dialog for components such as Virtual Machine Platform. Optional features in Settings is a separate installer used for packages such as Media Feature Pack. Use the interface named in the component’s Microsoft instructions.
What should I do if the feature is not in the classic list?
Check Settings > Optional features, then verify the Windows edition and release. Some packages are available only through Settings, while others are edition- or build-specific.
Does every optional feature require a restart?
No universal rule applies. Restart when Windows or the component documentation requests it. Microsoft specifically requires a restart for Media Feature Pack on Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N, even if no prompt appears.
Why can’t I find Media Feature Pack?
It is intended for Windows 10 N and Windows 11 N. Confirm that your installed edition is an N edition and use the applicable Settings path: Apps > Optional features on Windows 11, or Apps > Apps & features > Optional features on Windows 10.
Do I need to enable virtualization in firmware for Virtual Machine Platform?
Not necessarily. Microsoft notes that many devices already have virtualization enabled. If the workload still reports unavailable hardware virtualization after enabling the Windows component, check UEFI/BIOS using your computer manufacturer’s instructions, and avoid changing unrelated firmware settings.
Can I use the Sysmon DISM command on any Windows version?
Do not assume so. The documented example, Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Sysmon, comes from March 26, 2026 preview notes for Windows 11 version 26H1, build 28000.1764. Check documentation for your installed release.
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The /Online DISM switch targets the currently running Windows installation. Offline servicing targets a separate image and requires the appropriate image path and parameters. Confirm the target before running a command so you do not service the wrong installation.
Why does a command fail even though the feature name looks right?
Display names and internal feature names may differ. Confirm the exact name, Windows edition and release, target type, administrator permissions, and access to required component files. Read the returned error instead of repeatedly submitting the same command.
The Bottom Line
Start by identifying the component and your Windows edition. Use Turn Windows features on or off for classic checkbox-based components, or Settings > Optional features for separately packaged items such as Media Feature Pack. For DISM or PowerShell, use the documented internal feature name and correct online or offline target, then restart and complete any feature-specific setup.
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