Just as some phones have ‘Developer Option’ tools, Windows also has similar ones in any software version , and they are known as ‘Optional Features’. These functions are usually useful for advanced users, IT administrators or even programmers and therefore remain hidden.

You can find them and activate them if you wish, although it is best that you know what to do with them once you activate them, since their functions are quite deep and aimed at users who work in the world of programming.

If you want to add these optional features to your Windows menu , just continue reading the article. We will explain it to you step by step, as well as what you can or cannot achieve with them. 

How to activate the optional features of Windows 10 and 11?

Depending on the operating system you are using, you may find different features for your PC. But in general, we tell you that you can get language resources, graphics tools, Microsoft WebDriver, .NET Framework, among others.

The way to turn these features on is through the dialog, but unless you really know what these options are for, it’s best to keep them off.

Each of these tools takes up space on your computer’s hard drive and if all of them are activated, it could decrease its performance, as well as trigger security problems.

We recommend that, once you review them, only activate those that you are going to use.

Steps to activate optional features on my Windows 10 and 11 PC

The way to add or activate the optional features in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is quite simple and does not vary depending on the version you have. Just follow each of the steps that we show you below.

• Press the Home key and then select the settings option. You can also skip these steps by clicking Windows + I.
• Once inside the configuration menu, you must select the ‘Applications’ option, located in the side bar.
• Click now on ‘Optional Features’. You will be shown as the first option ‘See Features ‘. You must press on it and you will find each of the special functions.
• Choose the one you want to use, click Next – Install. Done, your new features will be installed on your PC.
• Also, as a second option, you are shown all the features that are already installed, you can review them and deactivate the ones you consider necessary.

How to remove optional features on my Windows 10 and 11 computer?

The steps to remove optional features from your PC are almost the same as to activate them. Regardless of the Microsoft Windows Operating System you are using. Follow the steps below to remove features.

• From the settings menu, locate the ‘Applications’ option. This is located in the left sidebar of the screen.
• Once inside the tab select ‘Optional Features’.
• Scroll down with your eyes and you will find the list of tools or functions that are activated on your computer. These will tell you even the weight they occupy in your PC.
• Select the one you want to remove, Point-and-click on the ‘Uninstall’ option.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of optional Windows features?

Depending on your computer skills and what you do for a living, optional features have many benefits, or may just be unnecessary memory storage.

For example, among the advantages that you can achieve by activating some of these functions, are the following.

• You will be able to run .NET applications automatically if necessary.
• Provides a directory that allows users to be authenticated on a network, known as an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server.
• If you want to set up a traditional desktop application in kiosk mode, you can do so by activating the Shell launcher. It will also help you set up a single app screen.
• You will be able to disable Internet Explorer if you are not using it.
• These options allow you to properly create and use any type of virtual machine.
• If you need to run an application that needs an IIS web server, you can do so using these options.
• You will have an isolated user mode that allows you to run applications in a place that is safe for you.
• It features DIrectPlay, a special function needed to run multiplayer games.
• If you’re part of a corporate network , you’ll find features that let you monitor and manage your PC through applications like MultiPoint Manager and Dashboard.
• You can also create custom remote access profiles for VPN.
• It features a RIP Listener, this allows you to listen to routing information protocol advertisements sent by specific routers.

As you can see, there are several advantages that you can get by activating the special options. And like these that we show you, there are many others that you can choose at your convenience .

However, each of these applications will occupy space on your hard drive and this is where the disadvantages of these functions appear, the more options you activate, your performance on the PC will decrease and it will present errors; among the most common is the frozen screen .

You can solve this problem by nourishing your computer with more memory , but it is recommended that you activate and deactivate those functions that you are actually going to use or not.