How to Turn Windows Optional Features On or Off
WSL, Hyper-V, .NET Framework, with no additional downloads needed.
Windows includes components that don't come turned on by default — like Hyper-V, WSL (Linux subsystem), or compatibility with older formats — that can be enabled with nothing extra to download.
- Search for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the search box.
- Check what you want to turn on (or uncheck to turn off) → OK.
- Restart if Windows asks you to.
Features people usually look for here
- Windows Subsystem for Linux: to run Linux inside Windows.
- Hyper-V: virtualisation, requires Windows Pro.
- .NET Framework 3.5: needed for some older programs and games.
Note: some features (like Hyper-V) also require virtualisation to be turned on in the machine's BIOS/UEFI — if the feature doesn't end up turning on properly, check that setting too.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to download anything to turn on these features?
No, the components are already included in the Windows installation — you just need to turn them on from this screen, with no additional download needed.
Does turning off a feature delete something I already had configured?
It depends on the feature — some keep their configuration if you turn them on again later; others may need reconfiguring from scratch. It's worth checking beforehand for the specific case you care about.