Most Windows 10 users never open the “Turn Windows features on or off” dialog. Yet inside this quiet window lie powerful tools that can transform your PC into a development machine, a print server, a media hub, a lightweight web server, or even a Linux-ready workstation.
These are not flashy consumer features — they are the under-the-hood components that power enterprise apps, older software, virtualization, and specialized workflows. Let’s explore all the important features you’ll find in the Windows Features list and understand exactly when (and why) you should turn them on.
What Are Windows Features?
Windows Features are optional components that Microsoft ships with Windows 10 but leaves disabled by default to keep the system lean and secure. Enabling them adds specific capabilities without requiring a full program installation. You access them by searching for “Turn Windows features on or off” or running optionalfeatures.exe.
Core Framework & Compatibility Features
1. .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)
Provides support for older applications written on .NET 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5. Many enterprise and legacy business tools still require it.
Recommendation: Enable it — it’s one of the most commonly needed features.
2. .NET Framework 4.8 Advanced Services
Adds advanced developer services (ASP.NET, WCF, etc.) on top of the modern .NET Framework already included in Windows 10.
Recommendation: Enable only if you’re a developer or running specialized applications.
3. Windows Identity Foundation 3.5
Supports older claims-based identity and authentication systems used by some enterprise applications.
Recommendation: Enable only when required by specific software.
4. Windows PowerShell 2.0
Installs the older PowerShell 2.0 engine for compatibility with legacy scripts.
Recommendation: Keep enabled if you work with older automation scripts; otherwise optional.
Web & Server Features
5. Internet Explorer 11
Installs the classic IE11 browser.
Recommendation: Enable only for legacy websites or internal portals that still require it. Otherwise leave it off for better security.
6. Internet Information Services (IIS)
Turns your PC into a full web server capable of hosting websites and APIs.
Recommendation: Excellent for web developers testing sites locally.
7. Internet Information Services Hostable Web Core
A lightweight version of IIS that lets applications host web services inside their own process.
Recommendation: Useful for developers building self-hosted applications.
8. Windows Process Activation Service
Supports process activation for IIS and WCF services.
Recommendation: Enable when using advanced IIS or WCF features.
Printing & Document Features
9. Microsoft Print to PDF
Adds a virtual printer that converts any document into a PDF.
Recommendation: Strongly recommended for everyone — one of the most useful everyday features.
10. Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Creates XPS files (Microsoft’s alternative to PDF).
Recommendation: Optional — PDF is far more widely used.
11. Print and Document Services
Adds advanced printing features, including the ability to share printers over the network.
Recommendation: Enable if you want to use your PC as a print server.
12. Windows TIFF IFilter
Allows Windows Search to index text inside TIFF image files.
Recommendation: Useful if you work with scanned documents stored as TIFF files.
Media & Legacy Features
13. Media Features
Enables Windows Media Player and related media components.
Recommendation: Keep enabled if you still use Windows Media Player; otherwise optional.
14. Legacy Components
Includes older compatibility tools such as DirectPlay (needed by many classic games).
Recommendation: Enable if older games fail to launch.
Networking & File Sharing Features
15. Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server
Provides reliable asynchronous messaging between applications.
Recommendation: Mainly for enterprise and distributed application developers.
16. Remote Differential Compression API Support
Enables efficient file synchronization by transferring only changed parts of files.
Recommendation: Useful for developers and system administrators.
17. Simple TCPIP services (echo, daytime etc)
Installs classic diagnostic network services.
Recommendation: Leave disabled for security reasons unless needed for testing.
18. SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support
Enables the old SMB 1.0 protocol for file sharing with very old devices or systems.
Recommendation: Avoid enabling unless absolutely necessary — SMB 1.0 has serious known security vulnerabilities.
19. Telnet Client
Provides a command-line Telnet client for connecting to remote devices.
Recommendation: Enable only when you need to manage network devices that still use Telnet (rare and insecure).
20. TFTP Client
Adds a Trivial File Transfer Protocol client, often used for network device configuration.
Recommendation: Enable only for network administrators who need it.
21. Work Folders Client
Allows synchronization of work files between a company server and your PC.
Recommendation: Enable if your organization uses Work Folders.
Virtualization & Advanced Platform Features
22. Virtual Machine Platform
Required for advanced virtualization features and Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2).
Recommendation: Enable if you plan to use WSL 2 or other modern virtualization tools.
23. Windows Hypervisor Platform
Allows third-party hypervisors and tools (such as Docker or Android emulators) to use the Windows Hypervisor.
Recommendation: Enable for developers working with containers or Android emulation.
24. Windows Subsystem for Linux
Lets you run a real Linux environment directly inside Windows (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.).
Recommendation: Highly recommended for developers, system administrators, and anyone who wants Linux tools without dual-booting.
25. Windows Projected File System
Allows applications to create virtual file systems (used by some cloud and developer tools).
Recommendation: Enable when required by specific applications (e.g., some cloud sync or development tools).
Smart Tips for Managing Windows Features
- Only enable what you actually need — every feature increases the attack surface slightly.
- After enabling a feature, Windows may require a restart.
- You can turn features off later if you no longer need them.
- Developers and IT professionals will enable many more items than regular home users.
- Avoid outdated protocols like SMB 1.0 and Telnet unless you have a strong reason.
Final Thoughts
The Windows Features dialog is one of the most underappreciated parts of Windows 10. While most people never open it, the right combination of these optional components can turn an ordinary PC into a capable development workstation, a local web server, a Linux environment, or a compatibility machine for older software.
Next time an application asks for a missing component, or you want to run Linux tools, test a website locally, or enable advanced virtualization, remember: the power is already sitting inside Windows — you just need to turn it on.
Which of these features have you enabled, and which one proved most useful for you?
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