Top 6 Ways to Fix Optional Features Not Installing in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes several optional features that can help you extend your computer’s functionalities. With them, you can cast your Android phone’s display to your computer, enable legacy tools like WordPad, and do much more. But what if Windows 11 won’t let you install these optional features on your computer?

If Windows fails to install optional features despite your best efforts, don’t fret. This guide packs some solutions to resolve the issue in no time on your Windows 11 computer.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before you attempt to install optional features in Windows, it’s important to verify that you have an active internet connection. To check if your internet is working, open a web browser and load a few websites.

If the internet seems alright, ensure your network isn’t set as a metered connection on Windows.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + X to open the Power User menu and select Network Connections from the list.

Step 2: Select Properties from the top of the screen to open network properties.

Step 3: Disable the Metered connection option.

2. Configure Windows Modules Installer Service

Windows Modules Installer is an important service that handles the installation of optional features on Windows. Ideally, this service should run automatically every time your computer boots. However, that might only happen if the service is configured correctly on your computer. Here’s what you can do to fix it.

Step 1: Click the search icon on the Taskbar, type in services, and press Enter.

Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate the Windows Modules Installer service. Double-click on it to open its properties.

Step 3: Use the drop-down menu next to the Startup type to select Automatic. Then, hit Apply followed by OK.

Restart your computer, and try to install the optional features again.

3. Run SFC and DISM Scans

If your computer’s system files are corrupt or missing, Windows may face difficulty in performing basic tasks like installing optional features. Fortunately, your Windows comes with a few built-in tools, such as the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans to identify and repair any damaged system files automatically.

Step 1: Right-click the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 3: Type or copy and paste the following command and press Enter to run the SFC scan:

SFC /scannow

Next, run the DISM scan by entering the following commands one by one and pressing Enter after each command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

These scans might take a while. After the scans complete, restart your computer and check if you can install the optional features.

4. Check Group Policy Settings

You might have trouble accessing the optional features if the ‘Hide Windows Features’ policy is active on your computer. This solution only applies if your computer runs a Professional, Education, or Enterprise edition of Windows 11. If it runs Windows 11 Home, skip to the next solution.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type gpedit.msc in the box and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: In the Local Group Policy Editor window, use the left pane to navigate to the following folder.

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Programs

Step 3: Double-click the Hide “Windows Features” policy in the right pane.

Step 4: Select the Disabled option. Then, hit Apply followed by OK.

Restart your computer, and try to install the optional features again.

5. Install Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly releases new updates to fix known issues and enhance system performance. If the problem is limited to the current Windows 11 build your computer runs, installing newer updates should help.

Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app. Navigate to the Windows Update tab and click the Check for updates button.

Download and install any pending updates and check if they help to fix the issue.

6. Perform a System Restore

There’s a chance that a recent system-level change or a third-party software installation is interfering with Windows processes and preventing you from installing optional features. Performing a system restore will allow you to undo any erroneous changes made to your computer and resolve the issue for good. Don’t worry, this process won’t affect your personal files.

Step 1: Click on the Windows Search icon to open the menu, type create a restore point, and select the first result that appears.

Step 2: Under the System Protection tab, click the System Restore button.

Step 3: Select the Recommended restore option and click Next.

Step 4: Review the restore point details before hitting Finish.

Your computer will restart and revert to the specified restore point. After that, you should be able to install the optional features without any problems.

Get the Most Out of Windows

Windows 11’s optional features can come in handy in many situations. Occasionally, you might run into an issue or two while accessing them, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the above solutions. As always, let us know which solution worked for you in the comments below.