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To force-enable hidden features on Windows 11, open Command Prompt (admin), run the
vivetool /enable /id:ENABLE-FEATURE-ID
command, and restart the computer. - You can also use the ViveTool GUI, which offers a graphical interface to enable and disable features, but the command-line tool is better suited for the job.
I’ll walk you through using the ViveTool to activate hidden experimental features on Windows 11 preview builds that are accessible through the Beta, Dev, and Canary Channels of the Windows Insider Program.
Microsoft frequently releases Windows 11 builds that include early looks at new features and modifications that might be included in a future feature update, operating system version, or moment update as part of the development process. Though they are disabled by default because they might not be ready for testing, preview builds may also include other features the firm is working on. This is where the ViveTool is useful.
GitHub offers ViveTool, a third-party program developed by Rafael Rivera and Lucas that lets you activate hidden features in Windows 11 Insider preview builds. Although there is a version with an Auser interface, the program was originally created for Command Prompt.
This tutorial will show you how to use the ViveTool to activate or deactivate Windows 11’s experimental capabilities.
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Command version of ViveTool for Windows 11
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Graphical version of ViveTool for Windows 11
Command version of ViveTool for Windows 11
Here’s how to install and begin using the command-line version of ViveTool, which is the most popular among users, to activate Windows 11’s unannounced features.
Install ViveTool
Follow these instructions to install ViveTool on Windows 11:
The website of OpenGitHub.
On your PC, download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file.
To open the zip folder in File Explorer, double-click on it.
To extract all, click the button.
To extract, click the button.
Make a copy of the folder’s path.
After completing the procedures, you can use the program to either enable or disable Windows 11’s hidden features.
Enable hidden features on Windows 11
Use these procedures to activate Windows 11’s hidden (experimental) features (previews):
LaunchStart.
Look up “Command Prompt,” then right-click on the first result and choose “Run as administrator.”
To access the ViveTool folder, type the following command and hit Enter:
Remember to update the path to the folder with your path in the command.
To activate a hidden feature in Windows 11, type the following command and hit Enter:
Enter the ID of the feature to be enabled in place of ENABLE-FEATURE-ID in the command. Here is an illustration of how the command ought to appear:
To activate several hidden features, use the following command and hit Enter:
To enable each feature, enter its ID in the command and use a comma to separate them (,). Here is an illustration of how the command ought to appear:
Restart the computer.
You should be able to test the new feature on Windows 11 after completing the procedures. These features might or might not function properly, though, as they are still in the development stage. It may occasionally take a while for you to access a feature after turning it on in your installation.
Disable hidden features on Windows 11
Use these procedures to turn off an experimental feature in Windows 11 using the ViveTool:
LaunchStart.
Look up “Command Prompt,” then right-click on the first result and choose “Run as administrator.”
To access the ViveTool folder, type the following command and hit Enter:
Remember to update the path to the folder with your path in the command.
To turn off a hidden feature, use the following command and hit Enter:
Enter the feature’s ID to disable in place of ENABLE-FEATURE-ID in the command. Here is an illustration of how the command ought to appear:
To turn off some hidden features, type the following command and hit Enter:
Use a comma (,) to separate each feature’s ID that you want to disable in the command. Here is an illustration of how the command ought to appear:
Restart the computer.
After you finish the tasks, Windows 11 will stop the experimental functionality. The ViveTool can only be used to turn off features that you have activated. Existing operating system functionality cannot be turned off.
Reset hidden features on Windows 11
Follow these steps to reset every custom configuration you enabled using the tool:
LaunchStart.
Look up “Command Prompt,” then right-click on the first result and choose “Run as administrator.”
To access the ViveTool folder, type the following command and hit Enter:
Remember to update the path to the folder with your path in the command.
To delete all of the customized settings, use the following command and hit Enter:
To verify, type Y and hit Enter.
Restart the computer.
Following the procedures, Windows 11 will disable all of the experimental features you manually activated.
In order to accomplish various tasks, the ViveTool additionally provides other alternatives. The vivetool /? command allows you to view all of the settings.
Graphical version of ViveTool for Windows 11
Use the ViveTool GUI instead of commands if you’re uncomfortable with them. Although this application is based on the command-line version, it is easier to use because it has a graphical user interface.
It’s crucial to remember that this program hasn’t been updated by the creator in many months. Although the list of builds to activate features is out of date, the app still functions. You can still activate hidden features automatically, though, by using the advanced option. (The command-line version is what I advise using.)
Install ViveTool GUI
Follow these instructions to install ViveTool’s GUI version:
The website of OpenGitHub.
On your PC, download the ViveToolGUI-x.zip file.
To open the zip folder in File Explorer, double-click on it.
To extract all, click the button.
To extract, click the button.
To start the application, double-click the ViveTool_GUI.exe file.
After completing the procedures, you can enable or disable Windows 11’s hidden features using the tool’s graphical version.
Enable or disable hidden features on Windows 11
Follow these procedures to activate Windows 11’s hidden features:
The ViveTool GUI folder should open.
To start the application, double-click the ViveTool_GUI.exe file.
Press the button labeled “Advanced Options.”
In the first box, type the feature ID.
To do the action, click the button.
To activate the feature, select the Activate Feature option.
(Selective) To turn off a particular feature, select the Deactivate Feature option.
To make the changes take effect, you might need to restart the computer after finishing the instructions.
On the top-left corner, the app offers a menu with a list of the available databases from preview builds of Windows 11. The idea of the ViveTool GUI is to select the build from the list and then simply choose the hidden features you want to enable. However, since this app is not getting regular updates, you won t find the latest preview builds of Windows 11.
TheAbout & Settingspage has aScan this Build for Feature IDsoption, which, as the name implies, allows you to scan and find hidden features on the current preview. However, this option also requires the installation of theWindows 11 SDKand configuring the ViveTool GUI to use the symchk.exe (from theC:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64) to scan the preview build. (Also, the scan takes a very long time.)
Update February 23, 2024:This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.