How To Enable RSAT Features on Windows 11

Trying to get RSAT — Remote Server Administration Tools — up and running? Yeah, it’s supposed to make managing Windows servers from your client device a breeze, but the process? Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass. Maybe you get an error, or it just refuses to install, or maybe you’re trying to set it up on Windows 11 and find the options just aren’t there anymore. Been there. This guide is here to help you navigate the mess and get RSAT installed or removed without losing your mind.

Ways to Install RSAT on Windows 11

Most folks want an easy, straightforward method — either through Settings (that nice GUI designed for non-nerds) or PowerShell if they’re feeling brave or nothing else is working. The goal is to enable remote management tools quickly — so here’s how to do that.

Just Use Settings — The GUI Way

Honestly, this method is the simplest, and it applies to most Windows 11 setups that are relatively fresh. If your Windows doesn’t have the RSAT features hidden or missing, this should work. It allows you to see each component before installing — sometimes that’s key, especially if you’re only after specific tools.

Open Start Menu, then click Settings.
Navigate to Apps from the sidebar, then hit Optional Features.
Click on View Features — because of course, Windows has to make it more complicated than it should be. Type “RSAT” in the search box to filter.
Once you see the list of RSAT tools, pick the one(s) you need. It’s kind of weird, but on some machines, they might already be installed or visible as “Available” options. Hit Next.
Wait for the process to finish. Typically, all you see is a spinning wheel or a progress bar. Once it’s done, the selected tools should be ready to go.

One thing to be aware of — sometimes, depending on your Windows version or build, the RSAT options are just missing completely from Settings. In that case, that’s when the command line approach might help.

PowerShell to the Rescue

This method is a bit more involved but gives you more control. You can install all the RSAT tools at once or cherry-pick specific components. It’s useful if you need a specific role or feature or if the GUI just refuses to show the options.

Install All RSAT Components in One Command

This is the faster route if you just want everything, but it might take longer and could install tools you don’t actually need. Still, it’s easy — just run PowerShell as admin. To do that, right-click Start Menu and choose Windows Terminal (Admin), or search for PowerShell and hit *Run as administrator*.

In PowerShell, copy and paste this command:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

Press Enter and wait. The command will go through all RSAT features and install what’s missing. On some setups, this fails the first time — weirdly, a reboot might help, or you may need to run the command again. After it’s done, you should see the tools available in your Management console.

Install Specific RSAT Tools One-by-One

If you only need certain tools, this is the way to go. It involves a similar command, just with different names. They follow this pattern:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name tool-name

For example, if you want just the RSAT-AD-Tools, you’d run:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name Rsat. ActiveDirectory. DS-LDS. Tools~~~~0.0.1.0

Replace tool-name with the actual name of the RSAT component you want. You can find the exact names from the official Microsoft docs or by running a command like:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, Name

Then pick what matches your needs, run the command, and wait. Sometimes, it’s a hit or miss depending on your Windows updates, network, and whether you’ve got the right permissions.

Checking if RSAT is Installed

Once you’ve gone through the install, it’s worth double-checking — because Windows can be weird like that and sometimes it doesn’t fully install. To see what’s actually there, open PowerShell as admin and run:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, State

It’ll spit out a list with statuses like Installed or Available. If something isn’t installed, just repeat the process or check the specific command for that component.

Uninstalling RSAT — If You Finally Decide to Kick It Out

Yeah, sometimes you just don’t need all those tools cluttering up your system anymore. Whether you’re troubleshooting or just trying to clean up, removing RSAT is just as straightforward.

Go to Start Menu, then click Settings.
Head over to Apps and choose Optional Features.
Scroll through the list or search for the RSAT tools, then select the ones you want gone.
Click on Uninstall. Repeat for each component if needed. Because, again, Windows can be stubborn.

And that’s it. Afterward, it’s good to restart or at least log out and back in. Sometimes, Windows needs that kick to clean out residual parts.

Conclusion

Getting RSAT installed or removed in Windows 11 isn’t always a walk in the park. If the GUI refuses to cooperate, PowerShell’s the way to go — just make sure you run as admin. And in some cases, a reboot fixes whatever’s holding things back. On certain setups, you might have to re-run commands or tweak a few settings, but overall, these methods cover most scenarios.

Summary

Use Settings if you want a straightforward install, but watch out — sometimes, the option’s missing.
PowerShell offers more control — install all at once or pick specific tools.
Check installed features with PowerShell commands.
Uninstall RSAT easily via Settings if no longer needed.

Wrap-up

Hopefully, this helps clear up the murky waters of RSAT setup. It’s kinda annoying when Windows makes these things more complicated than they need to be, but with a few commands or clicks, it’s usually possible to get it working just right. If nothing else, at least now you know where to look and what to try next. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a few hours or avoid a headache.