How to Enable Hidden Windows 11 Features with ViveTool

In preliminary Windows 11 builds, Microsoft developers often hide experimental interface features and new settings. Officially, these are locked, but you can test them in advance using a free, open-source utility called ViveTool. Let’s figure out how to properly configure the program and activate the system’s hidden capabilities.

What is ViveTool and Why is it Needed?

ViveTool is an open-source command-line utility created by enthusiasts Albacore and Rafael Rivera. The program interacts with Windows’ internal Feature Management API, allowing you to manually toggle hidden operating system features using their unique numerical identifiers (Feature ID).

With its help, you can activate a new File Explorer design, an updated context menu, or experimental taskbar features long before Microsoft makes them available to all users.

What You Need to Prepare Before Starting

• Installed Windows 11 (preferably a fresh build or Windows Insider channel).
• Administrator rights on your PC.
• Downloaded ViveTool archive.

Important: Experimental features are disabled by developers for a reason — they may contain bugs and cause Explorer crashes. Always create a system restore point before making any changes.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Enable a Hidden Feature

Step 1. Download and Unpack
Go to the official ViveTool GitHub page in the Releases section and download the program archive. Unpack it to a convenient location, for example, directly to your system drive in the C:\ViveTool folder. This will prevent you from having to type long file paths in the command line.

Step 2. Run Terminal as Administrator
Right-click the Start menu (or press Win + X) and select “Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Step 3. Navigate to the Program Folder
In the command prompt window, type the command to navigate to the utility’s directory and press Enter:
cd C:\ViveTool

Step 4. Activate Feature by ID
Each hidden Windows feature has its own unique identifier. To enable it, execute the command:
vivetool /enable /id:FEATURE_ID

If successful, the utility will display the message “Successfully set feature configuration(s)”.

Step 5. Apply Changes
For the feature to work, restart your computer or restart “Explorer” through Task Manager.

How to Disable a Feature if Issues Arise

If the system becomes unstable, or Explorer errors or freezes appear after enabling a feature, you can instantly disable it. To do this, open Terminal as Administrator again, navigate to the program folder (cd C:\ViveTool), and execute the same command, replacing /enable with /disable:

vivetool /disable /id:FEATURE_ID

After entering the command, restart your PC again.

ViveTool is an excellent tool for enthusiasts who want to be among the first to test Windows 11 innovations. The main thing is to use verified feature IDs from reliable sources and remember to create restore points before experimenting.