- Microsoft may add an option to enable experimental features on Windows 11.
- The “Experimental Features” setting could allow you to enable features for moment updates.
- It’s unclear when (or if) this option will become available in the Settings app.
On Windows 11, you may soon be able to manually turn on new experimental features planned for future releases. According to @thebookisclosed on Twitter, Microsoft is working on a new “Experimental Features” setting in the Settings app that will allow you to enable or disable upcoming features regardless of whether the device is enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.
The “Experimental Features” setting appears on Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. Depending on the build, you may be able to choose the feature you want to test before they become available to everyone. However, it appears that this new option will be available to enable features only for “moment” updates and not for features from major releases.
Also, something else interesting is that this feature has its own folder in the “SystemApps” system folder that contains information about the features.
The feature is similar to ViveTool, which many Insiders use to enable hidden features that the company is still not ready to share with users. Also, the new setting doesn’t necessarily mean that the tool will become obsolete since it’s likely that Microsoft may not offer to enable every feature, and ViveTool may continue to be a way to uncover early previews of other Windows 11 features that the company may now want you to see.
The screenshots shared on Twitter show that the setting appears on the “Windows Insider Program” page whether the user has linked the device to the program or not, but this may change if the company decides to roll out the feature. However, it seems that this is just a way for partners to test experimental features that the company may need feedback on.
The new setting has been spotted on build 25267.1001 (rs_wdatp_edr.221212-1900) that Microsoft sent out to partners last year. However, it has also been pointed out that you can enable the feature running the “vivetool /enable /id:40062046” from Command Prompt in the latest preview of Windows 11 in the Canary Channel, but I could not turn it on in my installation.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].