How to Install RSAT Tools on Windows 11

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) is an essential tool for managing and controlling various roles and features on a Windows server, right from your personal computer running on a Windows operating system. However, it is important to note that RSAT tools do not come pre-installed on every Windows PC. But, don't worry! Microsoft offers them as optional features that you can easily install.

If you're wondering how to install RSAT tools on your Windows computer, there are several ways to do so. We're going to take a closer look at all of them, so you can choose the method that works best for you. By following our step-by-step instructions, you'll be up and running with RSAT tools in no time!

Install RSAT on Windows 11 from Settings

Installing RSAT tools on Windows 11 is pretty straightforward and hassle-free, unlike the previous versions of the operating system.

To do so, first launch the ‘Settings’ app from the Start Menu of your Windows 11 machine.

Next, click on the ‘Apps’ tab present on the left sidebar of the ‘Settings’ window.

Then, click on the ‘Option features’ tile present on the right section of the window.

After that, click on the ‘View features’ button situated on the ‘Add an optional feature’ tile to open the list of all optional features.

Next, you can either scroll the alphabetically ordered list or you can type RSAT in the search box present on the top of the overlay window on the screen to see all RSAT options.

Then, click on the checkbox followed by each option on the list to select. Once you have selected your desired options, click on the ‘Next’ button to proceed.

Now, all of your selected options will be listed down to help you realize which components will be installed.  If you wish to remove or add more features, you can do so by clicking on the ‘Edit or add more optional features’ option. In case you are satisfied with your chosen options, click on the ‘Install’ button.

Windows might take several minutes to install all the chose components. You can monitor the installation process from the ‘Optional features’ page.

Once installed, jump to the last section of this guide to know how to access the newly installed features on your Windows 11 computer.

Install RSAT in Windows 11 Using PowerShell

You can also install RSAT tools on your Windows computer using the Powershell command-line tool. The beauty of using PowerShell is you can choose to install all of the RSAT tools in a single go or choose individual tools according to your preference.

First, right-click on the ‘Start Menu’ icon present on the taskbar of your Windows computer. Then, select the ‘Windows Terminal (Admin)’ option from the pop-up menu.

After that, you will be greeted by the UAC (User Account Control) overlay screen.

If you are not logged in with an admin account, enter the credentials for one. Otherwise, click on the ‘Yes’ button present on the prompt.

Next, type or copy/paste the following command and hit ‘Enter’ to check the RSAT tools available for your machine and their current status. This way, you can know what components exactly to install.

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

Install all RSAT Components in a Single go

If you require all the components, you can install them at once using just a single command.

To do so, from the elevated PowerShell window, type or copy/paste the following command and hit ‘Enter’ on your keyboard to execute the command.

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

It might take your computer a few minutes to install the feature depending on the capability and your internet connection.

Install RSAT Components Individually

You can even install RSAT components individually if you do not require all the components available from Microsoft.

To do so, from the elevated PowerShell window, type or copy/paste the following command and hit ‘Enter’ on your keyboard to execute the command. However, you would need the system string names for each RSAT component which is listed below for your convenience:

Note: The ‘<tool name>’ in the command below is a placeholder. Replace the placeholder with the tool name you wish to install before executing the command.

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "Rsat.<tool name>.Tools"

How to Run RSAT Tools in Windows 11

Once you have installed the RSAT tools on your machine using your preferred method, it is imperative you know how to access them.

To do so, click on the ‘Start Menu’ icon present on the taskbar of your Windows 11 PC.

After that, click on the ‘All apps’ button present in the top right corner of the flyout.

Next, scroll down to locate ‘Windows Tools’ tile from the alphabetical list and click on it. This will open a new explorer window on your computer.

You will now find all your installed RSAT components in the opened window. You can launch any tool of your preference by double-clicking on it.

Conclusion

Installing the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on your Windows 11 computer is a straightforward process that can be achieved through the Settings app or PowerShell. Once installed, you can access the RSAT tools by clicking on the ‘Windows Tools’ tile in the Start menu and launching the desired tool. With this guide, you can easily manage and control various roles and features on a Windows server from your personal computer running on a Windows operating system.