Each Windows Insider Preview Build has various new productivity features, UI tweaks, and enhancements over the previous version. However, these builds serve as a testing ground for upcoming Windows updates, so some beta features are still experimental and may not be enabled by default. To get early access to these features before their official rollout, use ViVeTool to enable or disable specific feature flags.
What Is ViVeTool?
ViVeTool is an open-source, third-party utility by Lucas that allows users to enable or disable experimental feature flags that Windows hides by default. Windows uses the Windows Feature Store to manage all A/B beta features, with each feature assigned a unique ID. ViVeTool directly interacts with this feature control system and targets specific feature IDs.
Since these features are experimental, enabling or disabling feature IDs may lead to bugs, system instability, and sometimes even a system crash. Some feature flags rely on backend changes and services, and incomplete deployment can create broken UI or disrupt core Windows functionality. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to either use a virtual machine or back up data before proceeding.
ViVeTool is available in two forms: a command-line interface (CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI). The CLI version is the official and most up-to-date tool that provides a text-based approach to interact with the system’s OS using commands. Though it requires some technical knowledge, it offers full control over feature flags. ViVeTool GUI is a newer project built by a separate developer with a friendly user interface. It is now outdated, as it relies on older ViVeTool components. We are using ViVeTool CLI for this tutorial.
Installing ViVeTool in Windows 11
Before you start tinkering with the feature flags, download and install ViVeTool. ViVeTool is readily available on GitHub, and the installation is quite effortless.
Download the latest release of ViVeTool from GitHub: v0.3.3, at the time of writing. Extract the zip file to a convenient or easily accessible location.
Run Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for cmd in the Start Menu, and select Run as Administrator.
In the Command Prompt, change the directory to the extracted folder. In my case, the location of the extracted ViVeTool files is D:\ViVeTool-v0.3.3, so I’m using the following command:
cd /d D:\ViVeTool-v0.3.3The /d switch will specify that the Command Prompt should change the directory not only to the current directory but also to a different drive.
To verify the installation, type vivetool, and press Enter. ViVeTool will display a list of all Windows system diagnostic commands, specifying that the installation is complete.
Enabling a Feature ID
After a successful installation, choose the ID you wish to activate (refer to a Windows Insider forum, like PhantomOfEarth or TheBobPony, or check online forums to locate specific feature IDs).
To enable a feature ID, execute “/enable” in the command prompt (still in the ViVeTool directory):
vivetool /enable /id:<feature-id>For example, we’re enabling 53250194, which triggers the new trim feature for the Windows Snipping Tool.
Once you see the successful feature configuration result, as shown in the above image, close the Command Prompt windows, and restart the computer to apply the changes. The esteemed UI tweaks or features should be in effect.
Disabling a Feature ID
If you notice bugs or broken UI elements or wish to deactivate the feature altogether, follow the steps above to navigate to the ViVeTool directory and use the following command.
vivetool /disable /id:<feature-id>
The /disable command deactivates the feature, and the rebooting applies the changes. To check whether a feature ID is enabled or disabled, use the /query command:
vivetool /query /id:<feature-id>Make sure to replace <feature-id> with the actual ID. Using the above command will display the following states followed by a number:
- Default (0): the feature is in the default state.
- Enabled (2): overrides the default state and forces the feature to enable.
- Disable (1): the feature is disabled.
ViVeTool provides easy access to new beta features. However, due to the experimental nature of these flags, you may encounter some bugs or unprecedented crashes. Therefore, it is crucial to proceed with caution and safeguard your system with a backup.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Jay Kakade
