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To install roles and features on Windows Server, open Server Manager > Manage > Add Roles and Features, choose Role-based or feature-based installation, tick what you need and select Install. In PowerShell, run Get-WindowsFeature to find the name, then Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools. Add -Restart if the role needs a reboot. This works the same on Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025.

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Before you start

  • Sign in as an administrator with Remote Desktop.
  • Only install what you use. Every role adds services and sometimes open ports, which means more to update and secure.
  • Some roles need a restart. Plan it for a quiet time if the server already runs a website or game.

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What is the difference between a role, a role service and a feature?

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How to install roles and features with Server Manager

1

Open the wizard

Open Server Manager (it starts at sign-in on Desktop Experience, or type Server Manager in Start). Select Manage in the top-right corner, then Add Roles and Features.
2

Before You Begin

Read the page and select Next.
3

Installation Type

Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and select Next. (The other option is only for Remote Desktop Services.)
4

Server Selection

Your server is selected already. Select Next.
5

Server Roles

Tick the roles you want. When the wizard asks to add required features, select Add Features. Select Next.
6

Features

Tick any features you want, or none, and select Next. Pages for each role’s role services follow; keep the defaults if you’re unsure.
7

Confirmation

Review the list. Tick Restart the destination server automatically if required if a restart now is fine, then select Install.
8

Close

When the installation finishes, select Close. If a role needs more setup, Server Manager shows a notification at the top; select it to see what.
The wizard installs management tools (consoles and PowerShell modules) by default (Microsoft Learn).

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How to install roles and features with PowerShell

Open PowerShell as administrator: select Start, type PowerShell, right-click Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator. On Server Core this is the only way, since there is no Server Manager.
1

Find the exact name

The Name column has the value you install, for example Web-Server for Web Server (IIS). The Install State column shows what’s already installed.
2

Preview the install (optional)

-WhatIf shows what would be installed without changing anything.
3

Install

Unlike the wizard, Install-WindowsFeature doesn’t add management tools unless you include -IncludeManagementTools (Microsoft Learn). To install several at once, separate the names with commas, for example -Name DNS,DHCP.
4

Restart if needed

The result shows Restart Needed. If it says Yes, restart with Restart-Computer, or add -Restart to the install command next time so Windows restarts on its own.
Expected result:

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How to check what is installed

This lists only the installed roles, role services and features.

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How to remove a role or feature

Select Manage > Remove Roles and Features, untick the role or feature on Server Roles or Features, then select Remove on Confirmation.
Removing a role stops what depends on it. Removing Web Server (IIS), for example, takes every website on the server offline. Check what the role is used for first, and take a backup.

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What if the install says source files could not be found?

Some features, such as .NET Framework 3.5, aren’t stored on the server. By default Windows downloads the missing files from Windows Update. If that fails, point Install-WindowsFeature to the installation media with -Source (the Sources\SxS folder of a mounted Windows Server ISO, or a WIM file such as WIM:D:\sources\install.wim:2), or in the wizard select Specify an alternate source path on the Confirmation page (Microsoft Learn).
On a VPS you can mount a Windows Server ISO for this. On a dedicated server, open a ticket if you need installation media attached.

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Frequently asked questions

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Which roles should a typical VPS have?

Only what it serves. A web server needs Web Server (IIS). A game server usually needs no extra roles at all. Avoid Active Directory Domain Services, DHCP Server and DNS Server unless you know you need them.

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Can I install roles on Server Core?

Yes, with Install-WindowsFeature. Some roles that depend on a graphical interface aren’t available on Server Core; Get-WindowsFeature shows what is.

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Do roles need a licence?

Most roles are part of Windows Server. Remote Desktop Services is the common exception: multi-user Remote Desktop needs RDS client access licences. See add a Remote Desktop user.

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How do I install IIS specifically?

See install IIS on Windows Server.

VPS and dedicated server guides

Every guide in this section.

Install IIS

Host websites on Windows.

Enable OpenSSH Server

An optional feature, installed differently.

PowerShell on Windows Server

The basics behind these commands.

Back up a Windows server

Before you add or remove roles.
Checked against Microsoft Learn: Add or remove roles and features, Install-WindowsFeature and Get-WindowsFeature on 4 November 2026. Not tested on a live Windows server for this page.

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Last Updated: November 2026