Active Directory · Risk: High · Documentation Verified
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Microsoft ActiveDirectory reference: Enables an Active Directory optional feature. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.
Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Enable-ADOptionalFeature. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.
Supported environments
Windows / ActiveDirectory · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply
Parameters
-AuthType
Specifies the authentication method to use. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - Negotiate or 0 - Basic or 1 The default authentication method is Negotiate. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection is required for the Basic authentication method.
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Credential
Specifies the user account credentials to use to perform this task. The default credentials are the credentials of the currently logged on user unless the cmdlet is run from an Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell provider drive. If the cmdlet is run from such a provider drive, the account associated with the drive is the default. To specify this parameter, you can type a user name, such as User1 or Domain01\User01 or you can specify a PSCredential object. If you specify a user name for this parameter, the cmdlet prompts for a password. You can also create a PSCredential object by using a script or by using the Get-Credential cmdlet. You can then set the Credential parameter to the PSCredential object. If the acting credentials do not have directory-level permission to perform the task, Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell returns a terminating error.
-Identity (required)
Specifies an Active Directory optional feature object by providing one of the following values. The identifier in parentheses is the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) display name for the attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - A FQDN - A feature GUID (featureGUID) - An object GUID (objectGUID) The cmdlet searches the default naming context or partition to find the object. If two or more objects are found, the cmdlet returns a non-terminating error. This parameter can also get this object through the pipeline or you can set this parameter to an optional feature object instance.
-PassThru
Returns an object representing the item with which you're working. By default, this cmdlet doesn't generate any output.
-Scope (required)
Specifies the scope at which the feature is enabled or disabled. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - Domain or 0 - Forest or 1
-Server
Specifies the Active Directory Domain Services instance to connect to, by providing one of the following values for a corresponding domain name or directory server. The service may be any of the following: Active Directory Lightweight Domain Services, Active Directory Domain Services or Active Directory snapshot instance. Specify the Active Directory Domain Services instance in one of the following ways: Domain name values: - Fully qualified domain name - NetBIOS name Directory server values: - Fully qualified directory server name - NetBIOS name - Fully qualified directory server name and port The default value for this parameter is determined by one of the following methods in the order that they are listed: - By using the Server value from objects passed through the pipeline - By using the server information associated with the Active Directory Domain Services Windows PowerShell provider drive, when the cmdlet runs in that drive - By using the domain of the computer running Windows PowerShell
-Target (required)
Specifies the domain or forest in which to modify the optional feature. You can identify the target domain or forest by providing one of the following values: - FQDN of the forest or domain - NetBIOS name of the forest or domain When Scope is set to Domain, you can use the following value: - Distinguished name of the domain naming context
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet isn't run.
Prerequisites
Windows with the ActiveDirectory module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.
Security considerations
This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.
Examples
Example 1: Enable the Recycle Bin feature for a forest
Enable-ADOptionalFeature @params
This command enables the optional feature Recycle Bin Feature for the forest fabrikam.com. This operation must be performed on the domain controller that holds the domain naming master flexible single master operations (FSMO) role. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.