[Usage Guide] What Is Windows 11 RSAT and How to Use It

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) allow system administrators to manage Windows servers from their personal computers, simplifying network management, especially for large networks.

Windows 10 version 1803 or earlier, users had to manually download and install RSAT tools. However, in Windows 10 version 1809 and later, RSAT tools were integrated into the optional features section of the Settings app, making it easier for users to enable them.

Now, with the release of Windows 11, it’s worth exploring how to download, install, and enable RSAT tools in this latest version of Windows.

Appendix: List of Available RSAT Components in Windows 11

The following remote server administration tools are available on Windows 11.

• RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools
• RSAT: BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities
• RSAT: Active Directory Certificate Services Tools
• RSAT: DHCP Server Tools (used to configure and manage DHCP server on Windows Server)
• RSAT: DNS Server Tools
• RSAT: Failover Clustering Tools
• RSAT: File Services Tools
• RSAT: Group Policy Management Tools
• RSAT: IP Address Management (IPAM) Client
• RSAT: Data Center Bridging LLDP Tools
• RSAT: Network Controller Management Tools
• RSAT: Network Load Balancing Tools
• RSAT: Remote Access Management Tools
• RSAT: Remote Desktop Services Tools
• RSAT: Server Manager
• RSAT: Shielded VM Tools
• RSAT: Storage Migration Service Management Tools
• RSAT: Storage Replica Module for Windows PowerShell
• RSAT: System Insights Module for Windows PowerShell
• RSAT: Volume Activation Tools (KMS server console)
• RSAT: Windows Server Update Services Tools.

Prerequisites for Windows 11 RSAT Tool

To install the RSAT tool on Windows 11, you must download the optional Features on Demand updates from the Microsoft update service. However, you must have the appropriate permissions and access on Windows 11 PCs, and RSAT cannot be installed on Windows 11 Home PCs.

You must also ensure that security policies, corporate firewalls, and proxies allow FOD updates from Microsoft updates. If your organization only allows offline updates, the RSAT installation process for Windows 11 PCs may become complicated.

You may need to configure the group policy for SCCM-managed clients to obtain FOD (RSAT) and language packs directly from Microsoft Updates. This can be done through the Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair policy setting, which can be found under Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System.

It’s worth noting that FOD and language packs cannot be obtained from WSUS or network shares on the latest version of Windows. The policy can be found in the System folder, though you may need to scroll down a bit to locate it.

How to Install RSAT on Windows 11

This article explains how to install RSAT on Windows 11 PCs, a common tool used for server administration. RSAT is included as a set of “Features on Demand” in the recent versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, eliminating the need to download a standalone setup. This method can be challenging for SCCM admins without an online method to install RSAT on SCCM-managed Windows 11 PCs.

Install RSAT on Windows 11 as Features on Demand (FOD)

1. Navigate to the Settings app and click on Apps.

2. Click on Optional features and then click View features to bring out a pop-up for installing RSAT features.

3. The Add an optional feature window will open. Search for RSAT and select the tools you want to install.

On the Add an optional feature window, you will see two options.

• RSAT: Remote Access Management Tools – The Remote Access Management Tools include graphical and PowerShell tools for managing the Remote Access role on Windows Server.
• RSAT: Remote Desktop Services Tools – The Remote Desktop Services Tools include snap-ins for Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. Remote Desktop Licensing Diagnostics and Remote Desktop Gateway Manager. You can use Server Manager to administer all the RDS role services.

4. Click Next and confirm the components you have selected.

5. Click Install to start the installation process.

6. Wait for the RSAT tools to finish downloading and installing.

7. The RSAT tools will appear under the Installed Features section once fully installed.

Install RSAT on Windows 11 via Powershell

Sysadmins who require advanced features can use PowerShell to install RSAT tools, which has the added benefit of being able to install the tools on remote computers.

1. To install all RSAT tools using PowerShell, execute the following command in a PowerShell instance with elevated privileges:

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

You must provide the module’s name instead of using the asterisk symbol to install a specific module.

Begin by listing all available RSAT tools. Open PowerShell with administrative privileges and execute the following command:

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

• Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools Rsat.AzureStack.HCI.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.BitLocker.Recovery.Tools Rsat.CertificateServices.Tools Rsat.DHCP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.Dns.ToolsotPresent Rsat.FailoverCluster.Management.Tools Rsat.FileServices.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools Rsat.IPAM.Client.Tools Rsat.LLDP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.NetworkController.Tools Rsat.NetworkLoadBalancing.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.RemoteAccess.Management.Tools Rsat.RemoteDesktop.Services.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.ServerManager.Tools Rsat.StorageMigrationService.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.StorageReplica.Tools Rsat.SystemInsights.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
• Rsat.VolumeActivation.Tools Rsat.WSUS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0

Copy the name of the desired tool you wish to install and execute the following command:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name Rsat.BitLocker.Recovery.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 -Online | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

Execute the following command to install all modules simultaneously:

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

Install RSAT Tools in Windows 11 via CMD

You can also install Windows 11 RSAT using the DISM command. Follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator by typing cmd in the Windows Search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the command DISM.exe /Online /Get-Capabilities | find Rsat to display a list of available RSAT tools that can be installed.

3. Choose the RSAT tool you want to install and enter the command:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:xxxxx~~~~0.0.1.0

replacing xxxxx with the name of the tool.

4. Wait for the installation to complete. You will see the message. The operation completed successfully when it is finished.

How to Run the Installed Remote Server Administration Tools on Windows 11

Microsoft has made the installation of RSAT tools; locating where they have been installed and how to access them can still be a challenge. If you know the tool’s name, you can search for it in Windows Search or the Start Menu.

1. Start Menu > All apps > Windows tools.

Doing so will open a folder that contains all the RSAT tools installed on the computer. To launch a tool, double-click on its respective icon.

2. Once the tool is launched, you can directly manage the corresponding components of various servers from your Windows PC.

View Installed RSATs in Windows Terminal

Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).

Type or Paste the following command in the console and press Enter.

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

The Remote Server Administration Tools available in Windows 11 will be displayed to you. Observe the Status column to determine if an RSAT feature is Installed or Not Present on your computer.

Uninstall RSAT on Windows

If an RSAT crashes or does not function correctly on your computer, you may need to uninstall it.

1. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Optional features.

2. In the Installed features search box, type RSAT and select the RSAT you want to uninstall.

3. Wait a few seconds and check the Recent Actions section to verify that Windows has uninstalled the RSAT.

Known Issues and RSAT Installation Issues

This article discusses several known issues with RSAT versions of Windows 11, including the error code 0x800f0954 during installation, the lack of status/progress during installation, and missing TSAT tools after the Windows 10 upgrade.

To resolve the issues, users may need to adjust Group Policy settings, click the Back button during installation to view the status, or reinstall the RSAT.MSU package. Microsoft has already fixed the last issue for Windows 11 and the latest versions of Windows 10.

Unlock the Full Potential of Windows 11 With Rsat—Your Ultimate Usage Guide

In this comprehensive usage guide, we have explored the ins and outs of Windows 11 RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) and provided you with the knowledge and tools to make the most of this powerful feature. Whether you are an IT professional or a tech enthusiast, RSAT enables you to remotely manage and administer servers from your Windows 11 device, enhancing your productivity and efficiency. By following our step-by-step instructions, you can easily install and configure RSAT, granting you access to a wide range of administrative tools. Embrace the power of Windows 11 RSAT and streamline your server management tasks like a pro.