Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) are now officially supported on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. You can now remotely manage Windows server roles and features using Windows devices built on Arm processors, just as you would with traditional x64-based PCs. Supporting RSAT on Windows 11 on Arm marks a significant milestone and addresses one of your top requests for enterprise management.
RSAT tools now available for Windows on Arm
With the February 2026 Windows non-security preview update, five of the most widely used RSAT components are available on Arm-based devices:
- Active Directory Domain Services & AD LDS Tools – Remotely manage Active Directory domains, users, and Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) instances.
- Active Directory Certificate Services Tools – Administer and manage certificate services and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) on Windows Servers.
- Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) – Create, edit, and manage Group Policy Objects to control settings in Active Directory environments.
- DNS Server Tools – Configure and monitor DNS servers via the DNS Manager snap-in and command-line DNS utilities.
- DHCP Server Tools – Manage DHCP servers and scopes to administer IP address allocation in your networks.
These familiar utilities have long been available on x64 Windows clients. They're now compiled natively for the 64-bit Arm architecture and supported on Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions. With these tools, you can accomplish everyday system administrator tasks directly from an Arm-based Windows 11 PC. Add users to Active Directory, edit GPOs, configure DNS and DHCP servers, and more.
Why RSAT on Arm64 matters
For the past several years, if you've used Windows on Arm, you had to rely on alternative management methods (such as Windows Admin Center) or switch to an x64 device for certain tasks. Similarly, testing newer Arm-powered laptops for your enterprise highlighted the pressing need for RSAT support on Arm64 devices.
With RSAT support, Windows 11 on Arm becomes a more viable platform for enterprise IT management. It boosts confidence in the Windows on Arm ecosystem for business use. Put simply, you can now manage Windows servers from an Arm-based client, using the same robust GUI and PowerShell tools you know.
RSAT on different Windows 11 versions
Depending on your Windows 11 version, RSAT are either available as optional components or Features on Demand (FODs).
- Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2[1] on Arm: For today's broadly released and supported Windows 11 versions, RSAT support for Arm64 is available starting with the February 2026 Windows non-security preview update. The tools are enabled as optional components.
- Windows 11, version 26H1: New Arm-based devices with the targeted Windows 11, version 26H1 release have these RSAT capabilities integrated directly as FODs. This release brings the Arm64 edition closer to parity with x64 in terms of RSAT functionality.
How to enable RSAT on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs
Optional components for Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2
Your devices with an Arm64 processor must be running Windows 11, version 25H2 or 24H2 and be updated with the February 2026 Windows non-security preview update or later.
To add RSAT as optional components via the Control Panel[2]:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Select Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
- Check the boxes for the RSAT components you need.
The RSAT components will then be installed and available for use on your Arm-based Windows 11 PC.
When you install optional components through the Control Panel user interface, you'll see the DisplayName showing RSAT.
However, when using command‑line tools, you'll only see the FeatureName. Please use the FeatureName to install a specific optional component.
Examples:
dism /online /get-features /format:table | findstr /i "Enabled"
or
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | Where-Object State -eq "Enabled"
Output sample:
FeatureName State
----------- -----
CertificateServices-Tools Enabled
ServerManager-Tools Enabled
ActiveDirectory-DS-LDS-Tools Enabled
Commands to install:
# Enable ADLDS
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName ActiveDirectory-DS-LDS-Tools -All -NoRestart
# Enable ADCS
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName CertificateServices-Tools -All -NoRestart
Additionally, for an individual feature:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName <FeatureName>
The output will include the DisplayName, which shows the corresponding RSAT label.
Features on Demand for Windows 11, version 26H1
The RSAT components are available to you as Windows features on devices with Windows 11, version 26H1.
To add RSAT tools as FODs via Windows Settings:
- Navigate to Settings > System > Optional Features > Add an optional feature.
- Find and select the desired "RSAT" components to install, such as RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and LDS Tools, RSAT: DNS Server Tools, etc.
This is what RSAT as FODs look like on Windows 11, version 26H1:
Manage Windows infrastructure more efficiently
We hope you will take advantage of these newly available RSAT components on your Arm64 devices and let us know how this investment helps your team manage Windows infrastructure more efficiently.
By introducing RSAT for Windows 11 on Arm, the platform takes another step toward giving you a consistent management experience across more of your Windows devices. This removes a key barrier for your organization to adopt Arm-powered PCs for benefits like battery life and connectivity. Just use your preferred server management workflows on any Windows 11 PC.
This update underscores our commitment to support Windows on Arm for enterprise use cases. We'll continue welcoming feedback as we enhance Windows 11 for all platforms.
Happy server managing, now on Arm!
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[1] Non-Arm, x64 devices on Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2 are Features on Demand.
[2] As a shortcut for installing optional components via the Control Panel, press Win + R, type optionalfeatures.exe, and press Enter.
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