How To Enable Telnet On Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Home » How-To

Edgar Nicov

How-To

5 min. read

Published on November 8, 2025

Fix Windows errors with Fortect:
Fortect can repair common computer errors by scanning your entire system for damaged or missing OS files and replacing them with the original, working versions. Optimize your PC in 3 simple steps:

Download and Install Fortect on your PC
Use the PC Scan feature to look up any Windows issues (including drivers)
Right-click on Repair, and fix it within a few minutes.

Besides that, it helps you clean up junk files, fix stability problems, and get rid of annoying programs and malware traces.

Telnet, while not the most secure protocol in use today, can still be a valuable tool for troubleshooting network connectivity. It allows you to connect to a remote server and test if a specific port is open. By default, Telnet is not enabled in Windows 11, but enabling it is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the steps to enable Telnet on your Windows 11 system.

Enabling Telnet can be useful for diagnosing network issues and verifying server accessibility. Whether you’re a network administrator or a user trying to troubleshoot connection problems, knowing how to enable Telnet on Windows 11 can be a handy skill. Let’s explore how to do it.

How do I enable Telnet in Windows 11?

Enabling Telnet Client via Control Panel

The Control Panel offers a classic method for enabling Telnet, familiar to long-time Windows users.

Open the Control Panel. You can do this by searching for “Control Panel” in the Start Menu.
Click on Programs.
Under “Programs and Features,” click on Turn Windows features on or off.
In the “Windows Features” window, scroll down and check the box next to Telnet Client.
Click OK. Windows will install the Telnet client.
Click Close when the installation is complete.

Enabling Telnet Client via Command Prompt

For users comfortable with the command line, the Command Prompt provides a quick and efficient way to enable Telnet.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for “cmd” in the Start Menu, right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.”
Type the following command and press Enter:

“ DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient “

Wait for the command to complete. You should see a message indicating that the operation completed successfully.
Close the Command Prompt.

Enabling Telnet Client via PowerShell

PowerShell is another powerful command-line tool that can be used to enable Telnet.

Open PowerShell as an administrator. Search for “PowerShell” in the Start Menu, right-click on “PowerShell,” and select “Run as administrator.”
Type the following command and press Enter:

“ Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Telnet-Client “

Wait for the command to complete. You should see a message indicating that the operation completed successfully.
Close PowerShell.

Verifying Telnet is Enabled

After enabling Telnet, it’s essential to verify that it’s working correctly.

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Type telnet and press Enter.
If Telnet is enabled, you should see the Telnet prompt. If not, double-check the steps above to ensure you’ve enabled it correctly.

Disabling Telnet

If you no longer need Telnet or want to disable it for security reasons, you can do so using the same methods.

Via Control Panel:

Follow steps 1-3 from the “Enabling Telnet Client via Control Panel” section.
Uncheck the box next to Telnet Client.
Click OK.

Via Command Prompt:

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter:

“ DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient “

Via PowerShell:

Open PowerShell as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter:

“ Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Telnet-Client “

Tips for Using Telnet

Security Considerations: Telnet transmits data in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception. Avoid using it for sensitive information.
Firewall: Ensure your firewall allows Telnet traffic on the necessary ports.
Alternatives: Consider using more secure alternatives like SSH whenever possible.

Telnet vs. SSH: A Quick Comparison

Feature	Telnet	SSH
Security	Unencrypted; vulnerable to eavesdropping	Encrypted; secure data transmission
Authentication	Simple username/password	Public key authentication, password-based
Data Integrity	No data integrity checks	Data integrity checks ensure data is intact
Port (Default)	23	22
Common Use Cases	Basic connectivity testing	Secure remote access, file transfer

Using Telnet for Basic Troubleshooting

Telnet can be useful for checking if a specific port on a remote server is open.

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Type telnet <server_address> <port_number> and press Enter. Replace <server_address> with the IP address or hostname of the server and <port_number> with the port you want to test.
If the connection is successful, you’ll see a blank screen or a server response. If the connection fails, you’ll see an error message.

Making Telnet Accessible on Windows 11

Enabling Telnet on Windows 11 is a simple process that can be done through the Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Once enabled, you can use Telnet to troubleshoot network connectivity and verify server accessibility. Remember to consider the security implications and use more secure alternatives like SSH when possible.