How to install IIS Manager in Windows

Symptoms

Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager is missing from Administrative Tools in the Windows Control Panel. This prevents you from using IIS features.

Cause

The Windows features for IIS are not enabled. To confirm this, check if the iis.msc file exists in the c:\windows\system32\inetsrv directory. If the file is missing, the IIS feature is not enabled.

Solution

1. In the search bar for Windows 10 or Windows Server 2012, enter Control Panel and open it.

2. In Control Panel, choose Programs > Programs and Features.

3. In the navigation pane on the left, click Turn Windows features on or off.

   Note

   The procedure may vary slightly depending on the operating system version. The following sections use Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 as examples.

   Windows 10

   1. In the dialog box that appears, find and expand Internet Information Services. Expand Web Management Tools and select the checkboxes for the required IIS features.

   2. Click OK. Windows automatically downloads and installs the required IIS features.

      Note

      This process requires an internet connection and may take some time. Wait for the installation to complete. When the Windows completed the requested changes dialog box appears, the installation is complete.

   3. Go back to Control Panel and navigate to System and Security > Administrative Tools. Check if Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager is in the list. If it is still missing, restart your system and check again. Alternatively, confirm that you selected the correct IIS components during the installation.

   Windows Server 2012

   1. In the Windows Features window, click the Manage button in the upper-right corner. Then, choose Add Roles and Features.

   2. Follow the installation wizard.

      1. In the installation wizard, click Next to skip the welcome page.

      2. For the installation type, select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.

      3. For Server Selection, select Select a server from the server pool. Then, click Next.

      4. In the Server Roles list, select the Web Server (IIS) checkbox. When the prompt appears, click Add Features, and then click Next.

      5. In the Features list, select the checkboxes for .NET Framework 3.5 Features and .NET Framework 4.8 Features, as needed.

      6. In the Role Services list, select the required options. Choose options based on your needs and security requirements.

      7. On the Confirm installation selections page, review your chosen roles, features, and role services. If everything is correct, click Install.

      8. In Server Manager, click the Tools menu and choose Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager to open the IIS management interface.