Optional Features

Aero7 Optional Features

Open Start > Turn Aero7 features on or off, or open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Aero7 features on or off. A checked box means the feature's real packages and required services are installed. Changes require administrator approval. Removing a feature does not delete its user-created files or settings.

Feature reference

Feature	What it does	Components and important behavior
Aero7 Desktop Core	Provides the Aero7 session, shell, Control Panel and File Explorer.	Required on every Aero7 installation. It cannot be disabled from Optional Features.
Programs Center Beta	Adds Aero7's graphical application browser for installing, removing and updating software.	Optional beta software. Fresh installations keep a checksum-verified package in the local optional-package cache, so it can be enabled without internet. It can be removed again without removing Aero7.
Parental Controls	Restricts which applications managed local accounts can use.	Installs malcontent. Sign out after enabling it so the account restrictions are loaded by a new session.
Backup and Restore	Creates scheduled backups and restores personal files.	Installs Déjà Dup. Backup archives and user configuration remain when the feature is removed.
System Recovery	Creates and manages filesystem snapshots.	Installs Snapper and Btrfs Assistant and is available only when the system root uses Btrfs. Existing snapshots remain after removal.
Advanced Accessibility Services	Adds spoken desktop feedback and screen reading.	Installs Orca with Speech Dispatcher and eSpeak NG. Sign out after enabling it. This is speech output, not speech recognition.
Speech Recognition	Would provide voice control and dictation.	Currently unavailable because Aero7 has no supported recognition backend in its configured repositories. No substitute package is falsely enabled.
Sync Center	Synchronizes selected folders between trusted computers.	Installs Syncthing, starts its user service and opens the local web interface at 127.0.0.1:8384. Synced data and configuration remain after removal.
Aero7 Defender	Provides on-demand malware scans and signature updates shown through Action Center.	Installs ClamAV and enables its signature-update service. Signature data remains after removal.
Windows CardSpace	Historical identity-card technology from Windows.	Hidden and unavailable. CardSpace was discontinued and Aero7 does not provide a fake replacement.
Remote Desktop Connections	Connects to computers that offer Remote Desktop Protocol access.	Installs FreeRDP. This is a client only; enabling it does not allow remote logins to this computer.
File and Printer Sharing	Shares deliberately selected files and printers with SMB-compatible computers.	Installs Samba and enables SMB services. Aero7 never creates a share automatically, and existing share configuration remains after removal.
Mobile Broadband and Modem Support	Manages compatible cellular modems and mobile-data connections.	Installs ModemManager and enables its service. The entry reports Hardware not present when no compatible modem is detected.
Color Management	Manages device ICC color profiles and color-corrected workflows.	Installs colord. Sign out after enabling it; installed ICC profiles remain when it is removed.

Statuses

• Checked — all required packages are installed and services are active.
• Unchecked — the feature is available but not installed.
• Partially installed — a package or service is missing; select it to repair.
• Hardware not present — the feature needs hardware Aero7 cannot detect.
• Unavailable — a safe backend or its verified package is not available.
• Restart required — installation succeeded and must be completed by a restart.

Repository features need a working network connection when they are first enabled. Programs Center Beta is the exception on Beta 2 media: its verified package is retained locally specifically so the feature remains installable offline.