Windows 11 has a dedicated AI components page for AI models and supporting components that Windows can manage on the device. It is separate from the normal Installed apps list, so it should not be treated as an inventory of every application whose name or features mention AI.
I opened the page on Windows 11 Home Single Language version 25H2, build 26220.7872. The tested PC displayed There are no AI components currently installed. I did not touch the Experimental agentic features switch, open a component menu, start Windows Update, download a model, remove a component, or change any Windows setting.
What does the AI Components page show?
Microsoft describes this page as the place where users can view and manage installed Windows AI models. Depending on the hardware, Windows build, installed features, and models downloaded by compatible apps, the page can list one or more components or display an empty state.
The list is narrower than a general software inventory. A browser feature, cloud service, Microsoft Copilot app, or another program can use AI without appearing here. Conversely, an entry can be a supporting model used by Windows or an app rather than a program you launch directly from Start.
Table of contents
How can you open the installed AI Components inventory?
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System in the left sidebar.
- Select AI components.
- Read the list or the empty-state message without selecting a component or changing another control.
- Close Settings when you finish.
You can also open the same page from Run or a browser address field that accepts Windows Settings links by entering ms-settings:aicomponents. This URI opens the page; it does not install or remove a component.
What does an empty AI Components page mean?
An empty page means Windows is not currently listing an installed AI component in this inventory. It does not, by itself, prove that every AI-assisted feature is disabled or that the PC has a fault. The device might not support a particular local model, an optional model might never have been downloaded, or a feature might use a different delivery method.
Do not install unrelated software merely to make the page nonempty. If an app needs an optional Windows AI model, follow that app's current documentation and review the download size, hardware requirements, consent prompt, and Windows version requirement before allowing the download.
Why can another PC show different AI components?
Microsoft's current Windows AI documentation covers models with different hardware paths and availability rules. Some are designed for Copilot+ PCs with a neural processing unit, while other supported configurations can use a GPU or CPU. Optional models can also be downloaded on demand instead of arriving preinstalled.
Windows servicing changes over time, so two PCs on different builds can expose different components even when both open the same Settings page. Hardware architecture, processor vendor, Windows channel, installed applications, and component update level can also affect the visible inventory. Compare the exact component name and version on the device instead of assuming a screenshot from another PC is authoritative.
Where can you check AI component update history?
Microsoft directs users to Settings > Windows Update > Update history when checking whether an AI component update was installed. That view is evidence of servicing activity, while System > AI components is the current component inventory.
Opening Update history is observational, but selecting Check for updates can start a scan and downloads. Keep those actions separate. If your goal is only to document the current inventory, do not start an update scan or remove a model as part of the check.
What should you avoid during a read-only check?
- Do not toggle Experimental agentic features; it is a separate setting, not a refresh control for the inventory.
- Do not remove a listed component merely to confirm that the management button works.
- Do not force an optional model download or Windows Update scan just to produce a nonempty screenshot.
- Do not publish an uncropped Settings screenshot that exposes an account name, email address, profile picture, or unrelated private information.
- Do not confuse AI components, System components, and Installed apps; each page has a different purpose.
The reproduced check ended by closing Settings. No rollback was needed because no control was changed and no component operation was started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an empty AI Components page mean AI is completely disabled?
No. It only means Windows is not listing an installed component in this particular inventory. Cloud services, app features, and components delivered another way are separate.
Should the Microsoft Copilot app appear under AI components?
Not necessarily. AI components is a model and component inventory, not a list of every AI-branded application. Use Installed apps when checking whether a normal app is installed.
Can you open AI components without administrator rights?
Yes. The tested page opened in the standard Settings session without an administrator prompt. Installing, removing, or servicing a component can have different requirements.
Does opening the AI Components page start a download?
No download started during the reproduced check. Opening and reading the page was observational; optional model downloads are separate actions that should present their own requirements or consent flow.
Use the page as a focused component inventory
Open Settings > System > AI components and read the current list or empty-state message. Treat the result as a focused inventory of Windows-managed AI components, not a verdict on every AI feature or application, and leave update, download, removal, and agent-setting controls untouched during a read-only check.
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