Adaptive wireless network feature support

An apparatus comprising:

• a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in a wireless local area network;
• and
• a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to adaptively enable a wireless network feature such that the wireless network feature is enabled for one or more first wireless client devices that support the wireless network feature and is hidden from one or more second wireless client devices that do not support the wireless network feature, wherein the wireless network feature is one or more of a fast transition association network feature of the wireless local area network or a security related wireless network feature.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless client devices;
• and
• at least one network device that is configured to adaptively enable a wireless network feature such that the wireless network feature is enabled for one or more first wireless client devices that support the wireless network feature and is hidden from one or more second wireless client devices that do not support the wireless network feature, wherein the wireless network feature is one or more of a fast transition association network feature of a wireless network or a security related wireless network feature.