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Microsoft disables the WMIC tool on Windows 11

WMIC is dead, long live PowerShell for WMI!

2 min. read

Published onJanuary 29, 2024

published onJanuary 29, 2024

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According to arecent Microsoft announcement, Microsoft disabled the WMIC tool from Windows 11 today, January 29, 2024. WMIC stands for Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line and it’s a command line interface tool from Windows OS.

The tool was used for getting system and network information and manage the Windows OS through the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation).

Although WMIC was a great tool, it was also used by wrongdoers to delete Shadow Volume Copies and perform ransomware attacks. However, it was replaced by Windows PowerShell for WMI a long time ago.

What means that WMIC is disabled?

WMIC has beenenabled by defaulton Windows 11, version 22H2 and later versions but now, on the next Windows 11 release, Microsoft has decided to set it asdisabled by default.

So, starting today, or with Windows 11 Build 22572, WMIC will become just optional. You can uninstall and reinstall it by using the Settings app if you want to.

However, it’s a lot better to migrate to PowerShell and Microsoft also offered an example on how to do that, by changing the queries.

PowerShell for WMI is a lot more efficient and safe to query Windows Management Instrumentation. Microsoft believes that by this move, it will make the process a lot faster and the administrators more productive.

In a nutshell, the deprecation of WMIC in Windows 11 should not affect anyone and migrating to PowerShell will improve the security.

Are you affected by WMIC’s deprecation in Windows 11? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

More about the topics:Micorosoft Management Console

Claudiu Andone

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.

His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.

With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!

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Claudiu Andone

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft disables the WMIC tool on Windows 11#

What means that WMIC is disabled?#