Do you need to continue using Windows Management Instrumentation Command (WMIC) line? Though this feature is currently being deprecated, there is a temporary solution to help your organization while you finish migrating to PowerShell or a similar tool. This solution is brought to you by Features on Demand (FoDs).

WMIC has been available as a FoD for Windows 11 since 2022. It will be disabled by default later this year, but it will remain available for those who need it. In preparation for this next deprecation stage, let’s review the steps you’ll need to take to use this optional feature a bit longer.

Symptoms of a missing WMIC FoD

If WMIC.exe is missing from your setup, you’ll see this error message when you attempt a WMIC command in the command prompt: ‘wmic’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program, or batch file.

A command prompt returns an error message after an attempted WMIC command.

That’s expected behavior if WMIC is missing, disabled, or uninstalled from your system. If you still need to use WMIC, you’ll need to install it as a FoD. Let’s see how.

Locate optional features in Windows Settings

FoDs are listed as optional features in Windows Settings. You can view the history of optional features that have been installed on the system and manage these components by adding, removing, or altering existing features.

There are two easy ways to locate optional features:

Option 1. Search for “Optional features” directly from the taskbar’s search menu.

Direct search for “optional features” from the taskbar.

Option 2. Locate optional features in Windows System settings. To do this:

Select Start (or the Windows icon on your keyboard or the taskbar).
Select the Settings app to open it.
Select the System tab.
Locate and select Optional features toward the bottom of all system features.

Locate Optional features in Windows Settings>System.

Install and manage WMIC FoD

From the Optional features menu, you’re ready to view, install, uninstall, and manage FoDs like WMIC. Not sure if WMIC is already installed? Search through or sort the Installed features section to find WMIC.

WMIC appears in the list of Installed features of the Optional features tab.

If WMIC is already one of your optional features, you’ll see it in the list of Installed features with an option to Uninstall or Remove it.

If WMIC isn’t on the list of Installed features, you can easily add it by taking these steps:

At the top of the Optional features tab, locate Add an optional feature.
In that field, select View features. This will open a pop-up window.

In the pop-up window to Add an optional feature, type “WMIC” into the search box.
When WMIC appears in the results below, select it by checking the box next to it. (Note: WMIC will not appear in the results if it’s already installed.)
Select Next to install WMIC feature in the same pop-up window.

The pop-up window to add an optional feature shows WMIC as a selected feature.

You should now see WMIC among your features in Windows Settings > System > Optional features > Installed features. That’s also where you can uninstall it when you’ve migrated to PowerShell or other supported solutions.

Ready for the next steps in WMIC deprecation?

As we’ve previously announced, the next step in WMIC deprecation is coming later this year. WMIC will be disabled by default on the next version of Windows 11 and Windows Server.

The timeline shows past and future dates of WMIC deprecation.

Please refer to the following documentation for more guidance and examples:

WMI command line (WMIC) utility deprecation: Next steps
Using WMI – Win32 apps
Creating WMI Clients – Win32 apps
Creating a WMI Application or Script – Win32 apps
Creating a WMI Application Using C++ – Win32 apps
WMI C++ Application Examples – Win32 apps

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