How to Install WMIC in Windows 11

If you’ve ever tried to use the wmic command in Windows 11 and saw an error like: ‘wmic’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. —you’re not alone.

Microsoft has officially deprecated WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line) in the newer versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. That means it’s no longer available by default in newer builds.

However, if you still rely on WMIC for system management tasks or older scripts, don’t worry — there are still a few ways to install or restore WMIC on Windows 11.

In this tutorial, we’ll explain what WMIC is, why it’s missing, and several practical ways to bring it back or use its alternatives.

What Is WMIC and Why It’s Missing in Windows 11?

WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line) is a command-line utility that lets you manage, monitor, and query Windows components.
For example, you can use it to get system details like BIOS version, CPU info, OS details, and more — directly from Command Prompt.

Example commands:

wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion
wmic os get caption

However, Microsoft has deprecated WMIC starting with Windows 10 version 21H1 and later — including Windows 11.
They’ve replaced it with PowerShell cmdlets (like Get-WmiObject and Get-CimInstance) which are more modern and secure.

That’s why running wmic today may show the “not recognized” error — it’s simply missing from your system.

Check if WMIC Is Installed on Your PC

Before installing it, you should confirm whether WMIC is really missing.

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the following path:
   C:\Windows\System32\wbem
3. Look for the file wmic.exe.

If it’s there, you don’t need to reinstall WMIC — you just need to add it to your PATH variable (explained below).
If it’s missing, move to the next section.

Method 1: Add WMIC Path to Environment Variables

If wmic.exe exists in the folder but isn’t recognized in Command Prompt, it’s likely a PATH issue.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Advanced tab and click Environment Variables.
3. Under System variables, select Path → click Edit.
4. Click New and paste this path:
   C:\Windows\System32\wbem
5. Click OK on all windows to save changes.
6. Open a new Command Prompt and type: wmic

If it opens successfully, you’ve restored WMIC without reinstalling anything!

Method 2: Restore WMIC from Older Windows Installation

If WMIC was removed entirely, you can copy it manually from another PC running Windows 10 (pre-21H1) or an older Windows 11 build.

Here’s what to do:

1. On the older PC, go to: C:\Windows\System32\wbem
2. Copy the following files:
   • wmic.exe
   • wmic.exe.mui (from C:\Windows\System32\wbem\en-US folder)
3. Paste both into the same locations on your Windows 11 PC:
   • C:\Windows\System32\wbem
   • C:\Windows\System32\wbem\en-US
4. Open Command Prompt (Admin) and test: wmic

You should now see the WMIC prompt appear.

Note: This method works best when both systems are the same architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).

Method 3: Use DISM to Restore WMIC Components

Sometimes, WMIC can be missing due to corrupted or removed Windows components.
You can use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to restore them.

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run the following command:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
3. Wait until the process finishes (it may take 10–20 minutes).
4. Restart your computer and check if WMIC is back.

This command repairs your Windows image and restores missing system files, including some legacy utilities.

Method 4: Use PowerShell as a Modern WMIC Replacement

If WMIC can’t be restored, you can perform the same tasks in PowerShell — it’s the officially supported replacement.

Here are some examples:

Task	WMIC Command	PowerShell Equivalent
Get BIOS version	wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion	`Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS
Get CPU info	wmic cpu get name	`Get-CimInstance Win32_Processor
Get OS version	wmic os get caption	`Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem
Get system model	wmic computersystem get model	`Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem

PowerShell cmdlets are faster, safer, and future-proof — so if WMIC isn’t available, these are the best alternatives.

Method 5: Use WMIC via Windows Optional Features (Legacy Systems)

Some enterprise or custom Windows builds still allow you to reinstall WMIC using optional features.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Optional Features.
2. Click View features under “Add an optional feature.”
3. Search for WMIC or Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line.
4. If available, check the box and click Install.
5. Restart your PC once done.

This option is rare in Windows 11 Home editions but can appear in Pro or Enterprise setups.

Conclusion

While WMIC is deprecated, you can still restore or reinstall it on Windows 11 by copying it from an older installation or adjusting your system’s environment variables.

However, the better long-term approach is to switch to PowerShell — Microsoft’s official replacement for WMIC — which provides the same functionality and more advanced system management tools.

Whether you restore WMIC or transition to PowerShell, you’ll be able to perform all your system monitoring and administrative tasks with ease.