# Microsoft removes legacy WMIC tool from newer Windows releases

_Published Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 5:06 AM EDT · Security · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Microsoft removes legacy WMIC tool from newer Windows releases — Primary](https://www.bleepstatic.com/content/hl-images/2025/09/16/WMIC.jpg)

Microsoft said it removed the legacy Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool, WMIC, from Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and from beta builds released this week. WMIC had previously been deprecated and offered as an optional Feature on Demand. Microsoft said WMI itself remains available and recommends PowerShell, COM APIs, .NET libraries or scripting languages for affected administrative tasks. Attackers have abused WMIC to delete shadow copies, query security software and alter Defender exclusions.

## Sources

- [BleepingComputer](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-removes-wmic-lolbin-tool-in-windows-11-beta-builds/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/zPsj2gvILEZz493_zLwweU
Published: 2026-08-18T09:06:47.927Z
Story chronology: 2026-08-18T08:12:08.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-03T02:45:47.678Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)