How to Quickly Fix DISM Error 87 in Windows 10/11

When maintaining or repairing the Windows system, the DISM tool (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool) is a robust utility available in Windows. However, running into DISM Error 87 can halt the process and leave us wondering what went wrong.

In this article, we'll explain what DISM Error 87 means, why it happens, and how to fix it step by step.

What is DISM Error 87? 

DISM Error 87 generally indicates that there is a problem with the syntax of the command you've entered. It can also mean that one or more DISM parameters are invalid, the tool is outdated, or you are using DISM in an environment where certain options are not supported. The error message usually looks like this:

Common causes of DISM Error 87 

Take a quick look at these universal reasons why DISM Error 87 would occur:

Cause 1. Incorrect command syntax 

The most frequent cause of Error 87 is incorrect formatting or spacing in the command line.

Incorrect example:dism/online/cleanup-image/restorehealthCorrect version:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Each parameter must be separated by a space and must begin with a forward slash (/).

Cause 2. Using the wrong DISM version 

If you are using installation media or recovery tools from a different version of Windows, you may be running an outdated or incompatible version of DISM.

Cause 3. Running DISM in an unsupported environment 

Some DISM options (like /Online) are not available in Windows PE or Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Cause 4. Missing or corrupted system files 

If your Windows image is too damaged or the source files for repair are missing, DISM might fail with Error 87.

Spread these underlying reasons and keep looking at the essence of this article.

How to fix DISM Error 87 in Windows 11/10

With the above cause, we can infer some of the solutions. Here is a complete guide to resolve DISM error 87:

If Windows Update is not available or disabled, or DISM cannot access Windows Update, specify the repair source manually using a mounted Windows image (ISO or USB) with the following command: 

This lists the available editions in the image.

For advanced users, you can use offline repair. If you're repairing a system from outside the OS (e.g., using a bootable USB), you'll need to use /Image instead of /Online:DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

Final tips

DISM Error 87 is usually caused by a simple mistake in the command syntax. By double-checking your commands, ensuring you're using the right environment, and pointing to a proper source if needed, you can resolve the error.

Note that always check for spelling, spaces, and slashes in your commands. Use the latest Windows ISO if you need to provide a source. If the DISM command still fails, consider running a repair install using Windows 10/11 installation media.

If you're frequently dealing with system maintenance or disk errors, you might also benefit from using specialized tools like iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows, which offers disk cloning, secure data wiping, lost partition recovery, and more.

Related articles:

How to Elegantly Repair Windows 11/10/8/7 Using DISM 

Tasks That Cannot Be Performed Using DISM in Windows 

DiskPart Doesn't Ask Twice—Say Goodbye to All Partitions

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