4 ways to fix DISM error 87 on Windows 10/11

The Deployment Imaging Servicing Management (DISM) tool is an advanced system repair tool that can find and fix critical Windows errors on PCs.

DISM is a command line utility. You can use it with predefined commands to perform repair, uninstall and reinstall optional features and many other tasks. However, sometimes the tool gives the message "DISM error 87: the parameter is incorrect" when you try to execute a command.

Here's what causes DISM error 87 and how you can fix it on Windows.

What causes DISM error 87?

The error can occur due to a number of reasons. Often the DISM 87 error is followed by an error message. You may see the following error message with DISM error 87:

1. The parameter is incorrect.
2. Options unknown.

Here are a few common causes of errors:

1. Do not run the command in Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. Wrong format of the command. In addition, an incorrect command can also cause problems.
3. A corrupted or faulty Windows update can also contribute to the problem.

Fortunately, you can quickly fix the error by reviewing the DISM command for command issues and incorrect formatting. Here's how to do it.

How to fix DISM error 87 on Windows 10/11

1. Run the command in Command Prompt with admin rights

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The DISM command line tool requires you to run the command with full admin rights. Follow these steps to open Command Prompt with admin rights and then execute your command.

1. Press the Win key and type cmd.

2. Next, right click on CMD and select Run as administrator .

3. Now try to execute the DISM command to see if the error is fixed.

2. Check for incorrect command format

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Using incorrect command formatting is a common cause of DISM error 87. If you copied commands from a document, make sure the spacing between commands is correct.

For example, if you wanted to run the DISM Cleanup-Image command, it would look like this - DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth - Note that each preceding slash requires a space.

Incorrect format:

DISM.exe /Online/Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Correct format:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Compare your imported command with the source document to ensure correct formatting. Referring to an alternate source can also help you fix any problems with commands and formatting.

3. Check for Windows Updates

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Check to see if there are any pending updates for your PC. Windows updates often help improve performance and fix bugs. Check for any important updates and install it to see if that fixes the error.

4. Perform a Windows Repair Install

Repair installation can help you reinstall Windows operating system without removing apps and data from your PC. This acts like a Windows upgrade allowing you to reinstall a new version of the operating system without deleting your existing files and applications.

If the upgrade doesn't work, try factory resetting your Windows computer. With the reset option, you can choose to keep your data and reinstall the operating system. However, this will remove all third-party apps in the process.

Usually, the DISM error 87 is a case of an incorrectly formatted command. Make sure to verify the command - incorrect spacing when executing the command will cause an error. Alternatively, run the DISM command in Command Prompt with admin rights to fix any permission issues.

Micah Soto

Update 17 February 2023