How to Fix DISM Does Not Support Servicing Windows PE Error in Windows

If you’re trying to repair Windows using DISM and encounter the error “DISM does not support servicing Windows PE”, it usually means the command is being executed in the wrong environment. This issue often confuses users because the command itself looks correct, but DISM behaves differently depending on where it is run.

DISM Does Not Support Servicing Windows PE Error

DISM supports two different servicing modes:

• Online servicing → When Windows is fully booted
• Offline servicing → When Windows is not running (Recovery / WinPE)

The error appears when:

• DISM is run from Windows PE or Windows Recovery
• The /Online flag is used outside a normal Windows session

In short, Windows PE cannot be serviced using /Online, and DISM blocks the operation.

When You’ll Commonly See This Error

You’re most likely to encounter this message when:

• Running DISM from Advanced Startup
• Using Windows installation USB
• Repairing a system that won’t boot
• Following generic DISM tutorials that assume Windows is running

See also: How to Create a WinPE Bootable Disk for Windows 11

How to Fix DISM Does Not Support Servicing Windows PE

The correct fix depends on whether Windows still boots.

Method 1: Run DISM from Normal Windows (Recommended)

If you can still log in to Windows, this is the safest and fastest solution.

Steps:

• Boot into Windows normally
• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Run the following command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• After DISM completes, run:

sfc /scannow

Why this works

The /Online parameter only works when Windows is fully loaded. Running it here avoids the Windows PE limitation entirely.

Method 2: Fix the Error Using Offline DISM (When Windows Won’t Boot)

If Windows does not start, you must repair it as an offline image.

Step 1: Boot Into Windows Recovery Environment

• Turn on the PC and interrupt boot 2–3 times
• Select Advanced options
• Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt

This opens Command Prompt inside Windows PE.

Step 2: Find the Correct Windows Drive Letter

Drive letters are different in recovery mode.

Run:

diskpart
list volume

Look for the volume that contains:

• Windows folder
• Program Files
• Users folder

Note the drive letter (for example, D:), then exit DiskPart:

exit

Step 3: Run DISM Without the /Online Flag

Replace D: with your actual Windows drive letter:

DISM /Image:D:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This tells DISM to service the offline Windows installation, not Windows PE.

Method 3: Use a Windows ISO as Repair Source (If DISM Fails)

Sometimes DISM cannot find required files locally.

Requirements:

• Windows installation USB or mounted ISO
• Matching Windows version and build

Command:

DISM /Image:D:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\sources\install.wim /LimitAccess

• D: → Windows installation
• E: → USB or ISO drive

This forces DISM to use clean system files from the installer.

Method 4: Use SFC as an Alternative Repair Tool

If DISM continues to fail, System File Checker can still repair critical files.

Run:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows

This scans and fixes system files without relying on DISM.

Common Mistakes That Cause This Error

Avoid these frequent issues:

• Using /Online in recovery mode
• Targeting X:\Windows (that’s Windows PE)
• Skipping drive letter verification
• Running DISM directly from USB without /Image

When a Clean Install Is the Better Option

You may need to reinstall Windows if:

• DISM fails even with a source image
• SFC reports unrecoverable corruption
• Boot configuration files are damaged

Always back up important data before reinstalling.

The “DISM does not support servicing Windows PE” error is not a system failure. It simply means DISM is being used in the wrong mode. Remember:

• Use /Online only inside normal Windows
• Use /Image: for recovery and offline repairs

Once the correct method is used, DISM works as intended and restores system health.