Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix error 87 Error – DISM error 87 the add-package option is unknown

Windows update installation issue with DISM error 87

Quick Answer: Extract the msu file and use the /online option to install the .cab file, or try using the /cleanup-image option.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The DISM error 87 'the add-package option is unknown' occurs when attempting to install Windows updates using the DISM command-line tool. This issue affects users who are trying to manually install Windows updates, such as KB2999226, and have extracted the necessary files.

This error can be frustrating for IT professionals and users alike, as it prevents them from installing crucial Windows updates. Fortunately, this guide will walk you through the steps to resolve this issue using DISM.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the DISM tool is not able to find or recognize the 'add-package' option in the DISM command-line interface. This could be due to a corrupted or outdated version of the DISM tool, or issues with the system's registry.
  • Another possible cause is that the Windows update package being installed is not compatible with the current version of the DISM tool.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Manually updating the DISM tool

  1. Step 1: Open a command prompt as an administrator and navigate to the directory where you extracted the DISM tool files.
  2. Step 2: Run the command 'dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth' to reset the DISM tool to its default state. This will restore any corrupted or missing packages, and may resolve the issue with the 'add-package' option.
  3. Step 3: If the above step does not resolve the issue, try running the command 'dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth' to scan for any issues with the system's image.

Manually updating the Windows update package

  1. Step 1: Extract the .cab file and its dependencies from the original download package.
  2. Step 2: Use a tool like 'msiextract' or '7-Zip' to extract the necessary files, including the KB2999226.cab file. Be sure to copy all required dependencies to the same directory as the extracted CAB file.
  3. Step 3: Manually install the Windows update using the DISM command-line tool with the '/add-package' option. For example: `dism /online /add-package /packagerepo:C: emp ilelist.xml /packagetype=app /disablelog` Replace 'C: emp ilelist.xml' and 'KB2999226.cab' with the actual file paths of your extracted files.

🎯 Final Words

Resolving the DISM error 87 'the add-package option is unknown' can be a challenging task, but by following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Windows updates using the DISM tool. If you encounter any further issues, it may be necessary to seek additional assistance from Microsoft or a qualified IT professional.

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