Register-WmiEvent (Microsoft.PowerShell.Management) -
PowerShell
By sdwheeler
Archived: 2026-04-05 13:11:01 UTC
In this article
1. Syntax
2. Description
3. Examples
4. Parameters
5. Inputs
6. Outputs
7. Notes
Subscribes to a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) event.
Syntax
class (Default)
Register-WmiEvent
 [-Class] <String>
 [[-SourceIdentifier] <String>]
 [[-Action] <ScriptBlock>]
 [-Namespace <String>]
 [-Credential <PSCredential>]
 [-ComputerName <String>]
 [-Timeout <Int64>]
 [-MessageData <PSObject>]
 [-SupportEvent]
 [-Forward]
 [-MaxTriggerCount <Int32>]
 [<CommonParameters>]
query
Register-WmiEvent
 [-Query] <String>
 [[-SourceIdentifier] <String>]
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[[-Action] <ScriptBlock>]
 [-Namespace <String>]
 [-Credential <PSCredential>]
 [-ComputerName <String>]
 [-Timeout <Int64>]
 [-MessageData <PSObject>]
 [-SupportEvent]
 [-Forward]
 [-MaxTriggerCount <Int32>]
 [<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Register-WmiEvent cmdlet subscribes to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) events on the local
computer or on a remote computer.
When the subscribed WMI event is raised, it is added to the event queue in your local session even if the event
occurs on a remote computer. To get events in the event queue, use the Get-Event cmdlet.
You can use the parameters of Register-WmiEvent to subscribe to events on remote computers and to specify the
property values of the events that can help you identify the event in the queue. You can also use the Action
parameter to specify actions to take when a subscribed event is raised.
When you subscribe to an event, an event subscriber is added to your session. To get the event subscribers in the
session, use the Get-EventSubscriber cmdlet. To cancel the subscription, use the Unregister-Event cmdlet,
which deletes the event subscriber from the session.
New Common Information Model (CIM) cmdlets, introduced Windows PowerShell 3.0, perform the same tasks as
the WMI cmdlets. The CIM cmdlets comply with WS-Management (WSMan) standards and with the CIM
standard, which enables the cmdlets to use the same techniques to manage computers that run the Windows
operating system and those that run other operating systems. Instead of using Register-WmiEvent , consider using
the Register-CimIndicationEvent cmdlet.
Examples
Example 1: Subscribe to events generated by a class
This command subscribes to the events generated by the Win32_ProcessStartTrace class. This class raises an
event whenever a process starts.
Register-WmiEvent -Class 'Win32_ProcessStartTrace' -SourceIdentifier "ProcessStarted"
Example 2: Subscribe to creation events for a process
This command uses a query to subscribe to Win32_process instance creation events.
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$wmiParameters = @{
 Query = "select * from __instancecreationevent within 5 where targetinstance isa 'Win32_Process'"
 SourceIdentifier = "WMIProcess"
 MessageData = "Test 01"
 TimeOut = 500
}
Register-WmiEvent @wmiParameters
Example 3: Use an action to respond to an event
This example shows how to use an action to respond to an event. In this case, when a process starts, any Start-Process commands in the current session are written to an XML file.
$action = {
 Get-History |
 Where-Object { $_.CommandLine -like "*Start-Process*" } |
 Export-CliXml "commandHistory.clixml"
}
Register-WmiEvent -Class Win32_ProcessStartTrace -SourceIdentifier ProcessStarted -Action $action
Id Name State HasMoreData Location Command
-- ---- ----- ----------- -------- -------
1 ProcessStarted NotStarted False Get-History | where {...
When you use the Action parameter, Register-WmiEvent returns a background job that represents the event
action. You can use the Job cmdlets, such as Get-Job and Receive-Job , to manage the event job.
For more information, see about_Jobs.
Example 4: Register for events on a remote computer
This example registers for events on the Server01 remote computer.
Register-WmiEvent -Class 'Win32_ProcessStartTrace' -SourceIdentifier "Start" -ComputerName Server01
Get-Event -SourceIdentifier "Start"
WMI returns the events to the local computer and stores them in the event queue in the current session. To retrieve
the events, run a local Get-Event command.
Parameters
-Action
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Specifies commands that handle the events. The commands in the Action parameter run when an event is raised
instead of sending the event to the event queue. Enclose the commands in braces ( {} ) to create a script block.
The value of Action can include the $Event , $EventSubscriber , $Sender , $EventArgs , and $args
automatic variables, which provide information about the event to the Action script block. For more information,
see about_Automatic_Variables.
When you specify an action, Register-WmiEvent returns an event job object that represents that action. You can
use the cmdlets that contain the Job noun (the Job cmdlets) to manage the event job.
Parameter properties
Type: ScriptBlock
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: 101
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-Class
Specifies the event to which you are subscribing. Enter the WMI class that generates the events. A Class or Query
parameter is required in every command.
Parameter properties
Type: String
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
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Parameter sets
class
Position: 0
Mandatory: True
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-ComputerName
Specifies the name of the computer on which the command runs. The default is the local computer.
Type the NetBIOS name, an IP address, or a fully qualified domain name of the computer. To specify the local
computer, type the computer name, a dot ( . ), or localhost.
This parameter does not rely on Windows PowerShell remoting. You can use the ComputerName parameter even
if your computer is not configured to run remote commands.
Parameter properties
Type: String
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Aliases: Cn
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
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-Credential
Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.
Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by
the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, this cmdlet prompts you for a password.
Parameter properties
Type: PSCredential
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-Forward
Indicates that this cmdlet sends events for this subscription to the session on the local computer. Use this
parameter when you are registering for events on a remote computer or in a remote session.
Parameter properties
Type: SwitchParameter
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
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(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-MaxTriggerCount
Specifies the maximum trigger count.
Parameter properties
Type: Int32
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-MessageData
Specifies any additional data to be associated with this event subscription. The value of this parameter appears in
the MessageData property of all events associated with this subscription.
Parameter properties
Type: PSObject
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Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-Namespace
Specifies the namespace of the WMI class.
Parameter properties
Type: String
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Aliases: NS
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
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-Query
Specifies a query in WMI Query Language (WQL) that identifies the WMI event class, such as: select * from
__InstanceDeletionEvent .
Parameter properties
Type: String
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
query
Position: 0
Mandatory: True
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-SourceIdentifier
Specifies a name that you select for the subscription. The name that you select must be unique in the current
session. The default value is the GUID that Windows PowerShell assigns.
The value of this parameter appears in the value of the SourceIdentifier property of the subscriber object and of
all event objects associated with this subscription.
Parameter properties
Type: String
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
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(All)
Position: 100
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-SupportEvent
Indicates that this cmdlet hides the event subscription. Use this parameter when the current subscription is part of
a more complex event registration mechanism and it should not be discovered independently.
To view or cancel a subscription that was created by using the SupportEvent parameter, specify the Force
parameter of the Get-EventSubscriber and Unregister-Event cmdlets.
Parameter properties
Type: SwitchParameter
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
-Timeout
Specifies how long Windows PowerShell waits for this command to finish.
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The default value, 0 (zero), means that there is no time-out, and it causes Windows PowerShell to wait
indefinitely.
Parameter properties
Type: Int64
Default value: None
Supports wildcards: False
DontShow: False
Aliases: TimeoutMSec
Parameter sets
(All)
Position: Named
Mandatory: False
Value from pipeline: False
Value from pipeline by property name: False
Value from remaining arguments: False
CommonParameters
This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -
InformationVariable, -OutBuffer, -OutVariable, -PipelineVariable, -ProgressAction, -Verbose, -WarningAction,
and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.
Inputs
None
You cannot pipe objects to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
This cmdlet does not generate any output.
Notes
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To use this cmdlet in Windows Vista or a later version of the Windows operating system, start Windows
PowerShell by using the Run as administrator option.
Events, event subscriptions, and the event queue exist only in the current session. If you close the current session,
the event queue is discarded and the event subscription is canceled.
Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/register-wmievent?view=powershell-5.1
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/register-wmievent?view=powershell-5.1
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