Complete Guide: How to Enable WinRM on Windows 10/11 Whether you're executing scripts or pulling system data from multiple machines, WinRM is an essential part of your toolkit. We'll teach you how to enable it in this video. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. What Is WinRM? WinRM, short for Windows Remote Management, is Microsoft’s version of the WS-Management protocol. It allows Windows machines to exchange management information across systems, even when hardware or OS configurations differ. This protocol powers PowerShell remoting, enabling admins to run commands on remote computers without needing physical access. Why Use WinRM? With remote PowerShell sessions, admins can automate repetitive tasks, manage services, modify configurations, and install or remove software— all without leaving their desks. What’s more, WinRM supports multiple authentication options and encryption, so you get convenience and control—securely. Prerequisites for WinRM Setup Before enabling WinRM, there are a few prerequisites. First, make sure you have local admin privileges on each machine. In a domain setup, use domain administrator credentials to apply configurations consistently. You'll also need permission to modify services, configure Windows Firewall rules, and change registry values. Coordinate with your security team if elevated access is needed. Network Configuration Checklist Now let's get your network ready with a quick checklist: Confirm TCP ports 5985 and 5986 are open. Make sure that Windows Firewall or third-party security software won't block when traffic. Verify DNS resolution works between machines. For domain environments, confirm that Group Policy doesn't restrict WinRM configuration. How to Enable WinRM on Windows 10/11 Method 1 — Command Prompt The Command Prompt is a fast way to enable WinRM, especially for individual or bulk setups. Here's how to do it. Right-click the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin). Type winrm quickconfig and hit Enter. Then approve the changes by typing y. Once done, test the connection with this command... Method 2 — PowerShell If you prefer more control, use PowerShell. Start by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin). Then run this command, Enable-PSRemoting -Force, to configure WinRM with default settings and this one, to allow connections to any host. You can verify the configuration by running this command: Test-WSMan -ComputerName localhost. For additional security, run Set-WSManQuickConfig -UseSSL to configure HTTPS listeners. Overall, WinRM gives you powerful remote management with the flexibility and security that IT teams need today. You just need to set it up once to begin managing your endpoints with confidence. For more information, check out our official blog post on WinRM, linked in the description below.