WMDC in Windows 11 or Windows 10

10 Mar 2021

This article provides instructions for installing Windows Mobile Device Center.

Note: This information is provided as a reference and does not imply that Juniper Systems will provide full support for the use of any specific third-party software.

Microsoft officially ended updates for Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC, formerly ActiveSync) with Windows Vista in 2008. WMDC may not work in newer Windows versions, particularly Windows 10 version 1703 (Creators Update) OS Build 15063 or newer, or Windows 11 after Feb 2023, so an alternative is recommended.

See Mobile Connect by Juniper Systems

WMDC in Newer Versions of Windows

Update 16 Mar 2023: We have verified that the information below is also applicable for computers running Windows 11, though may not work after some Windows Update in Feb 2023.

If you absolutely need to use WMDC in a newer version of Windows, some possible methods to get it to work are listed below.

Most Common Method

The most common method used to get WMDC to work is to run our WMDC-fixes-for-Win10.msi patch utility, which may fix WMDC automatically after a restart.

The video below provides step-by-step installation instructions.

Looking to replace your existing Windows Mobile device?

Juniper Systems manufactures a variety of rugged handhelds and tablets running Windows and Android operating systems.

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  1. Download the 64-bit drvupdate-amd64.exe or the 32-bit drvupdate-x86.exe. There are two parts to this installation.
  2. Download our patch WMDC-fixes-for-Win10.msi.
  3. Restart your computer.
  4. Open WMDC on your computer.
  5. Plug in a cable between your handheld device and computer to establish a connection.

If the WMDC has any problems after running this utility and a restart, visit our article WMDC Will Not Fully Install, Connect, or Uninstall.

Other Methods

There are other methods of getting WMDC to work, but they are older and usually unnecessary.

If you are using a previous version of Windows 10, you can use WMDC-Helper.exe.

  1. Save the above file to your desktop PC.
  2. Locate the file through File Explorer.
  3. Right-click on the file to Run as administrator (even if you are already logged in as an admin).

If you are still encountering problems, you can find other solutions in our Previous WMDC Fixes for Windows 10 article. 

Other Known WMDC Issues

Original article written August 16, 2018.