WPD Command Line: Inspect Before Automating Changes
WPD arguments are case-sensitive. Begin with the bundled README and a non-bulk task; do not paste a command that combines privacy changes, firewall rules, and automatic closing before understanding each argument.
On this page
Start with the documentation you downloaded
The package README documents the arguments for the supplied release. The reference page on this site explains their purpose; it is not a promise that every older switch maps to a currently supported Windows feature.
.\WPD.exe -helpThis documented option creates a README file. Run it only in a writable extracted folder and preserve any existing notes you need. It is a documentation operation, not a privacy preset.
Inspect the blocker’s rule output
.\WPD.exe -dumpRulesThe bundled instructions describe this as writing rules to a text file in the program folder by default. Review that output as configuration data; its existence does not prove that a network filter is active or that a destination is unnecessary.
Keep automation narrow
- Verify the exact argument in the README included with your executable.
- Test one operation interactively on one authorized PC and save the before-and-after state.
- Check both the intended result and rollback before adding the command to any repeatable workflow.
- Do not suppress compatibility warnings or disable security components to make an unattended script look successful.
Questions and answers
Are command-line arguments case-sensitive?
Yes, the supplied WPD documentation explicitly marks them case-sensitive.
Should I use a bulk privacy command as a health check?
No. Such a command changes configuration; it does not simply diagnose the computer.