For us, opening an app on Windows 10 needs a simple double-click. For the operating system, however, launching an application or program entails running a list of processes and system files.
Among such files, the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is used by majority of programs and applications. This means that whenever this file goes missing, you’ll not be able to launch the particular application or program.
So, how do you fix the program that can’t start because api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing? You can simply download api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll, but downloading alone won’t solve the problem in some cases.
If you’re struggling to fix the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file missing error on your Windows PC, then this guide is for you. Read on to know what the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is, how it goes missing and how to fix the issues caused when this file goes missing.
What is api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll?
To begin with, let’s know what the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is and what it does.
Like all DLLs on Windows , the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file holds a set of instructions for programs to follow. The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is responsible to launch certain programs/apps .
It contains runtime programming codes that allow an app to open itself and carry out its basic startup operations. By default, the file may not be more than 1MB in size. However, its size increases depending on the program or application that uses it to launch on a Windows PC.
The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is a system file and a core component of Microsoft’s Visual Studio software package. It is partly in charge of running an app on your Windows UI (user interface).
Where is api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll located?
Now, when api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing, you need to know its default location to find, replace or restore it.
If you hadn’t encountered the error message that read – The program can’t start because api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing – then you would’ve found the file located in the following address on your Windows 10 system:
This PC folder > C: Drive > Windows > System32
Make a note of this address as you may need to go back and forth to this location while fixing the error.
In fact, the solutions presented further involve you checking the System32 folder for the restored api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file.
5 Common Reasons Why api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is Missing
Before we start off with the solution to fix “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing” error, here’s a rundown on factors that may have triggered this issue.
On Windows 10/8/7, the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll could go missing because of –
- some interference from a newly-installed security software
- updates installed for Windows Defender
- corrupted files from malwares or viruses
- faulty installation of the affected program
- outdated Microsoft Visual Studio package
In most cases, issues with the Microsoft Visual Studio – C++ Redistributable Package – throws up this error. The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file may also go missing for only a few applications and not the rest.
Unless you mistakenly went to the System32 folder and unknowingly removed the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file from it, getting it back can be a bit trickier for Windows 10 users. Either way, you’ll have a look at all the options on the table.
Here are the best solutions that worked out well in fixing the “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing” error on Windows 10.
[Solutions] The Program Can’t Start Because api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is Missing
Let’s start off by going to the file location and checking for the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file. If the file is missing, then your first option is pasting it back in the default folder.
1. Copy & Paste the Missing DLL
Now, to restore api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll, you can either download the DLL file online or get it from another Windows 10 PC.
You can download the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file from the link below.
https://www.dllme.com/dll/files/api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0_dll.html
Make sure you download the right version of api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll . If you are running of 64-bit Windows 10, then download the 64-bit api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file.
Similarly, you can download the 32-bit api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file for a 32-bit Windows 10 computer.
If you don’t know the system type of your Windows 10 PC,
- Click on the Start menu
- Open the Settings window (click on the gear icon)
- Go to ‘ System ’ and then ‘ About ’
- Under the Device Specifications details, you’ll find the system type of your Windows 10 – either 32-bit or 64-bit
If you don’t have Internet access, you can also get the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll from another Windows 10 computer. Keep in mind that the other Windows 10 system and your PC are of same system type (32-bit or 64-bit).
Go to the default location in the other PC, copy the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file and paste it on a pen drive. Now, connect the pen drive to your PC, and paste the file on your desktop.
Go back to the default location (System32 folder) and paste this downloaded/copied file in it. Now, re-launch the affected program to see if it is able to locate the newly-restored api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file.
2. Re-register DLLs
When the error says “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing,” you shouldn’t take it as given. There are numerous instances where the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is present in the folder, yet the error message says it’s missing.
Here, the problem could be arising from a corrupted DLL component. It may be the case that the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file needs to be re-registered to your Windows user account.
When you re-register DLL files on your Windows PC, every program and app on your system can locate them without trouble. So, to re-register the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file –
- Go to the Start menu search box and type ‘ cmd ’
- Right-click on the Command Prompt program and select “ Run as administrator ” from the menu
- Type the following command line –
regsvr32 api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
- Press the Enter key
Now, you’ve successfully re-registered the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file on your Windows 10. Try re-opening the affected program to check if it is able to locate the missing DLL.
3. Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package
If that didn’t work, then you may have to take a long route to fix the error. Now, you’ll go to the next factor – which is repairing the Microsoft Visual Studio package.
The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing on your computer because there’s something wrong with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package. The missing DLL is a part of this software package, so repairing it could very well bring it back.
To repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package,
- Open the Control Panel on Windows 10 (Press Win+R keys, type ‘control panel’ and hit enter button)
- Go to Programs and Features
- Find – Microsoft VC++ Redistributable machine (64-bit/32-bit)
- Right-click on it and select ‘ Change ’ option
- Now, click on the Repair button
Once the repair work is done, reopen the affected program to check if this fixed the error or not.
4. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package
If that didn’t help you restore api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file, you need to give your Windows 10 a programming reboot.
Since the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is a part of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package, reinstalling it can restore the file. To reinstall the software cluster, you need to uninstall it first.
Follow the steps above and go to the ‘Programs and Features’ section in Control Panel. Now, right-click on Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable machine and select Uninstall.
Then, go to the link below and download the right version of the package.
www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53840
- Select “ English ” as the language
- Select the version based on your current Windows OS (either 32-bit or 64-bit)
- Click on ‘ Download ’
After downloading the package, click on ‘ Next ’ and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. Thereafter, restart your PC
Once the installation completes, you can re-run the affected program.
5. Update the Universal C Runtime
The trickiest fix to “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing” error is getting updates for Universal C Runtime process.
On Windows 10, this process is a core component that allows the computer to run applications smoothly. The Universal C Runtime component also helps a system reboot.
To update it, click on the download link below –
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48234
Download the right version (32-bit or 64-bit) of the latest Universal C Runtime file and install it on your Windows PC. Now, check if the error still persists.
Other Options to Fix “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing” Error
Sometimes, you may have to try out some common troubleshooting ways to fix the missing DLL errors on Windows 10.
With the fixes mentioned above, the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file will be successfully restored on your PC. But, you can also try out the three fixes below next time you face an error that says – “ The program can’t start because api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing .”
6. Fix Corrupted Files
You’ll use the built-in System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan your system files.
- Type ‘ cmd ’ in the Start menu search box
- Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click>Run as admin)
- Type the command ‘ sfc /scannow ’ and press the Enter key to run the scan
If the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is corrupted, the scan not only will repair the file but restore it in the default location.
7. Check for Updates
If your Windows 10 is outdated, install the updates right away. An updated Windows system can fix this problem instantly.
- Go to Start menu > Settings (click on gear icon)
- Navigate to Update and Security
- Click on ‘ Check for Updates ’
- Install the updates, then restart your PC
8. Clean-Install the Affected Program
Your last option is reinstalling the affected program. If the program wasn’t installed properly, then that could’ve triggered the missing DLL error.
- Open the Run dialog box (press ‘Windows’ + ‘R’)
- Type ‘ appwiz.cpl ’ in the dialog box and click on OK
- Right-click on the affected application/program from the list
- Select ‘ Uninstall ’ from the menu
- Remove the program and restart your PC
- Now, log on to Windows with the admin user account
- Open the Task Manager (Press ‘ Ctrl ’ + ‘ Shift ’ + ‘ Esc ’)
- Go to Process tab
- End all the processes linked to the affected program/application
-
Now, download the setup file and re-install the program again
That’s it. You can now successfully fix the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing error on your Windows PC by following the steps mentioned above. If you still get this error message, do let us know in the comments and we’ll try to find the best possible solution for you.
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