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FIX: The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)

How to Fix "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" Error on Windows 10

If you're getting the 0xc000007b error, the application you're trying to run may have corrupted or missing files. This article will help you fix this error.

0xc00007b

Why Does 0xc000007b Error Occur?

You may get the 0xc000007b error if you try to run a 64-bit application on a 32-bit Windows operating system. The problem, in this case, is that a 32-bit Windows system cannot load 64-bit DLLs.

Another reason for this error message is trying to launch an application or game that requires Microsoft Visual C++, .NET Framework, which is not installed on the system.

Error 0xc000007b can sometimes appear when trying to launch an application without administrative rights (not running the particular software as administrator).

Virus infections on your system, registry errors, corrupted files, etc., can also result in this error.

In this guide, we outline several methods that you can try. Read the guide below and follow the steps to fix the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

Video Showing How to Fix "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" Error

Table of Contents:

Run the Application as Administrator

Some software requires the user to have administrator privilege. The "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error can occur when attempting to launch applications without administrative rights. If you launch the application as an administrator, you notify the system that your application is safe and confirm that you want to run it as an administrator.

To do this, right-click the app and select "Run as administrator" from the contextual menu. When Windows asks you if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device, click "Yes" and the app should launch without any problems.

run the application as administrator

If you cannot find the "Run as administrator" option when right-clicked on the application you want to launch, select "Properties" and go to "Compatibility" tab, find the "Run this program as administrator" box, and check it. Click "Apply" to save the changes and try to launch the application again.

run the application as administrator step 2

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Reinstall the Application

Another way to fix the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error is to reinstall the application/software you are trying to run. If that software is somehow corrupted, reinstalling it should help.

To uninstall, press the Win + R keys on the keyboard. The Run dialog box will appear. Type "appwiz.cpl" and press Enter or click "OK".

reinstall the application step 1

You will see a list of programs installed on the Windows operating system. Find the application, select it and click "Uninstall".

reinstall the application step 2

Restart your computer and then install the application again. See if this fixes the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

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Update .NET Framework

The .NET Framework is a software development framework from Microsoft. It provides a controlled programming environment where software can be developed, installed, and executed on Windows-based operating systems.

Many Windows applications use .NET Framework; thus, this problem can occur if you do not have the required .NET Framework installed on your system. You can download the latest .NET Framework from Microsoft's webpage here.

Restart your computer when you have finished updating/installing .NET Framework and try to launch the app to see if the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error is fixed.

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Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package

Visual C++ is a part of the general "C suite" of programming languages often used for many different types of development projects. Visual C++ includes runtime packages and libraries for creating different compilations of function calls, procedures, and other code elements that work within integrated software environments.

If any of the C ++ package components are removed accidentally, corrupted or fail to function, the programs that require C++ may not respond and fail, thus resulting in the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

To reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package, press Win + R keys on the keyboard. The Run dialog box will appear. Type "appwiz.cpl" and press Enter or click "OK". Find Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, select them and click "Uninstall".

reinstall microsoft visual c++ redistributable package

Now go to Microsoft's website, download and install Visual C++ Redistributable Packages. See if this fixes the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

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Update Your Windows Operating System

You can also try to update your current version of Windows. Checking for updates for the entire Windows operating system is usually a good idea and might help fix the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

To check for Windows Updates, type "check for updates" in Search and click the "Check for updates" result.

update your windows operating system step 1

You should be automatically directed to the Windows Update section. Click "Check for updates". Windows will start checking for updates. If there are updates available, install them and check for updates again (just to ensure that you have the latest updates on your operating system).

After the updates are installed (if there were any to install), see if you still have issues launching a particular app.

update your windows operating system step 2

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Troubleshoot Compatibility

It is possible that the application you are trying to run is not compatible or partially compatible with the Windows operating system. There is a built-in tool in Windows 10 called Compatibility Troubleshooter that can fix incompatibility problems.

To troubleshoot compatibility for a specific program, simply right-click it and select the "Troubleshoot compatibility" option from the contextual menu.

troubleshoot compatibility step 1

In the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, select the "Try recommended settings" option, and follow the instructions. Windows will test run the program using recommended compatibility settings.

troubleshoot compatibility step 2

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Check Your Hard Drive for Errors

It is always a good idea to periodically check your disk for errors. There is a built-in tool in the Windows tool to check the integrity of disks.

To run it from the command line, open Command Prompt, type "command prompt", and right-click on the "Command Prompt" result. Select "Run as administrator" from the drop-down menu.

check you hard drive for errors step 1

In the Command Prompt window, type the "chkdsk C: /f" command and press Enter on the keyboard. Replace "C" with the letter of your hard drive if it is not the C: drive you wish to scan (or the Windows operating system is on another drive) on your computer.

The "chkdsk C: /f" command detects and repairs logical issues affecting a drive. To repair the physical problems, also run the "chkdsk C: /r" command. See if this fixes the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

NOTE: If the Windows operating system is installed on drive C, you will receive a message stating that chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. It will ask if you would like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts. You will be given "(Y/N)" options. Type "Y" and press Enter.

check you hard drive for errors step 2

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Perform a Clean Boot

When you start Windows using a normal startup operation, several applications and services start automatically and then run in the background. These programs include basic system processes, antivirus software, system utility applications, and other previously installed software.

These applications and services can cause software conflicts. A clean boot is performed to start Windows using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update, or when you run a program in Windows.

To perform a clean boot, type "system configuration" in Search and click on the "System Configuration" result.

perform a clean boot step 1

In the System Configuration window, click on the "Services" tab and mark the "Hide all Microsoft services" checkbox. Then, click on "Disable all".

perform a clean boot step 2

Click the "Startup" tab and click "Open Task Manager".

perform a clean boot step 2

Under the Task Manager's Startup tab, select the first application and click "Disable" to disable it. Disable all applications one by one, repeating this step. Once all programs are disabled, close Task Manager and click "OK" in the System Configuration's Startup tab.

Restart the computer to see if this helps fix the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

perform a clean boot step 3

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Run System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. Run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and repair missing or corrupted system files (including .DLL files).

To run it, open Command Prompt by typing "command prompt" in Search and then right-click on "Command Prompt". Select "Run as administrator" from the drop-down menu to run Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

You must run an elevated Command Prompt to perform an SFC scan.

run system file checker step 1

In the Command Prompt window, type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter on the keyboard to execute this command. System File Checker will start and should take some time to complete the scan.

Wait for the scanning process to complete and restart the computer to see if it fixes the "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)" error.

run system file checker step 2

We hope that these solutions helped you fix the 0xc000007b error, and you can launch your app(s).

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About the author:

Rimvydas Iliavicius

Rimvydas is a researcher with over four years of experience in the cybersecurity industry. He attended Kaunas University of Technology and graduated with a Master's degree in Translation and Localization of Technical texts. His interests in computers and technology led him to become a versatile author in the IT industry. At PCrisk, he's responsible for writing in-depth how-to articles for Microsoft Windows. Contact Rimvydas Iliavicius.

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