How to Fix api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll Error on Windows

Hi, I’m Jimmy, a tech specialist, and I help people fix everyday Windows problems. If you see the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll error, don’t worry. This is a very common issue and usually easy to fix.

Quick Answer

The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll error usually happens when Windows is missing an important system update or the Visual C++ files are damaged.
In most cases, installing the correct Microsoft Visual C++ package or updating Windows fixes the problem in a few minutes.

Common Causes of api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll Error

The api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll error appears when Windows cannot find the runtime files that some programs need to run. Before fixing the error, it helps to understand why it appears.

This file is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime, which many programs need to run.
If Windows cannot find this file, the program will not start.

The most common reasons are:

• Windows updates are missing
• Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is not installed
• The file became corrupted
• The program was installed incorrectly
• System files were damaged after an update or crash

The good news is that you usually do not need to reinstall Windows.
Most of the time the fix is simple.

Fix 1 — Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

This is the most common solution.

Many users see this error right after installing a new program or game.

Steps

1. Open your browser
2. Go to the Microsoft website
3. Search for
   Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015–2022
4. Download both versions:
   • x64
   • x86
5. Install both files
6. Restart your computer

After restarting, try opening the program again.

Pro Tip
Install both x64 and x86 even if you have 64-bit Windows. Many apps still need the 32-bit files.

Fix 2 — Repair the Existing Installation

Sometimes the file is there, but it has a «glitch.» We can tell Windows to repair it instead of replacing it.

1. Open your Control Panel and click on Programs and Features.
2. Look through the list for Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable.
3. Right-click it and choose Change.
4. A small window will pop up. Click the Repair button.
5. Wait for the progress bar to finish and restart your PC.

I’ve seen this happen a lot after people install a new game. The game tries to install its own version of this file and gets confused. A quick repair usually clears that confusion right up!

Fix 3 — Run Windows Update

Sometimes the file is missing because Windows was not fully updated.

This happens often on Windows 7 and early Windows 10 systems.

Steps

1. Click Start
2. Open Settings
3. Click Update & Security
4. Click Windows Update
5. Click Check for updates
6. Install all available updates
7. Restart the PC

After the update, the missing DLL file is often restored automatically.

Safety Note
Do not download DLL files from random websites.
Many of them contain viruses or broken files that cause more problems.

Fix 4 — Repair System Files

If Windows system files are damaged, you may see DLL errors.

Windows has a built-in tool that can fix this.

Steps

1. Click Start
2. Type cmd
3. Right-click Command Prompt
4. Select Run as administrator
5. Type: sfc /scannow
6. Press Enter
7. Wait until the scan finishes
8. Restart the computer

This tool checks Windows files and replaces broken ones automatically.

I use this command a lot when helping friends with strange errors.
It often fixes problems that look complicated but are actually simple.

Fix 5 — Reinstall the Program That Shows the Error

Sometimes the problem is not Windows, but the program itself.

If the app was installed incorrectly, the DLL file may not be included.

Steps

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps
3. Find the program with the error
4. Click Uninstall
5. Restart the PC
6. Download the latest version of the program
7. Install it again

After reinstalling, check if the error is gone.

If you keep seeing the api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll error, Windows is usually missing some required runtime files. Installing Visual C++ packages or updating Windows fixes this problem in most cases.

Final Words

DLL errors like api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll look scary, but they usually happen because something small is missing.
Follow the steps one by one, and in most cases the program will start normally again.

If your system has many missing or outdated components, you may also want to read our guide on how to update drivers on Windows.