If you are reading this article, you have likely encountered a frustrating error message stating that api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1.dll is missing or was not found. This error often appears when launching a specific game, a newly installed application, or after a Windows update.
While the filename looks complex, the solution is usually straightforward. This article explains what this file is, why the error occurs on 64-bit systems, and how to fix it safely.
If you’re a C++ developer targeting Windows, you’ll rarely reference api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1.dll directly. Instead, you include <windows.h> and call GetFileVersionInfo. The linker, using the Windows SDK, automatically resolves these calls against the API Set contract if you’re building for Windows 8 or later.
However, if you’re using Visual Studio 2015 or later with the Universal CRT, your application will implicitly depend on several API Sets, including the version one. That’s why missing API Set errors often appear when you copy a debug build to an older system. Api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1.dll 64 Bit
To avoid such errors, either:
/MT instead of /MD).Users typically encounter error messages such as:
These errors often occur after a Windows Update, after installing a new game or heavy software (like video editors), or due to system file corruption. Understanding and Fixing Api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1
The 64-bit version of this DLL is distinct from its 32-bit sibling for several reasons:
If you’re on Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, the UCRT is not included by default. You need to install an update.
Solution:
Alternatively, installing Visual Studio 2015-2022 Redistributable (from fix #1) automatically includes this update.
A: No — because the file doesn’t exist as a physical .dll file on a healthy Windows 10/11 machine. It’s an API set redirection. Copying a fake file could break your system.