0xc0000142 Error: Fix 'The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly'
Independent guide — no official affiliation with the platforms mentioned.
Short answer
The 'application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142)' error is usually caused by corrupted Visual C++ libraries, a changed LoadAppInit_DLLs registry value, or driver/UAC conflicts. In order: repair or install Visual C++ 2015-2022, set LoadAppInit_DLLs to 0, and run the app as administrator — most cases close with these three steps.
Official source
aka.ms
0xc0000142'nin en yaygın çözümü: Visual C++ kütüphanelerini onarmak. x86 paketini de kurun.
01 — Step-by-step fix
Step-by-step fix
STEP 01
Repair Visual C++ packages
In Settings > Apps, find Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64 and x86) entries and run Modify > Repair. If missing, install from aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe and .x86.exe. This is the primary source of 0xc0000142.
STEP 02
Reset LoadAppInit_DLLs
Open regedit via Win+R and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows. Set LoadAppInit_DLLs to 0. Antivirus/app injection triggered by this value is the second most common cause.
Export the Windows key before editing; some antivirus tools re-enable it — disable injection from the antivirus settings instead.
STEP 03
Run the app as administrator
Right-click the program's shortcut > Properties > Compatibility > check 'Run this program as an administrator'. UAC conflicts causing 0xc0000142 clear with this step.
STEP 04
Verify system files
In an admin command prompt run sfc /scannow, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Corrupted system DLLs trigger 0xc0000142; DISM repairs the Windows component store.
STEP 05
GPU driver and compatibility mode
For games, update the GPU driver; if it started after upgrading from Windows 10, try Windows 8 compatibility mode. 'Disable fullscreen optimizations' on the shortcut also helps.
Tips
- For AutoCAD users, 0xc0000142 is typically solved by repairing .NET Framework and Visual C++ together.
- Turning off the antivirus 'behavior blocking' module to test the app is a quick way to confirm an antivirus cause.
- If the error keeps appearing in a portable app, installing the system-compatible version is safer than relying on the portable build.
02 — Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does 0xc0000142 only affect games?
No. It also appears in AutoCAD, older Office versions, Photoshop and custom software. The common denominator is the Visual C++ dependency; the whole fix path is identical for every program.
It appears every launch in the same program — what is the permanent fix?
Remove conflicts between DLLs in the program folder and system DLLs: if msvcp140.dll/vcruntime140.dll exist in the program folder, delete them (it will use system libraries), repair Visual C++ and run with admin rights.
It started after a Windows update — can I roll back?
Via Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, remove the latest quality update and test. If a driver change in that update is responsible, roll the driver back instead.
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Links in this guide point to official platform pages. Steps may change with platform updates; check the page date.
03 — Related guides