How to Fix api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll is Missing Error?
The owners of not the newest PCs, which are still running the classic XP and “seven”, occasionally encounter the api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll error, when trying to run a program or a video game. The error message states the following:
The program cannot be started because api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll is missing from the computer. Try reinstalling the program.
Of course, reinstalling the program won’t solve the issue – the error doesn’t go anywhere. Today’s article is about what causes the error and how you can fix it.
api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll Error Fix
Unfortunately, the error in question is not one of those typical errors that can be fixed in a few minutes by installing a specific distributable library package into your system. The api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll error can be seen only on outdated versions of Windows, i.e. Windows XP and Windows 7.
The thing is api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll itself doesn’t exist; it’s a virtual Dynamic Link Library (DLL), which is called directly by the application itself for subsequent reference to the Windows kernel library (kernel) for the necessary set of functions… Functions that only the kernel of modern Windows have.
Simply put, it is not enough to download the problematic DLL from the Internet and throw it into your Windows, because the problem is exactly in the latter.
api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll is missing because the user is trying to run an application on an obsolete version of Windows.
Is there no way to bypass the error on an older Windows and run the right application? No, there isn’t. All that can be done:
- upgrade to Windows 10 or 11;
- find a version of the app that works on Windows XP/Windows 7.
However, you can find reports online that some users manage to get around the api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll error with some specific applications through installing an update to the universal C runtime environment and Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 packages. No guarantee that this will help, but if you’re at a dead end, you can give it a try.
