{"id":80375,"date":"2026-03-02T10:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T04:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=80375"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T07:31:10","slug":"api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0-dll-is-missing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0-dll-is-missing\/","title":{"rendered":"[Fix] api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll is missing (Adobe Acrobat Reader)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the Feb 2026 update of Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows 7 users receive the following error when opening a PDF or the Adobe Acrobat Reader app. You wonder how to get the missing api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll<\/strong> file.<\/p>\n

AcroRd32.exe - System Error\r\n\r\nThe program can't start because api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n
\"adobe<\/p>\n
This issue has also been reported in the Adobe forums. Please see\u00a0[Reader][Win7] 21208 update breaks Acrobat Reader, won’t start, missing dll | Community<\/a><\/p>\n
Windows 7’s System File Checker can’t restore api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll because it’s not a built-in module in Windows 7. Let’s see how to fix the issue.<\/p>\n
Resolution<\/h2>\n
The module api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll is present in Windows 8 and may be present in higher versions. Please follow one of the methods below to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
Option 1: Obtain the DLL from the Windows 8.1 ISO<\/h3>\n
If you have the Windows 8.1 64-bit ISO, mount it and open the \\Sources\\Install.wim<\/strong> file using 7-Zip. You should be able to extract the module from the System32 folder (for the 64-bit DLL) or the SysWOW64 folder (for the 32-bit DLL).<\/p>\n
For more information, see the article How to Extract Specific Files from the Windows ISO<\/a>. The information applies to Windows 8.1 ISO as well.<\/em><\/p>\n
\"extract<\/p>\n
If you’re using the Adobe Reader 32-bit version, extract api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll<\/strong> from the SysWOW64<\/strong> folder in your ISO to your desktop.<\/p>\n
If you’re using the Adobe Reader 64-bit version, extract api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll<\/strong> from the System32<\/strong> folder in your ISO to your desktop.<\/p>\n
Then, copy the file to one of the following directories, depending upon your OS bitness<\/a>:<\/p>\n
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\r\n\r\nC:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC<\/pre>\n
\n
Option 2: Download the DLLs<\/h3>\n
Download AdobeFix.zip<\/a><\/p>\n
Unzip and extract the contents to a folder.<\/p>\n
The files are clean, as I have sourced them from the Windows 8.1 ISO. However, as a general precaution, it’s always a good idea to scan with an antivirus or upload it to VirusTotal.com.<\/em><\/div>\n
Then, copy the file to one of the following directories, depending upon your OS bitness:<\/p>\n
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\r\n\r\nC:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC<\/pre>\n
\n
File information<\/h4>\n
\tFilename:\tapi-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll\r\n\tVerified:\tUnsigned\r\n\tLink date:\t9:44 AM 8\/22\/2013\r\n\tCompany:\tMicrosoft Corporation\r\n\tDescription:\tApiSet Stub DLL\r\n\tProduct:\tMicrosoft\u00ae Windows\u00ae Operating System\r\n\tProd version:\t6.3.9600.16384\r\n\tFile version:\t6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)\r\n\tMachineType:\t32-bit\r\n\tBinary Version:\t6.3.9600.16384\r\n\tOriginal Name:\tapisetstub\r\n\tCopyright:\t\u00a9 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.\r\n\tMD5:\t32ED77AB9B6A59C25825FE521D549B72\r\n\tSHA1:\t9E5CC3E47B96D2CFD7BF7C5730EC1BDCCB788860\r\n\tSHA256:\t50DE5CF7A5F9660F7A573F3F9C8D16C38F6018400DC3507ACB3FF0B11B23655D\r\n\tVT detection:\t0\/77\r\n\tVT link:\thttps:\/\/www.virustotal.com\/gui\/file\/50de5cf7a5f9660f7a573f3f9c8d16c38f6018400dc3507acb3ff0b11b23655d\/detection\r\n<\/pre>\n
\tFilename:\tapi-ms-win-core-winrt-error-l1-1-0.dll:\r\n\tVerified:\tUnsigned\r\n\tLink date:\t5:12 PM 8\/22\/2013\r\n\tCompany:\tMicrosoft Corporation\r\n\tDescription:\tApiSet Stub DLL\r\n\tProduct:\tMicrosoft\u00ae Windows\u00ae Operating System\r\n\tProd version:\t6.3.9600.16384\r\n\tFile version:\t6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)\r\n\tMachineType:\t64-bit\r\n\tBinary Version:\t6.3.9600.16384\r\n\tOriginal Name:\tapisetstub\r\n\tCopyright:\t\u00a9 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.\r\n\tMD5:\t8C1062C91FA9F749E38FFE39AEAE49E6\r\n\tSHA1:\t4766ADD81DF6C9374792F1A16B8D0BA93EAA2FE8\r\n\tSHA256:\t217040F485FAD2F3941F3D78CC02AC64137E37FF83C5C822D14852654E8FC27D\r\n\tVT detection:\t0\/77\r\n\tVT link:\thttps:\/\/www.virustotal.com\/gui\/file\/217040f485fad2f3941f3d78cc02ac64137e37ff83c5c822d14852654e8fc27d\/detection\r\n<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Option 3: Install an older build of Adobe Acrobat Reader<\/h3>\n
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 25.1.21111.0 doesn’t have this issue. Please follow the steps below:<\/p>\n
DISCLAIMER:<\/strong> The following steps prevent Adobe Acrobat Reader from updating automatically. However, using outdated software is not recommended<\/strong> from a security standpoint. It’s highly advisable to discard Windows 7, as it has reached the end of support long ago, and upgrade to Windows 11. Also, use the latest version of Adobe Reader to protect your system from attacks.<\/div>\n
    \n
  1. Uninstall Acrobat Reader via Programs and Features.<\/li>\n
  2. Download Acrobat Reader 25.1.21111.0 from the link below:\n
    \r\nEnglish:\r\nhttps:\/\/ardownload3.adobe.com\/pub\/adobe\/reader\/win\/AcrobatDC\/2500121111\/AcroRdrDC2500121111_en_US.exe\r\n\r\nFrench:\r\nhttps:\/\/ardownload3.adobe.com\/pub\/adobe\/reader\/win\/AcrobatDC\/2500121111\/AcroRdrDC2500121111_fr_FR.exe\r\n\r\nGerman:\r\nhttps:\/\/ardownload3.adobe.com\/pub\/adobe\/reader\/win\/AcrobatDC\/2500121111\/AcroRdrDC2500121111_de_DE.exe\r\n\r\nJapanese:\r\nhttps:\/\/ardownload3.adobe.com\/pub\/adobe\/reader\/win\/AcrobatDC\/2500121111\/AcroRdrDC2500121111_ja_JP.exe\r\n\r\nSpanish:\r\nhttps:\/\/ardownload3.adobe.com\/pub\/adobe\/reader\/win\/AcrobatDC\/2500121111\/AcroRdrDC2500121111_es_ES.exe\r\n<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  3. Install the 25.1.21111.0 version. Do not<\/strong> launch the program yet!<\/li>\n
  4. Launch services.msc<\/strong>, double-click the Adobe Acrobat Update Service<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Click Stop<\/strong> to stop the service if it’s running.<\/li>\n
  6. Set its Startup type to Disabled<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  7. Click Apply<\/strong>, and click OK.
    \n\"adobe<\/li>\n
  8. Close the Services MMC.<\/li>\n
  9. Open Task Scheduler, and select Task Scheduler Library.<\/li>\n
  10. Right-click on the Adobe Acrobat Update Task<\/strong>, and choose Disable<\/strong>.
    \n\"adobe<\/li>\n
  11. Close Task Scheduler.<\/li>\n
  12. Launch Notepad as administrator.<\/li>\n
  13. Open the following file:\n
    C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\HOSTS\r\n<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  14. Add the following lines at the end of the HOSTS file.\n
    127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com\r\n\r\n127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com\r\n\r\n127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com\r\n\r\n127.0.0.1 update.adobe.com\r\n\r\n127.0.0.1 swupdl.adobe.com\r\n\r\n127.0.0.1 genuine.adobe.com\r\n<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  15. Save the file and close Notepad.<\/li>\n
  16. After doing all of the above, restart Windows for the changes to take effect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    One of the above methods should resolve the api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll error when opening Adobe Acrobat Reader.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
    Since the Feb 2026 update of Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows 7 users receive the following error when opening a PDF or the Adobe Acrobat Reader app. You wonder how to get the missing api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll file. AcroRd32.exe – System Error The program can’t start because api-ms-win-core-winrt-l1-1-0.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[191],"class_list":["post-80375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows-7","tag-error-messages"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17712,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0-dll-runtime-is-missing-error\/","url_meta":{"origin":80375,"position":0},"title":"Fix: Api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll or api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing","author":"Ramesh","date":"August 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When you run a program on a computer running Windows 8.1 or earlier, you may see an error denoting that the module api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll or api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing. 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