avrt.dll is a genuine Microsoft Windows component used by multimedia software. If Windows says avrt.dll is missing, not found, or could not be loaded, repair the system or the specific program that requested it rather than downloading a replacement DLL.
The error messages you may see
Common messages include:
The program can't start because avrt.dll is missing from your computer.
avrt.dll was not found.
The application has failed to start because avrt.dll was not found.
You may also see:
[program].exe - Bad Image
C:WindowsSystem32avrt.dll is either not designed to run on Windows
or it contains an error. Error status 0xc000012f.
The wording varies by Windows version, application, and language. The file path shown in the message is important because it helps identify whether Windows or the application is damaged.
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The 60-second answer
avrt.dll is the Windows API library behind the Multimedia Class Scheduler Service, or MMCSS. Audio players, video software, games, streaming applications, and other time-sensitive programs can use it to request suitable CPU scheduling for multimedia threads. Microsoft documents the API for Windows Vista and later, and Windows Server 2008 and later.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTry this order:
- Install Windows updates and restart.
- Run DISM, then System File Checker.
- Repair or reinstall the affected application from its official installer.
- Check Windows Security Protection History.
- If the computer runs Windows XP, use a compatible application version or upgrade Windows.
- Do not download
avrt.dllfrom a DLL website or copy it from another computer.
avrt.dll is not a Visual C++ Redistributable, DirectX End-User Runtime, .NET runtime, or general-purpose package with a separate official installer.
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What usually causes the error
| What you observe | Most likely explanation | Correct direction |
|---|---|---|
| Several unrelated programs fail | Windows system-file or component-store corruption | Update Windows, then run DISM and SFC |
| Only one game or application fails | Damaged or incomplete application files | Repair, verify, or reinstall that program |
| The message names the application folder | A local copy is missing, corrupt, or incompatible | Use the application’s official repair process |
The message names System32 or SysWOW64 |
A Windows component problem is possible | Repair Windows files |
| The error started after antivirus activity | The file may have been quarantined | Check Protection History |
| The computer runs Windows XP | The application may require a newer Windows API | Use a supported application or upgrade Windows |
| The message says “Bad Image” | The DLL may be damaged or the wrong architecture | Repair Windows or the application, not the DLL manually |
Microsoft’s documented API requirements begin with Windows Vista. A newer multimedia application cannot be made properly supported on Windows XP by copying a DLL into its system folder. For instance, EasyWorship documents an avrt.dll was not found launch error on Windows XP as an unsupported-operating-system issue.
Fix 1: Update Windows and repair its component store
Start with Windows Update, especially if the problem appeared after a crash, interrupted update, disk issue, or failed repair.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Select Download & install for available updates.
- Restart Windows, even if it does not require an immediate restart.
- Try the affected program again.
If the error remains, repair Windows from an elevated Command Prompt.
- Open Start.
- Type
Command Prompt. - Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Run this command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for it to finish. Do not close the window while it is working.
- Then run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart the computer after SFC completes.
- Launch the program again.
Microsoft recommends DISM before SFC because DISM can repair the Windows component store that SFC uses as a source for replacement system files.
If SFC reports that it repaired files, restart and retest. If it says it could not repair some files, run DISM again, restart, and run SFC once more. If DISM cannot obtain repair files through Windows Update, Microsoft documents using a compatible installation source:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Replace C:RepairSourceWindows with a real, compatible Windows repair source. Do not point the command at a random folder or a downloaded DLL.
Repeating DISM and SFC manually can make it difficult to track what changed. Outbyte PC Repair offers a free scan that shows what it finds, while repair is performed by the full version; it is optional, and Windows’ built-in commands remain the appropriate first repair path.
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If only one program fails, especially when the error names a DLL beside the program’s executable, Windows may be healthy and the application may be incomplete.
Repair a Microsoft Store or supported Windows app
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the affected application.
- Select its three-dot menu.
- Choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- Start the application again.
If Repair does not help, return to the same page and select Reset only if you are prepared for the app’s local settings or data to be cleared.
Repair a traditional desktop program
- Open Control Panel.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select the affected program.
- Choose Repair or Change, if available.
- Follow the installer’s instructions.
- Restart Windows and test the program.
Repair a game
Open the game launcher and look for a command named Verify files, Verify integrity, Repair, or Scan and repair. The wording depends on the launcher. Let it replace damaged files, then restart the launcher.
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If there is no repair option, uninstall the program, restart Windows, and reinstall it from the publisher’s official installer. Do not preserve a suspicious application-folder copy of avrt.dll merely because it has the right filename.
If an antivirus product quarantined part of the installation, reinstalling from the official source is safer than restoring an unknown file.
Fix 3: Check the complete path and file signature
A file named avrt.dll in an application directory is not automatically the genuine Windows copy. The full path matters.
%windir%System32normally contains native 64-bit system files on 64-bit Windows.%windir%SysWOW64normally contains 32-bit system files on 64-bit Windows.- An application folder may contain a private copy loaded by that program.
The exact installed copy depends on the Windows build, architecture, and servicing level. Do not rely on an alleged universal file size, hash, or version.
To inspect a file:
- Open File Explorer.
- Navigate to the path named by the error.
- Right-click
avrt.dll. - Select Properties.
- Open the Digital Signatures tab, if present.
- Inspect the signer and signature details.
A missing Microsoft signature, an unexpected location, or a file downloaded from an unofficial source is a reason to remove the application copy and reinstall the affected program from its official installer. Do not overwrite a Windows directory file with a copy from another PC.
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Windows Security may have quarantined a file after detecting a threat or a suspected false positive.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Privacy & security > Windows Security.
- Choose Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review recent detections.
- Expand an item related to the affected program.
- Confirm the original path before taking action.
Restore or allow a file only when its original path, digital signature, and source are trustworthy. If it came from an unofficial DLL site, do not restore it. Reinstall the application from its official media and run a full security scan instead.
If Windows repeatedly removes a legitimate application file, check for an updated version of the program and contact its publisher. Do not disable Windows protections simply to make a launch error disappear.
Fix 5: Consider 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility
A 32-bit application and a 64-bit application can use different system-directory copies on 64-bit Windows. That is why replacing one file manually can leave the problem unresolved or create a Bad Image error.
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Wrong-architecture replacements can produce:
- “The procedure entry point could not be located”
- “Bad Image”
0xc000007b0xc000012f- another missing-DLL message
Repair Windows with DISM and SFC, or repair the application through its installer. Do not mix files from another Windows build, architecture, or computer.
Fix 6: Update a driver only for a broader device problem
A driver update is not the primary fix for an avrt.dll missing error. Consider it only when the same incident also involves an audio or video device that is malfunctioning and the hardware vendor identifies a driver issue.
To check drivers:
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the affected device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows if a driver is installed.
Use the computer or device manufacturer’s official support page when Windows cannot find a suitable driver. Outbyte Driver Updater offers a free scan showing which drivers it identifies, while driver installation is handled by the full version; it is optional and does not replace repairing an application that owns the failing copy.
Do not uninstall a working driver solely because avrt.dll is missing.
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regsvr32 is intended for self-registering OLE/COM DLLs and ActiveX controls that provide registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer.
Microsoft documents Avrt.dll as a normal Windows API library for multimedia scheduling, not as a COM or ActiveX component. Therefore, this is not an appropriate repair:
regsvr32 avrt.dll
It commonly produces an entry-point or registration error. Use Windows Update, DISM, SFC, or the affected application’s repair process instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to use System Restore or repair reinstall
Use System Restore when the error began immediately after a software installation, driver change, update, or system configuration change.
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- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
rstrui.exe. - Press Enter.
- Select a restore point from before the problem began.
- Review the affected programs.
- Select Finish and allow Windows to restart.
If Windows cannot start normally, open Windows Recovery Environment and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
If DISM and SFC both fail, or the error returns after every repair, use Windows’ supported repair-reinstall option. Back up important files first and follow Microsoft’s instructions for reinstalling the current version of Windows while preserving the appropriate data and applications.
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A full reset or clean reinstall is justified only after less destructive repair options fail, the system is seriously unstable, or malware and storage failure require a fresh installation. Investigate disk or SSD health and recurring update or startup problems before reinstalling.
FAQ
Should I install Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET?
Not for avrt.dll alone. It is a Windows API component associated with MMCSS, not an identified Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET runtime file. Install an application prerequisite only when the application’s official documentation specifically requires it.
Is avrt.dll malware?
The genuine Windows component is not malware. However, any file with this name in an unexpected folder may be a replacement, bundled file, or malicious file. Check its complete path and digital signature, then repair or reinstall from official sources.
Can I download avrt.dll separately?
Do not download it from random DLL repositories. The file may contain malware, be intended for the wrong architecture or Windows build, or fail to fix the damaged component that caused the error. Use Windows Update, DISM, SFC, or the affected program’s official installer.
Does Windows XP include this file?
Microsoft’s documented AvRt API support begins with Windows Vista. If a newer application requests avrt.dll on Windows XP, use a version of that application that supports XP or upgrade Windows. Copying the DLL is not a supported compatibility solution.
Should I copy the file from another computer?
No. Windows builds and architectures differ, and a copied file can cause Bad Image or entry-point errors. Repair the installed Windows image or reinstall the application instead.
What if only one game fails?
Use the launcher’s Verify, Repair, or Scan and repair function. If that fails, reinstall the game and its officially documented prerequisites. SFC and DISM cannot reliably repair an application-local copy of the file.
What if the error names System32 or SysWOW64?
Treat it as a possible Windows system-file issue and run Windows Update, DISM, and SFC. The named directory also provides an architecture clue, but it does not justify manually replacing the file.
Why does an audio or video program request it?
Such software may use MMCSS APIs to give time-sensitive multimedia threads suitable CPU scheduling. That does not mean the program installed avrt.dll; it may be calling a Windows API component already supplied by the operating system.
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