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kbdlt.dll is the Microsoft Windows component that provides the Lithuania Keyboard Layout. If Windows says kbdlt.dll is missing, was not found, could not be loaded, or contains an error, repair Windows’ protected files rather than downloading a replacement DLL.
The file is a keyboard-layout mapping DLL loaded by Windows when the relevant input locale is needed. It is not a Visual C++ Redistributable, DirectX, .NET, game runtime, or ordinary hardware driver. Microsoft lists Lithuanian, Lithuanian IBM, and Lithuanian Standard among its keyboard layouts.
Fix 1: Repair Windows with DISM and SFC
Time needed: 15 to 45 minutes, plus a restart
This is the best first repair when the error points to C:WindowsSystem32kbdlt.dll or C:WindowsSysWOW64kbdlt.dll, affects more than one program, or appeared after an interrupted update, crash, cleanup operation, or disk problem.
DISM repairs the Windows component store. SFC then uses that repaired source to check and restore protected system files.
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Run DISM first
- Open Start.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Select Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Enter this command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- Press Enter.
- Leave the window open until the operation finishes.
The process can pause at a percentage for several minutes. Do not close Command Prompt simply because the progress appears unchanged.
When DISM completes, look for a message indicating that the restore operation completed successfully. If it reports that the source files could not be found, continue to the Windows Update step below rather than copying kbdlt.dll from another computer.
Run System File Checker
In the same elevated Command Prompt, enter:
sfc /scannow
Press Enter and wait for verification to reach 100 percent.
A successful result may say that Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations, or that it found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Restart Windows after SFC finishes, then try the affected program or switch keyboard layouts again.
If SFC says it could not repair some files:
- Restart the computer.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator again.
- Run DISM once more.
- Run
sfc /scannowagain. - Restart and test.
If the same file remains unrepaired, Microsoft’s next step is to use a matching Windows repair source or Windows recovery process. Do not use a DLL download site as the repair source.
When you are repeatedly hunting through logs and rerunning SFC or DISM without knowing what changed, Outbyte PC Repair can scan for the underlying Windows problems; its free scan shows what it found, while repair features are handled by the full version and are optional.
Fix 2: Install pending Windows updates
Time needed: 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the update
A pending cumulative update can replace or repair Windows components, including keyboard-layout files.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Install everything offered.
- Restart when Windows requests it.
- Return to Windows Update and check again.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Update & Security.
- Open Windows Update.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Install the available updates.
- Restart the computer.
After updating, run DISM and SFC again if the error remains. If Windows Update itself fails, DISM can use a matching Windows installation source:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Replace C:RepairSourceWindows with the path to a genuine, matching Windows repair source. Do not use a path copied from an unrelated PC or a different Windows edition.
Fix 3: Check and reinstall the keyboard layout
Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes
This step is appropriate when the error appears while selecting Lithuanian input, switching layouts, signing in, or typing in a particular language. Re-adding the layout can repair its configuration, but it may not replace a damaged protected DLL. Run DISM and SFC as well if the file itself is missing or corrupt.
Check keyboard layouts in Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Time & language.
- Select Language & region.
- Find the language that contains the Lithuanian keyboard.
- Select the ** three-dot menu** beside it.
- Choose Language options.
- Review the Keyboards section.
Remove the affected keyboard layout, restart if Windows requests it, then return to the same screen and add it again.
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Check keyboard layouts in Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Time & Language.
- Choose Language.
- Select the installed language.
- Choose Options.
- Review the Keyboards section.
- Remove and re-add the affected layout.
Microsoft allows keyboard layouts to be managed independently from the display language. Adding Lithuanian input does not require changing the entire Windows display language.
After re-adding the layout, sign out and back in, then test with Notepad. If Notepad works but one application still reports kbdlt.dll, continue with the application-specific repair.
Fix 4: Identify the path in the error message
Time needed: 5 minutes
The path shown in the dialog tells you whether Windows or a single application is likely responsible.
A Windows system path
These paths indicate a Windows component:
C:WindowsSystem32kbdlt.dll
C:WindowsSysWOW64kbdlt.dll
On 64-bit Windows, System32 contains native system binaries, while SysWOW64 is used for 32-bit system binaries through Windows filesystem redirection. The names are confusing, but they are architecture-specific Windows directories.
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Do not assume both folders should receive an identical manually copied file. The correct copy depends on the Windows architecture, component version, and servicing state.
If the error names one of these directories, use Windows Update, DISM, and SFC. Do not replace the file manually.
An application folder
If the dialog points inside a program’s own directory, such as its installation folder, the issue may be local to that application. The program may be attempting to load a damaged or incorrectly packaged copy, or it may simply be the first process that caused Windows to load the system layout component.
Note the full path before closing the error. Also record whether other programs fail. A single affected application calls for application repair before deeper Windows recovery.
Fix 5: Repair or reinstall the affected application
Time needed: 10 to 30 minutes
Use this fix when only one application reports the error and other Windows programs, including Notepad, start normally.
Repair a Windows application
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Choose Installed apps in Windows 11, or Apps & features in Windows 10.
- Select the affected application.
- Choose Advanced options if available.
- Select Repair.
- Test the application.
If Repair does not help, return to the same screen and choose Reset where available. Reset can remove the application’s local settings and stored data, so use it only after Repair.
For a desktop program, use its official installer or the application’s own maintenance option. Choose Repair if the installer offers it. If repair is unavailable, uninstall the program, restart Windows, and reinstall it from the publisher’s official source.
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For a game, use the launcher’s official Verify, Repair, or equivalent file-checking command before altering Windows system folders.
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If reinstalling the application changes nothing and the error path points to System32 or SysWOW64, return to DISM and SFC. Reinstalling the application cannot reliably repair a protected Windows component.
Fix 6: Check antivirus quarantine and scan for malware
Time needed: 10 to 30 minutes
Security software may quarantine a damaged or suspicious file. Malware may also damage system files or create a fake DLL error.
Review Windows Security
- Open Start.
- Type Windows Security and open it.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Choose Protection history.
- Review recent detections involving
kbdlt.dllor the affected application.
Restore a quarantined file only when Windows Security identifies it as a genuine Microsoft file and the system is otherwise clean. If the detection is classified as malware or the file came from an untrusted source, leave it quarantined and remove the threat.
Run a scan from Virus & threat protection. If malware is suspected, follow Windows recovery guidance and repair Windows afterward with DISM and SFC.
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Fix 7: Check drivers only when the evidence points there
Time needed: 10 to 30 minutes
kbdlt.dll is not a normal hardware driver, so updating a keyboard, chipset, or display driver is not the first repair for this error. Consider drivers only if the problem began immediately after a driver change, Device Manager shows an error, or several input devices are malfunctioning.
Check Device Manager
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Keyboards.
- Look for a warning icon.
- Right-click the affected hardware and select Properties.
- Read the Device status message on the General tab.
- Open the Driver tab to review available rollback or update options.
Use Update driver only with a driver supplied through Windows Update or the hardware manufacturer. If the issue began after an update, Roll Back Driver may be available.
When identifying outdated drivers manually means hunting through hardware pages and guessing which package is stale, Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and identify driver problems; its free scan reports what it found, while driver installation is handled by the full version and is optional.
Do not expect a driver update to replace kbdlt.dll. If Device Manager is clean and the error names a Windows system path, return to DISM and SFC.
Fix 8: Use System Restore after a recent change
Time needed: 20 to 45 minutes
System Restore is useful when kbdlt.dll worked until a recent driver, update, utility, or software installation. It rolls back system files, installed programs, drivers, and settings associated with a restore point, but it does not remove personal documents.
- Open Start.
- Type Create a restore point.
- Open the matching Control Panel result.
- Select System Restore.
- Choose Next.
- Select a restore point from before the error began.
- Review the affected programs if Windows provides that option.
- Select Next, then Finish.
- Allow Windows to restart and complete the operation.
If there is no suitable restore point, use the next recovery option instead.
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Fix 9: Reinstall the current Windows version
Time needed: 30 minutes to several hours
If DISM cannot repair the component store, Windows Update remains damaged, and the error affects system paths or multiple applications, use Windows’ repair reinstall where available.
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- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System.
- Choose Recovery.
- Find Fix problems using Windows Update.
- Select Reinstall now.
- Follow the prompts.
Microsoft describes this process as reinstalling the current Windows version while preserving apps, files, and settings. Keep the computer connected to power and back up important files before beginning any major recovery operation.
If that option is unavailable, use Microsoft’s official Windows installation and recovery path with matching installation media. Choose a repair or in-place option that preserves files and applications when appropriate, and read each screen carefully before confirming.
What the different error messages mean
“The program can’t start because kbdlt.dll is missing”
Windows could not find the file where the loader expected it. The cause may be deletion, quarantine, component corruption, or an application-local problem.
“kbdlt.dll was not found”
This is the same general loader condition expressed in a shorter form. The path in the dialog and whether one or many applications fail are more useful than the wording alone.
“kbdlt.dll could not be loaded”
Windows found a reference to the DLL but could not load it. Architecture mismatch, corruption, missing dependencies, or an invalid application-local copy can cause this family of error.
“kbdlt.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error”
This is a Windows Bad Image error family. It commonly indicates that the file is corrupt, incompatible with the process, incomplete, or not a valid Windows binary.
Error 0xc000012f or 0xc000007b
These codes can accompany Bad Image or architecture-related loading failures. Do not assume that reinstalling Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET will fix them. Those runtimes are relevant only when another error specifically identifies them. For kbdlt.dll, repair Windows first and check whether the application is loading a copy from the wrong location.
Why manual DLL downloads are unsafe
Do not download kbdlt.dll from a random DLL site, copy it from another PC, or place the same file in both System32 and SysWOW64.
A downloaded file may contain malware, belong to another Windows build, have the wrong 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, lack the expected servicing level, or have incompatible dependencies. It may also hide the actual problem by leaving the Windows component store damaged.
The safe sources are Windows itself, Windows Update, DISM using a matching Windows repair source, Microsoft recovery tools, and the official installer for an application that has its own damaged files.
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Why regsvr32 usually does not apply
Do not begin with:
regsvr32 kbdlt.dll
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that provide registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer, typically COM or ActiveX components. A keyboard-layout DLL is loaded by Windows input handling; it is not normally repaired by registering it in the registry.
If regsvr32 reports that the entry point is missing, that does not prove the file should be replaced. Use DISM and SFC instead.
Likely causes and the matching repair
| What you observe | More likely cause | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
Several programs fail and the path is under WindowsSystem32 |
Corrupted or missing Windows file | Windows Update, DISM, then SFC |
| The error began after a crash or interrupted update | Component-store or protected-file damage | DISM followed by SFC |
| The problem appears when selecting Lithuanian input | Damaged layout configuration or Windows file | Remove and re-add the layout, then run DISM and SFC |
| Windows Security shows a quarantine event | Security software removal or malware | Investigate Protection history, scan, then repair Windows |
| Only one program fails and its folder is named | Application-specific corruption | Repair or reinstall that application |
| The issue began after a system change | Recent update, driver, or software change | System Restore or the appropriate recovery option |
| A 32-bit application reports the error while 64-bit programs work | Architecture or filesystem-redirection issue | Repair Windows and the application; do not copy files between folders |
If the error remains
Collect these details before seeking further support:
- The complete error text
- The full path shown in the dialog
- Your Windows version and build
- Whether all programs fail or only one
- Whether the problem began after an update, crash, driver change, or installation
- Any Windows Security quarantine or malware detection
- Whether it occurs only after selecting Lithuanian input
- The final messages from DISM and SFC
That information separates a Windows servicing problem from an application-local loading problem and prevents unsafe trial-and-error replacement of system files.
FAQ
Is kbdlt.dll a Microsoft file?
Yes. It is identified as the Lithuania Keyboard Layout and is associated with the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Do I need Lithuanian installed for Windows to contain this file?
The file is part of Windows keyboard-layout handling, but the active language and keyboard configuration determines when Windows needs a particular layout. Re-adding a keyboard layout can correct configuration problems, but it is not a substitute for DISM and SFC when the protected file is damaged.
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Should I install Visual C++ Redistributable?
Not for kbdlt.dll alone. Install or repair a runtime only when the error also names that runtime or another application dependency.
Should I copy kbdlt.dll into the program’s folder?
No. First determine whether the error points to a Windows directory or the application directory. Use Windows repair for a system path and the application’s official repair or reinstall process for an application path.
Are System32 and SysWOW64 interchangeable?
No. On 64-bit Windows, Windows uses them for different architecture contexts. Do not manually populate either directory.
Will reinstalling the Lithuanian keyboard fix a deleted DLL?
Not necessarily. It can repair the layout configuration, but a missing or corrupt protected Windows DLL requires component repair through Windows Update, DISM, and SFC.
Can I register kbdlt.dll with regsvr32?
Normally no. Keyboard-layout DLLs are not generally repaired by COM registration. Use DISM and SFC.
What is the safest first action?
Open an elevated Command Prompt, run DISM, then run SFC:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow
Restart Windows afterward and test the application or keyboard layout again.
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches
