6 Ways to Fix the Windows PC Games Error 0xc000007b (2024)

This KeenGamer troubleshooting guide tells you how to fix the common error 0xc000007b gaming issue on Windows PCs. Is one of your Windows games not starting because of error 0xc000007b? If so, you can get your PC game fixed by applying the troubleshooting methods below.

Matthew Adams

Error 0xc000007b is a common gaming issue that affects Windows 11/10 PC games. Players have widely reported that error occurs when they try to start games like Witcher 3, Grand Theft Auto V, Hogwarts Legacy, Call of Duty Ghosts, and Skyrim. The error message says: “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b). Clock ok to close the application.” PC games don’t start when they throw up that error code. This is how you can fix error 0xc000007b for any Windows 11/10 game.

Table of Contents show

Verify Game Files

Error 0xc000007b is usually a file-related issue. Most gaming clients include an option for verifying (otherwise repairing) game files. So, try verifying the files for an affected game with whatever gaming client you installed it. These Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG Galaxy support pages include instructions for verifying game files with those gaming clients.

The Verify option in Epic Games

Install DirectX Runtime Components

Error 0xc000007b can occur because your PC is missing the required DirectX runtime components for a game. You can remedy that by installing DirectX components with the DirectX End-User Runtime package, which installs DirectX SDK libraries. This is how you can install DirectX components with that package.

  1. Open Edge and the DirectX End-User Runtime page.
  2. Click the blue Download option there.
  3. Next, press Edge’s Ctrl + J hotkey and click the dxwebsetup.exe file.
  4. Click I accept and Next in the DirectX window.

    The Installing Microsoft(R) DirectX(R) window

  5. Uncheck the Install Bing Bar checkbox if you don’t want that additional software.
  6. Select Next to install DirectX components.
  7. Click Finish to close the Installing Microsoft(R) DirectX(R) window.

Install or Repair Visual C++ 2015-2022 Libraries

Installing missing or repairing broken Visual C++ libraries will often resolve the 0xc000007b game error. You can do that by downloading Visual C++ Redistributable packages from the Microsoft site. Those packages enable you to install or repair C++ components (DLL files). These are the steps for installing or repairing Visual C++ components.

  1. Open Microsoft’s Visual C++ page in Edge.
  2. Click the X86 and X64 architecture download links for Visual Studio 2015-2022.

    Visual Studio 2015-2022 download options

  3. Scroll further down the page and click the X86 and X64 download links for Visual Studio 2013.
  4. PressCtrl+ J (Edge’s downloads hotkey) and click on VC_redist.x64 to open a Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) window.
  5. Next, select I agree to the license terms.

    The Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) window

  6. Click the Install or Repair button you see inside the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) window.
  7. Repeat the previous three steps for the other downloaded VC_redist.x86.exe, vcredist_x86.exe, vcredist_x64.exe Visual Studio Redistributable packages.

Enable .NET Framework

Error 0xc000007b can occur because a required .NET Framework feature is not enabled (installed) on your PC. So, check if the .NET Framework is enabled in Windows 11/10 like this.

  1. Simultaneously press the Windows keyboard key + X and select Run.
  2. Click in Run’s Open box to enter appwiz.cpl.
  3. Press OK to access a Programs and Features window.
  4. Click Turn Windows Features on or off on the left side of Programs and Features.
  5. Select the checkboxes for .NET Framework 4.8 Advanced services and .NET Framework 3.5 if not enabled.

    The .NET Framework feature options

  6. Click OK to install the selected Windows features.
  7. Restart the Windows PC after enabling .NET Framework.

Repair Windows System Files

As error 0xc000007b is often caused by missing or corrupted DLL files, running a System File Checker scan makes sense. System File Checker is a command-line tool that scans for and repairs missing or corrupted Windows files. Try running that utility by executing a sfc /scannow command, as covered on this Microsoft help webpage.

The sfc /scannow window

Reinstall Your Affected Game

Reinstalling an affected game will completely refresh its files and restore missing ones. Try doing that if none of the resolutions above fixes error 0xc000007b on your PC. You can uninstall and reinstall games installed with Steam and Epic Games Launcher like this.

Epic Games Launcher

  1. Start your Epic Games Launcher software to open its Library tab.
  2. Click the button for the game you need to remove and select Uninstall.

    The Uninstall option Epic Games Launcher

  3. Press Uninstall to confirm the removal.
  4. To reinstall, click on the uninstalled game in the Library tab and select Install.

Steam

  1. Run your Steam software and click its Library tab.
  2. Right-click whatever game you need to remove and select Manage > Uninstall.

    The game Uninstall option in Steam

  3. Select the second Uninstall option to confirm.
  4. You can then reinstall the game by clicking the Install button for it in Steam.

Error 0xc000007b is one of the most common PC gaming issues that you can fix by applying the resolutions above. Those potential solutions will likely resolve error 0xc000007b for any Windows 11/10 game. However, players who’ve fixed that issue with other methods not specified above are most welcome to share their resolutions below.

6 Ways to Fix the Windows PC Games Error 0xc000007b (2024)

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