The Api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file is a description of the ApiSet Stub DLL p (, a product of the Microsoft Windows Operating System developed by the Microsoft Corporation. It is common for error messages to pop out on your screen indicating that the Api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll is missing from your computer. You can easily download and install the DLL file to fix the corrupted or missing dll errors.

This problem may also be caused when Universal CRT (KB2999226), a part of the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 failed to install properly. Some of the solutions to this problem include;

Installing Windows update

You will first click Start, open the Control Panel and select the Windows update. Check for updates and install the available updates. After the installation, reboot your computer to refresh the new downloaded files. Ensure that no more updates are available once you are done with these steps.

Download Visual C++ Redistributable

If you are operating on Windows 64-bit, you will need to download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 (64-bit). For users running on Windows 32-bit, download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 (32-bit).

Run the vcredist_x86.exe (32-bit) or vcredist_64.exe (64-bit) and then click uninstall

Run the .exe for the second time and then select install

The error message usually appears when launching online games, a Creative Cloud app and other random applications. The message usually requires you to install the required updates to fix the underlying issues.

The Windows 10 Universal CRT is a component if the Windows operating system which enables the functionality of the CRT. Using this software allows your Windows desktop applications to run on the latest Windows operating systems.

When applications are built using the Software Development Kit (SDK), a dependency on the Universal CRT is created by the Microsoft Visual Studio 2015. These updates allow proper running of these applications in the Windows Operating systems. It applies but not limited to Windows 8, 8.1, RT, RT 8.1, Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 SPI.

Alternative to Installing the DLL package

The DLL files are always loaded from the application folder by the active software. In situations where it cannot locate the Api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file, it checks the Windows System folders automatically for any backups.

To fix the problem, you will place the Api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll file in the same folder where the .exe application is situated. You will have completed the DLL installation since the random applications can now locate the missing file.