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mscoree.dll is missing — How to fix it on Windows 11 (2026)

If Windows shows you "mscoree.dll is missing from your computer" when you launch a game or program, the file mscoree.dll is part of the .NET Framework and is almost always fixed by reinstalling that package. This guide walks you through the safe fixes — in the right order.

Time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Applies to
Windows 11, Windows 10
Updated
May 25, 2026

Error message

The program can't start because mscoree.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

Symptoms

  • Error popup: "The program can't start because mscoree.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstallin…"
  • a game or program refuses to launch and immediately closes
  • Event Viewer logs "Faulting module name: mscoree.dll"
  • Reinstalling the program does not fix the error on its own

Likely causes

  • The .NET Framework is not installed (or only one architecture is)
  • A recent Windows update or program installer corrupted mscoree.dll
  • Antivirus quarantined mscoree.dll as a false positive
  • An older program installed an obsolete copy of mscoree.dll into its folder

How to fix it — step by step

  1. 01

    Reinstall the .NET Framework

    mscoree.dll ships with the .NET Framework from Microsoft. Uninstall any existing copy from Settings → Apps, then download the latest x64 and x86 installers from the official Microsoft site and install both. Most mscoree.dll errors stop here.

  2. 02

    Run System File Checker

    Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the command below. SFC verifies and repairs protected Windows files, including most system-provided DLLs.

    sfc /scannow
  3. 03

    Repair the Windows component store with DISM

    If SFC reports unrepairable files, repair the underlying Windows image first, then re-run SFC.

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. 04

    Reinstall the program that throws the error

    If the error appears only when launching a game or program, that program installed its own copy of mscoree.dll into its install folder. Uninstall it through Settings → Apps, restart Windows, then reinstall from the official source.

  5. 05

    Check for malware

    Malware often masquerades as a missing DLL. Run a full scan with Windows Defender (Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options → Full scan) before downloading any DLL from a third-party site.

  6. 06

    Last resort: restore mscoree.dll from a clean Windows install

    If every other step failed, copy mscoree.dll from C:\Windows\System32\ on another Windows 11 PC of the same architecture (x64 to x64) and the same build. Never download standalone DLLs from "DLL repositories" — they are the #1 vector for adware on Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

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