What is Windows Error 126 (ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND)?

Error 126 (ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND) is a Windows General System error that occurs when the specified module could not be found.. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.

What causes Error 126?

A required Visual C++ Redistributable package is not installed. The DLL was deleted by aggressive antivirus software. An application uninstaller accidentally removed a shared DLL. The DLL version is incompatible with the running application

How do I fix Error 126 (ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND)?

Re-register the DLL File: Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Run: regsvr32 filename.dll (replace filename.dll with the missing DLL). If it says 'the module failed to load', the DLL file itself is missing. In that case, run: sfc /scannow to restore system DLLs. For non-system DLLs, reinstall the application that provides the file

Fix ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND — Windows Error Code 126

🎮 Common Scenario: Are you experiencing Error 126 while launching or installing Valorant? The solutions below directly address the system interactions specific to this application.

⚡ Quick Fix

Re-register the DLL File: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

👇 See all 3 solutions below

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📑 Table of Contents

What is Error 126? Common Causes Step-by-Step Solutions Prevention Tips Related Errors

💡 What is Error 126?

Windows System Error Code 126, known as ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND, is a General System error that occurs during core Windows operations. The error indicates that: The specified module could not be found. When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the system services subsystem. The error code 126 is returned by the GetLastError() function and provides developers with a specific identifier to diagnose the root cause of the failure. The symbolic name ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND maps directly to this numeric code and is commonly referenced in Microsoft documentation, developer forums, and system logs. Understanding this error and its context within core Windows operations is essential for effective troubleshooting.

⚠️ Common Causes

A required Visual C++ Redistributable package is not installed
The DLL was deleted by aggressive antivirus software
An application uninstaller accidentally removed a shared DLL
The DLL version is incompatible with the running application

✅ Step-by-Step Solutions

1 Re-register the DLL File

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Run: regsvr32 filename.dll (replace filename.dll with the missing DLL)
If it says 'the module failed to load', the DLL file itself is missing
In that case, run: sfc /scannow to restore system DLLs
For non-system DLLs, reinstall the application that provides the file

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Show Advanced Solutions (2 more)

2 Install the Required Redistributable

Most missing DLLs come from Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable or DirectX
Download Visual C++ 2015-2022: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe
Download DirectX: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35
Install both, restart your computer, and retry

3 Copy DLL from Another Windows Installation

ONLY do this for system DLLs, and ONLY from the same Windows version
Find the DLL in C:\Windows\System32 on a working PC with the same Windows version
Copy it to your System32 folder (you may need to take ownership first)
Run: regsvr32 filename.dll to register it
WARNING: Never download DLLs from third-party websites — they may contain malware

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How To Fix Missing Dll Error Windows 10 11

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💻 Diagnostic Command

Run this PowerShell command to find related events in your system log:

Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20 | Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*126*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND*"} | Format-List

💡 Open PowerShell as Administrator, paste the command above, and press Enter.

🛡️ Prevention Tips

Install all Visual C++ Redistributable packages (2005 through 2022)
Add game/application folders to your antivirus exclusion list
NEVER download individual DLL files from the internet — always install the parent package

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Last updated: 2026-03-13

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Based on Official Microsoft Documentation

Solutions Tested on Windows 10 & 11

Error codes sourced from Microsoft Win32 SDK. Updated 2026-03-13.