Fix: api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing

The error “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” is typically encountered when the user tries to open an Office application, Origins or iTunes. From our investigations, it seems like the error is an underlying symptom of Visual C++. Most of the time, the issue occurs because the system is missing a cumulative update included in Visual C++ 2015 Runtimes.

If you’re currently struggling with this issue, the methods below will help. We have managed to identify a few potential fixes that have successfully resolved the issue for users in a similar situation. Please follow methods below in order until you see that a fix is effective in resolving the problem in your particular scenario. Let’s begin!

Method 1: Install all pending Windows updates

Before you start following the other fixes below, let’s make sure that your operating system is not capable of solving the problem on its own. Windows 8 and Windows 10 should be able to solve the problem automatically by installing the KB2999226 update through WU (Windows Update).

Most likely, the “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” will automatically be resolved by making sure you install every single (non-optional) update that is pending in Windows update. Here’s a quick guide to doing this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run box. Next,  type “wuapp” or “ms-settings:windowsupdate” (for Windows 10), and hit Enter to open the Windows Update window.
   
2. Then, click the Check for updates button and follow the on-screen prompts to install the missing updates.
   Note: Keep in mind that depending on the number of pending updates, you’ll likely need to restart your PC several times.
3. Once all pending updates are successfully applied, perform a final restart and open the application that was previously displaying the “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” at the next startup.

If the issue is still not resolved, continue with the following methods below.

Method 2: Manually installing the KB2999226 update 

If you’re on Windows 7 (or older), you’ll likely have to do one extra step in order to resolve the issue. A lot of users have reported being unable to install the Visual C++ redistributable package that holds the missing files.

Most likely, this happens because your system is lacking the KB2919355 update (part of Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable). The “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” error typically occurs when the Universal CRT update (KB2919355) fails to along with the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable or the whole package is missing.

Note: Newer Windows version (Windows 8 and Windows 10) should automatically apply the KB2999226 update through WU (Windows update). But if you have a lot of pending updates and not enough time to apply them (but you should), you can still follow the steps below.

In order to fix the issue, follow the steps below to install the KB2999226 (Universal CRT) update on your computer:

1. Visit this link (here) and hit the Download button to download the installer.
2. Once the download is complete, open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to apply the update to your system.
3. Reboot your computer to cement the changes. At the next startup, open the application that was previously showing the “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” and see whether this method has managed to solve the problem.

If you’re still bothered by the same error, move straight to Method 3.

Method 3: Installing the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable

If the first method didn’t solve the problem, let’s see whether installing the rest of files present in the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable will. Most users have reported that installing the cumulative Visual C++ Redistributable 2015 according to their OS architecture has successfully managed to resolve the issue.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Visit one of the links below associated with your operating system architecture and download the appropriate vc_redist installer:
   Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable (vc_redist.64.exe) – for Windows 64 – bit
   Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable (vc_redist.86.exe) – for Windows 32 – bit
2. Open the vc_redist installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install the Visual C++ Redistributable package on your system.
3. Once the installation is complete, reboot your system once again and open the application that was previously displaying the “api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll is missing” error.