Fix: 0xc000012d The Application Was Unable To Start Correctly

The the 0xc000012d error is quite common. The message reads The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000012d). Click OK to close the application.

If you’re dealing with this issue, follow the steps below to get it fixed.

How do I fix error 0xc000012d?

Before trying complex solutions, restart your PC, install updates, use Disk Cleanup, and run the app as an administrator. Next, if needed, scan for malware.

If none work, move to the fixes listed next.

1. Update the graphics driver

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters entry, right-click on the graphics adapter, and choose Update driver.
3. Now, select Search automatically for drivers and wait for Windows to install one.

When you get error 0xc000012d in Battlenet, it’s often the underlying driver to blame, and updating the graphics driver should get things up and running. In case an update is not available locally, you can always manually install the driver from the manufacturer’s website. Links are provided below:

• Intel
• NVIDIA
• AMD

Moreover, you can try a specialized tool to avoid potential errors from manually installing the incorrect drivers.

For example, you can use PC Helpsoft Driver Updater because it has a massive database from where it locates the latest updates for all your outdated or malfunctioning drivers.

⇒ Get PC Helposft Driver Updater

2. Repair corrupt system files

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following commands one at a time and hit Enter after each to run DISM:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. Next, run this command for the SFC scan: sfc /scannow
5. Finally, restart the computer for the changes to apply.

Often, when you face issues with a built-in app, say, 0xc000012d on Movies & TV, it could be corrupt system files to blame. And running the built-in DISM tool and SFC scan should do the trick.

3. Check for issues with the app files (Steam games)

Tip

The steps listed here are for Steam games, but there’s usually a built-in option to repair the game files in every client. Check the web to find out the exact process for the affected app.

1. Launch Steam, and navigate to Library from the top.
2. Right-click on the game you are unable to launch and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Local Files tab and then click on Verify integrity of game files.
4. Wait for the process to complete, and then relaunch the game.

For those getting error 0xc000012d in GTA 5 on Steam, verifying the integrity of game files should work.

4. Increase the Virtual Memory

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type View advanced system settings in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. In the Advanced tab, click on Settings under Performance.
3. Again, navigate to the Advanced tab, and click Change under Virtual memory.
4. Untick the checkbox for Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
5. Choose the drive currently storing the paging file, select the No paging file option, and click Set.
6. Once done, select the system drive (typically C:) from the list, choose the Custom file option, and enter the initial and maximum size, depending on the available RAM, using the following formula:
   • Initial size: 1.5 x Installed RAM (in MBs)
   • Maximum size: 3 x Installed RAM (in MBs)
7. Once done, click Set and then on OK at the bottom to save the changes.

A few users reported that the absence of a paging file or virtual memory could trigger the error 0xc000012d with Adobe applications. So, if presently disabled, make sure to enable it and then increase the virtual memory since this comes into play when the PC runs out of memory.

5. Reinstall the affected program

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Now, select the program that’s throwing the error, and click Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process, then restart the computer.
4. You can now download the program from the official website or the Microsoft Store, and it should run fine.

For 0xc000012d with Chrome or even other applications, it’s often best to uninstall the program and then download it all over again.

6. Perform an in-place upgrade

Tip

The steps here are for Windows 11. For users running Windows 10, download the Media Creation Tool, and use it to perform an in-place upgrade.

1. Go to Microsoft’s official website, and download Windows 11 ISO after selecting the required edition and product language.
2. Now, double-click the ISO and run the setup.exe file.
3. Click Yes in the prompt.
4. Click on Next to proceed.
5. Now, click Accept to agree to Microsoft’s license terms.
6. Finally, verify that the setup reads, Keep personal files and apps, then click on Install, and wait for the process to complete.

If nothing previously worked, the last option is to perform an in-place upgrade to eliminate any Windows-related issues triggering the 0xc000012d application error. Remember, this won’t affect the personal files or installed apps.

The 0xc000012d Application was unable to start error, indicating the inability to launch the application, could arise due to a problem with the system settings, installed drivers, or the application itself.

And there isn’t any way you can identify what’s responsible for it other than following a calculated approach.

Here are a few reasons users encounter the 0xc000012d in Windows 11:

• Memory issues: Every application running on the PC needs some RAM and CPU to be available, and when that’s not the case, an error message may appear.
• Problems with the app: Oftentimes, it’s an issue with the app installation or missing files that trigger the error 0xc000012d in Chrome.
• Corrupt system files: When the system files are corrupt, several built-in and third-party apps fail to launch and throw an error message instead.
• Incompatible or outdated drivers: In many cases, users found out that it was an incompatible or outdated driver, usually the graphics driver, that led to the error.

And before you leave, do check some quick tips to optimize the PC for gaming and make Windows run faster.

We covered a similar issue in our The application was unable to start correctly 0xc00005 guide, so you might want to check it out.

For any questions or to share your solution, drop a comment below.