Unable to install and/or launch Live due to missing dll (Windows)

If you receive an error message about a .dll missing from your computer when installing or launching Ableton Live on Windows, you may need to update Windows.

Error messages

• "The program can't start because XXX.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."
• Missing .dll files reported may include api-mis-win-crt-runtimel1-1-0.dll; MSVCP-X.dll; VCRUNTIME140_X.dll, or other file names.

Solution

These .dll files are necessary for installation. This typically means that your version of Windows is out of date. Windows needs to be updated completely.

• Here's how to update Windows 11 or 10.

Sometimes media packs might be missing from your installation. These should also be installed.

• Visit How To Download & Install Visual C++ Redistributable (Windows 11).
• For Windows 10 N, install the Windows 10 Media Feature pack.