If you are trying to launch the Epic Games client on Windows 11 but keep getting the following error message “EpicGamesLauncher.exe – Application Error,” with the error message: “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).” This article will guide you through quite a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue so that you can launch Epic Games and play games.

Takeaways:

  1. Solving Epic Games error “EpicGamesLauncher.exe – Application Error,” with the error message: “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).”
  2. What is causing EpicGamesLauncher.exe - Application Error on Windows 11

How to Fix EpicGamesLauncher.exe - Application Error on Windows 11

In most cases, this error can be resolved by repairing or reinstalling missing or corrupted system files such as the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and DirectX. Outside of that it's repairing a few "potentially" corrupted files.

Run Epic Games Launcher as Administrator

  • Locate the Epic Games Launcher shortcut on your desktop (or find the EXE file in its installation folder).
  • Right-click and choose Properties.
  • Go to the Compatibility tab.
  • Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
  • Click Apply, then OK.
  • Open the launcher to see if the issue is resolved.

If you don't have a ton of big games installed or a data Cap

If you don't have any big games installed or a data cap limiting downloads you might as well just uninstall and reinstall Epic Games on your computer. This will save a ton of time messing around with other more complicated solutions. If that doesn't work though the other steps in this guide will help.

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

These damn things cause problems for a ton of different programs including Adobe software, Davinci Resolve, and even a few games. But they are easy enough to reinstall, so long as you know which ones are missing.

  • Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
  • Scroll through the list of installed Visual C++ Redistributables.
  • Now visit the official Microsoft website and download the missing or outdated versions.
  • Install both the x86 and x64 versions if you're using a 64-bit system.
  • Restart your computer and check if the problem persists.

Alternatively, you can grab a bulk Visual C++ Redistributables installer and use it.

Move DLL Files to the Correct Folder

Many users have solved this issue by relocating DLL files to the launcher’s installation directory.

  • Go to the Epic Games Launcher folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games
  • Open the DirectXRedist folder.
  • Extract the CAB or RAR files using WinRAR or another archive tool.
  • Locate the extracted DLL file (e.g., xinput1_3.dll).
  • Copy the DLL to an easily accessible location, like your desktop.
  • Repeat the process for all CAB/RAR files.
  • Go to **C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Binaries\Win32**.
  • Copy all extracted DLL files to this directory.
  • Launch the Epic Games app again.

Update DirectX

  • Visit the official Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer download page.
  • Download the setup file and run it.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
  • After installation, restart your computer.
  • Open Epic Games Launcher to check if the issue is resolved.

Check for Windows Updates.

  • Open Windows Search and type "Updates."
  • Click Check for updates.
  • Allow Windows to download and install any pending updates.
  • Install optional updates if available.
  • Restart your computer once updates are applied.

Repair Corrupted System Files Using SFC & DISM

  • Type cmd in Windows Search.
  • Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  • In the Command Prompt, type and execute the following command:

    sfc /scannow

  • Wait for the system scan to finish.
  • After the SFC scan, run the following commands one by one:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

  • Restart your computer after the process is complete.

Why Does EpicGamesLauncher.exe – Application Error Occur?

The 0xc000007b error typically happens due to incompatibility between 32-bit and 64-bit files or missing/corrupted system files such as Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables and DirectX. This can prevent the launcher from functioning properly, especially if essential system components are missing or broken.