What causes Error 1153?

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 1153 (ERROR_INVALID_DLL)?

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_INVALID_DLL — Windows Error Code 1153

Q: What is Windows Error 1153 (ERROR_INVALID_DLL)?

Error 1153 (ERROR_INVALID_DLL) is a Windows Configuration error that occurs when the specified program was written for an earlier version of windows.. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.

🎮 Common Scenario: Are you experiencing Error 1153 while launching or installing Photoshop? 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 1153? Common Causes Step-by-Step Solutions Prevention Tips Related Errors

💡 What is Error 1153?

Windows System Error Code 1153, known as ERROR_INVALID_DLL, is a Configuration error that occurs during system configuration and registry. The error indicates that: The specified program was written for an earlier version of Windows. When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the configuration management subsystem. The error code 1153 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_INVALID_DLL 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 system configuration and registry 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

🎬 Video Tutorials

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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 "*1153*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_INVALID_DLL*"} | 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

📖

Based on Official Microsoft Documentation

Solutions Tested on Windows 10 & 11

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