How to fix
“The application was unable to start correctly” 0xc000102 error
on Windows

Hello. When I try to launch an app in Windows I get the "The application was unable to start correctly" 0xc000102 error in Windows. Is there a way to fix this?

When attempting to open a certain application on a Windows system, customers frequently face "The application was unable to start correctly" error with code 0xc0000102. There are many possible causes for this problem, therefore identifying and treating the underlying cause is crucial to a successful fix.

This issue may be caused by insufficient memory, especially if the application uses more resources than the system can provide. Users attempting to access the application may become frustrated if this fails to launch it. Interference from other applications can also contribute to the 0xc0000102 error. Software conflicts can interfere with the targeted application's normal operation and prevent it from launching properly.

An additional element that might cause this problem is a corrupted user profile. The application's user profile may be corrupted or compromised, which could prevent it from launching properly and result in the 0xc0000102 error. This problem can also be caused by incompatibilities, such as utilizing an out-of-date or incompatible version of the program. Launching the application may be problematic for users who forget to update their software or accidentally utilize versions that aren't compatible with their operating system.

Several potential solutions exist for addressing the 0xc0000102 error, ranging from resolving memory issues, investigating and resolving conflicts with other applications, fixing or recreating corrupted user profiles, to ensuring the use of a compatible and up-to-date version of the application.

In this guide, you will find 4 steps that should help you fix "The application was unable to start correctly" 0xc000102 error in Windows. You can also run a maintenance tool like [d1] that can fix most system errors, BSODs,[ref en-1] corrupted files, registry[ref en-2] issues, or clear cookies and cache.[ref en-3] Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Method 1. Disable Background Applications

• Access the Task Manager by right-clicking on the taskbar.
• Select the Task Manager option from the context menu.
• Navigate to the Processes tab within the Task Manager.
• Identify unnecessary programs listed in the Processes tab.
• Right-click on each unnecessary program individually.
• Choose the End task option from the context menu for each identified program.

Method 2. Launch the Program in Compatibility Mode

• Right-click on the shortcut of the problematic program to open a context menu.
• From the menu, select Properties.
• Within the Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab.
• Check the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for.

• Choose a previous version of your system from the options provided.
• Additionally, check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
• Click the OK button to save the changes.

Method 3. Create a New User Profile

• Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I.
• Navigate to Accounts, then select Family & other users.
• Choose Add someone else to this PC.

• Microsoft may prompt you for detailed information to add a Microsoft account.
• For a quicker process without a Microsoft account, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and then choose Add a user without a Microsoft account.
• Create your desired username and set a password for the new account.

Method 4. Try Clean Boot

• Open the Search menu, type in system configuration, and press Enter.
• Under the Services tab, tick the Hide all Microsoft services box.
• Click on Disable all button.

• Head over to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
• Select a third-party program and click on Disable at the top.
• Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.
• Restart your PC to enter the clean boot state and see if the issue persists.
• If the issue disappeared in the clean boot state, then you can be certain that a third-party app is causing it.
• Go through all recently installed apps or programs and remove them one by one.