How to troubleshoot AppxProvider.dll-related errors?

Typically, when an application requires the AppxProvider.dll file, Windows will search the system and the application itself for the DLL file. If it’s missing, Windows will be unable to load the application and instead, you’ll receive an error message like “A required component is missing: AppxProvider.dll”.

AppxProvider.dll-related errors may appear during the installation or uninstallation of applications, during Windows startup or shutdown, during the installation of Windows, or when Windows is running. Therefore, knowing what you were doing on your machine when the error occurred can significantly help you when troubleshooting the problem.

Causes of AppxProvider.dll Errors

We mentioned that Windows looks for the AppxProvider.dll file when trying to load a program that depends on it. But what if AppxProvider.dll has not been found and the application fails to start?

There are several reasons as to why the AppxProvider.dll file might be missing. File corruption is one of them. This could be caused by a malware attack or by another program during uninstallation. Another possibility is that the file could have been renamed, deleted or moved to a different folder by another application, and thus Windows was unable to trace it.

This post offers several methods to address problems related to AppxProvider.dll. We recommend trying them all, one by one in order of appearance until you resolve the errors.

How to Fix ‘The Program Can’t Start Because AppxProvider.dll Is Missing’

Before you start making changes to your system, we suggest trying the basic troubleshooting steps listed below.

• Reboot Windows – in some cases, the error could be due to a temporary glitch in the system. In such situations, restarting Windows can fix the problem. So, if you haven’t already done so, restart your computer and check if the AppxProvider.dll errors will pop up.
• Restart the application that you were trying to run. Simply exit the application, restart Windows and launch the application.
• Restore the file from the Recycle Bin. It’s possible that the AppxProvider.dll file was deleted unintentionally and could still be in the Recycle Bin. To check if it’s there, double-click the “Recycle Bin” icon and type dll in the search box. If the file is there, move it to the default location. However, if it isn’t there, then you’ll have to apply the advanced solutions discussed below.

Solution 1: Run a Full Malware Scan

It is common for Windows files to be attacked by viruses or other malicious entities that prevent them from functioning properly. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the AppxProvider.dll-related issues are caused by malware that has damaged or corrupted the AppxProvider.dll file. Many types of malware are designed to camouflage themselves as genuine system files while slowly infecting your system. That’s why conducting a full malware scan regularly is recommended if you want to maintain the safety of your data while using your computer.

One way of dealing with malware is by using a free tool offered by Microsoft. Microsoft Safety Scanner can be used to scan your system for malicious software and viruses. The tool is free to download from Microsoft’s official page and comes in handy when you suspect that potentially unwanted software has disabled your antivirus program.

However, you should know that Microsoft Safety Scanner is only meant to be used temporarily as it is not capable of real-time protection. For a more comprehensive scan and continuous protection, you need a reliable third-party tool.

With so many types of malware removal tools on the market, you can be confused about which one to choose. We recommend Auslogics Anti-Malware, a tool that has effectively removed many types of malware from millions of computers worldwide. The software is constantly updated so that it can identify all types of malware, including those that were recently created. The tool even allows you to schedule automatic scans to ensure that your system is protected 24/7.

Solution 2: Repair System Files

If the AppxProvider.dll file has been corrupted or deleted, you’ll need to restore it. Windows makes the process easy using the System File Checker (SFC) tool. The application will scan your system, and if it finds a problem with the AppxProvider.dll file, or any other file for that matter, it attempts to repair or replace your bad file(s) from the DLL cache located at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.

To run an SFC scan on your Windows 10 computer, follow this guide:

1. Press the Windows Key and S combination, and type in “cmd” (without quotes) in the search box.
2. You should see “Command Prompt” in the results. Right-click on it and select “Run as administrator” or simply select “Run as administrator” on the right pane.
3. Type the command sfc /scannow, and hit “Enter”.

This command will scan the entire system for files that are corrupted and replace them with good copies. The process might take a while, and you should allow it to run uninterrupted. Once the process is completed and you receive a message that ‘Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them’, restart Windows and check if the AppxProvider.dll error has been fixed. However, if the scan didn’t find any files that had been corrupted or was unable to carry out the operation successfully, proceed to the next step below.

Solution 3: Re-Install the Associated Program

The AppxProvider.dll file could be used by several applications, including games. Therefore, if the error is triggered when trying to run a specific application, then that particular program or application could be problematic. In such a scenario, reinstalling the program could resolve the issue. To reinstall the affected program, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcut, type in cpl and hit “Enter”.
2. Locate the problematic application from the list programs and features and select it.
3. Click “Uninstall” to remove the program from your device.
4. Go to “File Explorer” (Win + E) and delete all folders associated with the software.
5. Next, go to the application’s official website and download and install a fresh copy.

Try to run the application again and check if the AppxProvider.dll error appears. If it doesn’t, then you have solved the problem. However, if it still does, it means the issue lies elsewhere.

Solution 4: Update Your Device Drivers

If you try to run a particular hardware device that’s associated with the AppxProvider.dll file but it turns out that it’s outdated or damaged, then you’re likely to receive an error message like “A required component is missing: AppxProvider.dll”.

The best way to fix this is to update or reinstall the affected drivers. Here’s how to update your drivers:

Manually – If you have advanced skills, you can opt to manually update your device drivers. The process involves identifying the driver model and version and then searching for it on the manufacturer’s website. After downloading the file, install it and check if the error disappears. However, this process is not as easy as it sounds since you have to consider many things like the type of operating system currently running on your system and the version of the affected hardware. The risk of installing the wrong driver version is high, and this could further complicate the matter. That’s why we recommend that you automatically update your device drivers.

Automatically – Here, all you need is a reliable tool like Auslogics Driver Updater. The program scans your system to identify all broken, corrupted and outdated drivers and automatically updates them for you. The tool is easy to use and is suitable for all users, experts and novices alike.

If updating the device drivers doesn’t get rid of the AppxProvider.dll errors, keep trying the other solutions below.

Solution 5: Install Windows Updates

For your Windows system to perform optimally, you need to install all pending updates. These updates not only fix bugs but include improvements that are meant to enhance your user experience. Additionally, if some applications are not compatible with the old version of the AppxProvider.dll file, Windows Update will install the latest version.

Updating Windows can be done in a few simple steps as follows:

1. Click “Start” and open “Settings” (the gear icon) or simply press the Win + I shortcut.
2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Select the “Check for updates” button. Windows will search online for all available updates and automatically install them on your computer.

Are you still receiving AppxProvider.dll-related errors? Try solution 6 below.

Solution 6: Clean Your Registry

The Windows Registry is very crucial to the Windows system in that it’s virtually the main component that enables Windows to operate. Due to its importance, a small glitch can cause irreparable errors that could render your PC useless.

One example is invalid DLL entries left behind in the registry after uninstalling a program. A malware attack can also corrupt the registry and cause system errors. For this reason, you need to run a registry cleaner to remove these invalid entries from your Windows registry.

Since the registry is extremely important, trying to manually modify it is highly risky. That’s why you need a tool that you can rely on like Auslogics Registry Cleaner. The program is not only fast, safe and secure but also designed to perform deep registry optimization. This ensures that your system runs flawlessly. The application is pretty simple to use, thanks to its user-friendly interface. Since tampering with the Windows registry may leave a trail of damage behind that could cost you a new machine, your best bet is to use Auslogics Registry Cleaner to eliminate this risk.

Solution 7: Perform a System Restore

If the error appeared after making changes to your system like installing a new program, then you can use System Restore to undo those changes. Earlier in this post, we mentioned how important it is to mark when and where the error first occurred. This will come in handy when performing a system restore.

To proceed, follow the guide below:

1. Click “Start” or press the Windows logo on your keyboard.
2. Type in “System Restore” (without quotes).
3. Click on “Create a restore point” from the results, and then select “System Restore”.
4. Click “Next” and choose a restore point that’s as close as possible to the time when the AppxProvider.dll error first occurred. Check “Show more restore points” to see more options.
5. Click “Next” and then “Finish” to confirm that you want to undo recent changes to your system.

System Restore will restart your computer and commence the process. So, be sure to save anything that you’ve been working on first.

Solution 8: Reset Your PC

If the AppxProvider.dll error is proving difficult to remove and is preventing you from using your computer, you might want to consider resetting your PC. Reset This PC is a Windows feature that is useful in situations where a critical problem has occurred and you’ve tried all possible solutions without success. The Reset This PC tool removes all programs/software that you have installed and keeps your personal files (if you choose so). This means you’ll have to reinstall each piece of software individually. The good news is that if the AppxProvider.dll errors have been caused by erroneous programs, Reset This PC is highly likely to resolve them.

To use the Reset This PC tool, follow these steps:

1. Click “Start”, hold down the “Shift” key and click “Restart”.
2. Wait for “Advanced Startup Options” to open and then select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
3. Choose to keep your files or remove everything and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

The entire process might take more than one hour to complete depending on the choices you make. Once it’s done, you’ll start over with a fresh copy of Windows that’s error-free.

Let us know if you were able to fix AppxProvider.dll-related errors using the solutions above.