https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=171377
Bug ID: 171377
Summary: Libra Office will not open after Auto update with
resulting error: api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1.dll is
missing from computer
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 25.8.4.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: Windows (All)
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: LibreOffice
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
Today (March 17, 2026) on opening Calc LibraOffice did an auto update and on
completion the program ended in the following error message: "Soffice.exe -
System Error - the program can't start because
api-ms-win-core-version-l1-1-1.dll is missing from computer". After several
hours of trying to reinstall and uninstalling and reinstalling
25.2.4_win_x86-64.msi the last install I had on my PC it appeared to work and
the install completed correctly. However upon starting Calc auto update took
over and ran through 3 or 4 updates and then start cycles launching the web
site several times until it completed but now when I go to run Calc I get the
same error message that resulted after the first auto update. The Libra office
web site says that version 25.2.4 should work on Windows 7 and has been since
July of 2025 when I installed it to help do bug testing and continued working
after several auto updates until today. Doing a bunch of research on the web I
did see other programs having the same issue and they attributed it to is the
auto update has updated python to 3.11 but Windows 7 only supports before 3.9.
After doing a bunch more reading I found that in Custom Install you can
disable Online Update so I tried that and was able to get the program installed
and running (25.2.4.3). As a minimum no update should run to completion if the
files within are not compatible with the operating system that is in operation.
I was using Calc but the error is with all components. Not sure what the
version was before the last update as was just using the product in normal mode
and not testing but should have been the last updated version before today
March 17, 2026 (the Libra Office site lists version 26.2.1.2 on March 16, 2026
so presumably it is related to that. After my first uninstall and re-install
with multiple non-stoppable updates the properties for scalc.ex list version as
25.8.4.2. so possibly it is all version between these two. Not sure if the
update deleted the dll mentioned as "not found" but that dll is not located on
this PC but running a System check did not find any issues.
Of note is that after turning off Online update and having a successful install
of 25.2.4.3 from my hard drive with internet disconnected, if I look at the
installed files in the program folder I see a folder for python-core-3.10.18
and one for python-core-3.11.14 so it appears a python after 3.8 is being used
and it is working. Also the dll that the error message said was missing is
still not on the PC.
Steps to Reproduce:
Method 1
1. Install and older version of Libra Office (LO) on a Window 7 PC - I started
with 25.2.4.3 and use standard install
2. Finish the install
3. Start Calc and then let the auto updates apply until it is complete
4. Start Calc and get the error message of missing dll file
Method 2 (this is trying to replicate how I saw the issue the first time and I
have not tried this myself as I need to keep my version running right now but
the steps are the same) )
5. Install an earlier version of LO such as 25.2.4.3 using the Custom method
and disable Online updates
6. After the install is complete run Calc
7. Enable Online updates in Calc
8. Shut down LO and restart - at this point you are trying to get auto Updates
to update the version and I am not sure of what triggers it - running the
program or a change in calender day or a combination of something else) In any
case get auto update to install a newer version
9. Repeat above step until LO does not start and instead you get the System
Error mentioned above. (for me this took from July 2025 to March 17, 2026 auto
updates) As time permits I will try to verify Method 2.
Steps to fix when it happens:
1. Unintall LO through Windows Add / Remove programs
2. Install older version using custom method and disable Online Updates
3. On first running of LO go to options and disable Online Updates
Actual Results:
System Error The program can't start because api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is
missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem
Expected Results:
No update should take a working program and install components that create a
system order when you try to run the program that was running just before the
update. No update should run if it or the program it is installing is
incompatible with the current Operating system and preferably a warning message
to that effect should be displayed.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
Version: 25.2.4.3 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 33e196637044ead23f5c3226cde09b47731f7e27
CPU threads: 8; OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 X86_64 (6.1 build 7601); UI
render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded
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