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Windows | Lightroom doesn't start

  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Set Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    7. Reset Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
  3. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Display the Library on a second monitor
    3. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    4. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    5. Color management
  4. Import photos
    1. Specify import options
    2. Set import preferences
    3. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    4. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    5. Import photos automatically
    6. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    7. Import photos from a tethered camera
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  5. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  6. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    15. Edit and Export in HDR
    16. Remove Tool
  7. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  8. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  9. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop
  10. Manage catalogs and files
    1. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    2. Create and manage catalogs
    3. Back up a catalog
    4. Locate missing photos
    5. Create and manage folders
    6. Manage photos within folders
  11. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  12. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  13. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  14. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  15. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  16. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts
  17. Content Authenticity 
    1. Content Authenticity in Lightroom Classic
  18. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  19. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed Issues
    2. Known Issues
  20. Technical Support
    1. Performance Guidelines
      1. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix issues in Lightroom Classic
      2. Optimize performance
      3. Keep Lightroom up to date
      4. Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic
      5. Allow Permissions to Lightroom Classic on macOS
    2.  Technical issues
      1. GPU Issues
        1. Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ
      2. Startup Issues
        1. Windows | Lightroom doesn't start
        2. Error: Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        3. Error: 'Unexpected error opening catalog' occurs in Lightroom after Windows 10 upgrade
        4. "Assertion failed" update error | Windows
        5. Error MSVCR110.dll opening apps in Windows 10
      3. Rendering Issues
        1. Troubleshoot issues with Develop module
      4. Stability Issues
        1. Troubleshoot crash or freeze in Lightroom Classic
      5. Miscellaneous Issues
        1. FAQ | Color in Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom desktop and mobile apps unavailable to Education memberships | Kivuto
    3. Workflow Issues
      1. Catalog Issues
        1. Error : Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        2. Troubleshoot corrupt catalog
        3. Locate missing photos
        4. Recover catalog and images after resetting preferences
        5. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
      2. Sync Issues
        1. Lightroom Classic sync FAQ

Try the solutions in this document to resolve Lightroom launch-related issues on Windows.

Issue

When you try launching Lightroom on your Windows machine, nothing happens.

The Lightroom app shows up in the Windows Task Manager window for a few seconds and then disappears. The Event Viewer in Windows shows the faulting module as MSVCR120.dll.

Note:

To open the Event Viewer, in the Windows Control Panel, click Administrative Tools and then click Event Viewer. See this Microsoft article for more information.

Windows Event viewer showing MSVCR120.dll as the faulting module

Solutions

Solution 1: Install any pending Windows updates

See Windows Update: FAQ for more information on keeping Windows up to date.

Solution 2: Uninstall and repair MS C++ redistributable packages

  1. (Windows) On your computer, navigate to Control Panel > Programs And Features.

    Note:

    The procedure for opening the Control Panel may differ, depending on the version of Windows that your computer is running. Refer to this Microsoft Help article to understand how to open the Control Panel.

  2. On the Programs And Features screen, uninstall all the 2005, 2008, and 2010 versions of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages.

    Uninstall all the 2005, 2008, and 2010 versions of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages

  3. Once you've uninstalled these packages, download and reinstall the 2005, 2008, and 2010 versions of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages.

    Use the following Microsoft links for download and install instructions:

     

  4. Try launching Lightroom again. If you still face launch-related issues, proceed to Step 5 of this procedure.

  5. After you've reinstalled the above packages, navigate again to Control Panel > Programs And Features. On the Programs and Features screen, repair all the versions of Microsoft Visual C++ 2012, 2013, and 2015 redistributable packages. To do so, follow these steps:

    • Right-click the package and choose Change from the context menu.
    • Click Repair.

    For details, see Microsoft's documentation on Repairing or removing programs.

    Repair all the versions of Microsoft Visual C++ 2012, 2013, and 2015 redistributable packages

    Note:

    If any of the versions shown above is not already installed on your machine, ensure that you install the latest versions of 2012, 2013, and 2015 Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages (both x86 and x64) on your machine. For download links, visit Microsoft's page: The latest supported Visual C++ downloads.

  6. Restart your computer.

  7. Try launching Lightroom now.

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