The application failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect

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• Fix: Side-by-Side Configuration Is Incorrect in Windows 10

By Vera | Follow | Last Updated March 04, 2021

If you are running Windows 10, you may have an error when starting an app - the application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. How do I fix side by side configuration error? You may ask. Now, get the solutions from this article offered by MiniTool.

Side-by-Side Configuration Error Windows 10

Actually, you are not alone to receive the error and many users have reported this issue. When trying to open a program, Windows will show you the error message:

“The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.”

This problem could happen in a number of programs. And one of the most common reasons for this issue is a conflict between the C++ run-time libraries with the app. As a result, the app fails to load the required C++ files due to the conflict. Besides, corrupt system files may also give rise to Windows 10 side-by-side configuration error.

The good news is that you can easily get rid of this error, just simply follow the below-given solutions to troubleshoot your issue.

Solutions to Windows 10 Side-by-Side Configuration Is Incorrect Error

Use Another Installer

If you see this error while installing a program, it is likely that the installer is corrupted. So, you should download a correct installation package from the official website and set up the app. Then, the error should be solved.

Reinstall the Problematic Program

If the incorrect side-by-side configuration error happens when you launch an app, you can try reinstalling it to fix the problem.

Here is how to do it:

1. Open Control Panel in Windows 10 and show all the items by large icons.

2. Click Programs and Features.

3. Right-click the problematic program from the app list and choose Uninstall to remove it from the computer.

4. Get the latest version of this app and install it to check if the error still persists.

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

On your machine, the Visual C++ runtime components may be missing or corrupted, causing the issue - Windows 10 side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the C++ Redistributable Packages can be helpful to help you out.

1. Go to the app list via Control Panel and right-click each Visual C++ Redistributable Package to choose Uninstall.

2. Go to the Microsoft C++ download website and download the installers you have uninstalled. Then, install them on your machine.

3. Restart the PC and see if you still get the error – the application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.

Run SFC Scan

As mentioned above, corrupted system files may be the culprit. So, if you encounter the app error, you can perform a scan for the system with System File Checker (SFC).

1. Input cmd to the search box of Windows 10, right-click Command Prompt and run it as administrator.
2. Type the command: sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
3. This process will take some time, so wait patiently.

Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

Whenever encountering the problem while opening or installing an app in Windows 10, you should run the compatibility troubleshooter since this can fix common app installation or opening errors. If you are lucky enough, you can fix the side-by-side configuration issue.

1. Click Start > Settings > Update & Security.
2. Find Program Compatibility Troubleshooter from the Troubleshoot page and run the troubleshooter.

The End

Here are some possible methods to fix the application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Try them and you can easily get rid of the error in Windows 10.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Vera is an editor of the MiniTool Team since 2016 who has more than 5 years’ writing experiences in the field of technical articles. Her articles mainly focus on disk & partition management, PC data recovery, video conversion, as well as PC backup & restore, helping users to solve some errors and issues when using their computers. In her spare times, she likes shopping, playing games and reading some articles.