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Fix: Side by Side Configuration Incorrect on Windows 10

Check out how experts troubleshoot this error

5 min. read

Updated onMarch 20, 2024

updated onMarch 20, 2024

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Key notes

Windows 10and 11 might improve compared to their predecessors, but these still suffer from some old problems. For example, one of the common problems that all Windows versions have is the Side-by-side configuration is incorrecterror.

The error message reads:This application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.

The cases where you generally encounter the error are as follows

But what does that mean exactly, and why does it happen? We will cover it in the following sections, along with the solutions that helped most users fix things on their system.

What is a side-by-side configuration error?

Thiserrorappears when you try to install or update specific software and is usually caused by aconflict between the files in the C++ runtime librariesand the software that you’re trying to update/install.

These C++ libraries are part of the Windows operating system, and often they get updated when you install Microsoft software or sometimes third-party software.

If you’re experiencing theSide-by-side configuration incorrecterror too, you might want to try the solutions presented in the next section to fix it.

How can I fix side-by-side configuration error in Windows 10?

1. Run DISM and SFC scan

After the computer restarts, verify if This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect error is fixed. If not, likely, the issue doesn’t lie with corrupt system files or Windows images. So, move to the following method.

A specialized programcan be very helpful to this process because it scans your entire PC and checks for errors, including this one.

2. Repair or reinstall the software

If you are facingThe application has failed to start because its side-by-sideconfiguration is incorrect error with L A Noire, reinstalling it should do the trick. Also, try it for the other apps since it’s one of the most effective solutions.

3. Uninstall all the Microsoft Visual C++ installations and install them again

If repairing or reinstalling the application doesn’t help, try doing the same withMicrosoft Visual C++packages.

Find allMicrosoft Visual C++and uninstall all the packages one by one. Then, you need todownload the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributablepackages. Make sure to get all those that you removed earlier.

If you’re still using a 32-bit version of Windows, remember that you only need to download packages with x86 in their name. Then, install all the boxes and restart your Windows 10.

If the issue isn’t resolved, it might be best for you to contact Microsoft support and ask a certified technician what the cause of this problem is.

How do I find application event log?

How do I fix side by side configuration is incorrect in Windows 11?

The same set of solutions that fix theSide by side configuration is incorrecterror in Windows 10 should work in Windows 11 as well.

Suppose it doesn’t verify that your installer is not corrupted. Get one from an official source and check if that helps. The last option available is resetting Windows 11 to factory settings. And this one should work for all but should only be used as a last resort.

Where else can this error be seen?

That’s it! These are all the ways you can fix theSide-by-side configurationerror in Windows 10 and 11.

Also, find out what to do if youcannot install Visual C++ 2015 Redistributablein Windows.

Drop them in the comments section below if you know of other methods to fix the problem.

Fix: Side by Side Configuration Incorrect on Windows 10#

What is a side-by-side configuration error?#

How can I fix side-by-side configuration error in Windows 10?#

1. Run DISM and SFC scan#

2. Repair or reinstall the software#

3. Uninstall all the Microsoft Visual C++ installations and install them again#

How do I find application event log?#

How do I fix side by side configuration is incorrect in Windows 11?#

Where else can this error be seen?#