Apps crash most of the time, and it could be caused by a wide range of factors, regardless of the operating system. Some app crashes are characterized by an unresponsive UI, making it difficult for the user to close the app using normal methods. Some apps just close automatically while others just won’t load. There are also app crashes that return an error, such as the “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11.
According to several user reports, the “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11 usually happens after updating the operating system, particularly build 1903 and other major updates. It seems that the issue occurs because of the incompatibility issue between the app and the updated operating system. The program is not able to launch properly due to software issues, causing it to stop working and triggering the “Application.exe has stopped working” error.
This issue might seem like an ordinary error that can be easily fixed by relaunching the app, but the affected users end up realizing that this error is a lot harder to deal with compared to ordinary app crashes. It is true that most app crashes can be easily resolved by relaunching the app, but this doesn’t apply to those instances that involve the “Application.exe has stopped working” error. When this error pops up, this means that the reason behind the crash is more than a simple glitch or other minor issue.
Depending on the version of Windows you are using, here are some of the variations of error messages you might come across:
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- Application.exe has stopped working
A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Please close the program.
Close the program - Application.exe has stopped working
Windows can check online for a solution to the problem.
-Check online for a solution and close the program
-Close the program
What Causes the “Application.exe has stopped working” Error?
As mentioned earlier, incompatibility is the primary reason behind the application crash and the occurrence of the Windows 10/11 error called “Application.exe has stopped working.” This error is particularly common after a major system update has been installed on the computer. Some Windows users specifically mentioned the 1903 update, but other reports showed the same error happening after installing other major Windows feature updates. The “Application.exe has stopped working” error appears on Windows 10/11, especially right after the installation and all the other programs have not been updated. The outdated app does not work well with the updated version of the OS, causing it to crash.
But if you did not install any updates recently and you’re getting this “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11, you should consider other elements that might be causing this problem. These factors include:
- Virus/malware infection
- Temporary files
- Corrupted registry entries
- Damaged system files
The good news is that this kind of error can be easily resolved. There are many ways to go around fixing the Windows 10/11 error “Application.exe has stopped working” and we’ll discuss the steps one by one.
How to Fix the “Application.exe has stopped working” Error on Windows 10/11?
If you think a simple re-launch of the app will resolve this error, then you’re in for a great disappointment. This will require more than a simple closing and re-launching the app for the error to go away. But before you tackle this issue, here are some checklists you need to go through first to make sure nothing would go wrong with your troubleshooting efforts.
- Disable your anti-malware software temporarily while fixing this error. Don’t forget to turn it back on after the issue has been resolved.
- Delete junk files that might be interfering with your processes using a reliable PC repair tool.
- Uninstall apps or programs that you no longer use.
- Make sure you have enough storage space and memory for the apps to work properly.
Once you have completed the steps above, proceed with the solutions below:
Fix #1: Restart the Program.
If the app crashed and you’re getting the “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11 for the first time, all you need to do is close the crash report then try restarting the app again. This only works for one-time errors caused by an unexpected corruption or a temporary lack of computer resources. Make sure to close the program completely, including its processes, before you open it again. You can kill the processes by going to Task Manager and quitting all the processes associated with the program encountering the error.
You can also try restarting your computer to refresh the system. Once you have completely closed the app and have restarted your computer, try launching the faulty app again. If it loads properly, it means that the error is temporary. But if this method doesn’t work, it means that you have a more serious problem to deal with. In this case, proceed to the next step.
Fix #2: Update the App.
Windows usually delivers system and app updates via the Windows Update service. Unfortunately, some app developers don’t release their updates using this avenue. In case the program you are having trouble with can’t be updated using the Windows Update, you can visit the developer’s website and download the latest patch from there. If the “Application.exe has stopped working” error you are getting is caused by incompatibility issues, keeping your programs updated should do the trick.
Fix #3: Configure the App’s Compatibility Settings.
Most of the time, programs are designed to be compatible with the latest version of the operating system. So, if the app you’re using was released when Windows 7 was popular, then it should be optimized to work well with Windows 7. This is the same with programs released along with older versions of Windows. But most PCs right now are running Windows 10/11 after Microsoft stopped support for Windows 7 earlier this year. This causes compatibility issues for apps that were designed for previous versions of Windows.
Fortunately, Windows has a built-in feature wherein you can configure old software or games to be compatible with Windows 10/11. So, if your app has problems running on a Windows 10/11 computer, you can adjust the compatibility settings so that you’ll be able to run the app smoothly. This will also prevent your apps from crashing frequently.
Follow the steps below to change the compatibility settings of the app in question:
- Go to the installation folder of the faulty app. All installed programs should be found under Program Files. Properties
- Locate the .exe file or the launcher, right-click on it, then open.
- Under the Compatibility tab, tick off the box beside Run this program in compatibility mode for.
- Choose your preferred Windows version.
- Click OK to confirm the changes.
If you chose Windows 7, your app will now run as if it is within a Windows 7 environment. This should help reduce app crashes and resolve the “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11.
Fix #4: Run as an Administrator.
Some programs only function properly if the user has enough administrative rights. You need to make sure that the app is being launched with administrator rights to fix this issue. To do this:
- Go to the installation folder of the faulty app. All installed programs should be found under Program Files.
- Locate the .exe file or the launcher, right-click on it, then open Properties.
- Under the Compatibility tab, tick off the box beside Run as Administrator.
- Click OK to confirm the changes.
Fix #5: Repair Your Windows files
Corrupted system files can also prevent applications from running properly and lead to “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11. To fix this, you can run the System File Checker or SFC tool to scan for corrupted system files and restore them if possible.
To repair your Windows files, you’ll need to open a Command Prompt window with elevated privilege.In the CMD window, type in this command: sfc/scannow. Hit Enter to execute the command, and your system will automatically initiate the scan. You’ll need to wait for the whole process to finish, you don’t have to do anything else after that. Once completed, you’ll be presented with a list of issues that have been fixed, along with other instructions.
If the System File Checker tool is not enough to repair your system files, you can proceed with the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Here are the commands you need to type in the CMD window:
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Conclusion
The “Application.exe has stopped working” error on Windows 10/11 is not a critical issue, but it doesn’t mean that you should disregard it as well. You won’t be able to use the faulty app that’s triggering this error, unless you follow the above methods to fix it. If none of them work, your last option would be to uninstall then reinstall a fresh copy of the app.