How to fix “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error

What is “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error

Failed to locate Framework.dll is a kind of message that users may face while trying to launch or even install some program. The issue indicates that the Framework.dll (Microsoft.Build.Framework.dll) file could not be located by the program to run correctly. Here are some variants of messages with the error that users may encounter:

DLL files are tied to certain programs/games and play an important role in making sure the software launches and runs correctly. When one of the files becomes corrupted or missing, the associated program can run into a fault at the early start or later down the road. The most common reasons for the “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error have been reported to be damaged/missing system files, a program corruption, disabled .NET Framework, and other possible causes. Below, we have compiled a couple of solutions that will most likely alleviate the issue and help you launch and use the necessary program without previously experienced issues.

1. Check integrity of system files

The first thing we advise to begin with is to check whether there are any missing files within the system. To do this, you can use SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) utilities, which will detect and restore absent components if any will be eventually found. Make sure to use both utilities as they may have a different impact on solving the problem. This is how:

Using SFC

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

Using DISM

1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
4. Once done, restart your PC and try to use the problematic application again.

If this does not work, get down to the other solutions presented below.

2. Restart .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8

1. Type Control Panel into the search bar next to Start Menu.
2. Open it up and choose Programs and Features.
3. Then select Turn Windows features on or off.
4. The list of Windows features will appear immediately.
5. You should find both .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.8.
6. Uncheck their boxes and click OK to disable them temporarily.
7. Then click Restart now to reboot your PC.
8. Once you are back on the desktop, open the same window by repeating the previous steps.
9. Now you should check the boxes for two .NET Framework features that were disabled and click “OK”.
10. Windows will therefore ask you to choose between two options. Make sure you select Let Windows Update download the files for you.
11. After the changes have been applied, close the window.

Now, as the next stage of this solution, we should enable .NET Framework using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool).

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to Start Menu.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, copy-paste this command DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All and click Enter.
4. As soon as Windows writes the operation completed successfully, you can close the console and try to open the problematic program again.

3. Install the latest version of .NET Framework

The “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error is usually related to the missing Microsoft.Build.Framework.dll. This file is part of the .NET Framework, on which many programs are based on. Although .NET Framework might already be installed in your system, there is a chance it is outdated or does not work correctly as it should. Thus, its installation or reinstallation may help.
Here is how you can do this:

1. Go to this official download page for .NET Framework.
2. Select the latest version of .NET Framework and click on Runtime on the next page next to Web installer.
3. Open the downloaded installer and complete its installation.
4. Once done, restart your PC and try to open the app you were struggling with.

If this does not work, move on to the next solutions below.

4. Re-register DLL files manually

You can also manually re-register all DLL files using Command Prompt. This is easy to do and will make sure all the essential files are in place for the proper operation of your program. Follow the steps below to perform it.

1. Open Command Prompt like we did in the previous step.
2. Copy-paste this command for %1 in (*.dll) do regsvr32 /s %1 and press Enter.
3. The process may take a couple of seconds. Once done, restart your PC and check whether you can finally open the problematic application.

5. Download Microsoft.Build.Framework.dll manually

If none of the methods above helped, you can try to get your hands on downloading and installing the missing dll file separately. To do so, you can go to this page and follow the instructions written on it. They will guide you towards a successful replacement of the Microsoft.Build.Framework.dll to remove the error.

6. Reinstall the problematic application

In some cases, the cause of the error can be that the program got corrupted itself. The missing file may actually be already present, but it is the program the fails to see it and get over the issue. Thus, running its reinstallation can help with fixing the problem.

1. Left-click on the magnifying glass right next to Start menu and search for Control Panel.
2. Open it up and choose Uninstall a program under Programs.
3. Select the program dealing with the error and click Uninstall.
4. Finally, install it again and check if the error appears.

7. Scan your system for malware

Inadvertent malware or unwanted software infections that sometimes sneak into the system can affect damage on certain settings and files stored in a system. If none of the previous methods worked and you think there is a chance your system is under some infection, then make sure to use Windows Defender or advanced anti-malware software. We recommend using an antivirus developed by Malwarebytes – a company that proved its trust and effectiveness worldwide. It is now available for Windows 11 as well. You can download it now using the link below and try a 14-day trial of the ultimate antimalware experience for free.

Malwarebytes main window

Malwarebytes settings

Malwarebytes scan results

8. Use System Restore Point

The last-resort solution if nothing alleviates the issue is to take advantage of System Restore. Though, this is likely to work if the error was not present sometime before and now started appearing for an unknown reason. Therefore, we will try to find whether your system has a restore point when the issue did not exist and the program worked flawlessly. Let’s do it using these steps below:

1. Open Control Panel as we did in the steps above.
2. Set View by to Large icons and choose Recovery. You can also find it using the search box.
3. Click Open System Restore and select Next.
4. Choose a restore point you want to you from the list and click Scan for affected programs to see what programs will be deleted upon restoration. If there are no Restore points visible, try to choose Show more restore points.
5. Click Next again and Finish to finalize the process and let Windows restore your system from the selected backup.
6. We hope this finally helped you forget about this annoying issue.

Summary

In conclusion, the “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error is just one of the countless other errors related to missing or corrupted DLL files. However, with a plethora of effective solutions, this and other DLL-related issues should not be something to worry about. We hope the “Failed to locate Framework.dll” error no longer appears and does not prevent you from using the necessary app. If you find yourself faced with other system errors or even malware threats, feel free to look for relevant articles on our website. Each day we publish a lot of new material dedicated to resolving various errors and threats that target users on a daily basis.