How To Troubleshoot the Microsoft Windows App Runtime DDLM Error

That error message about “There’s a problem with Microsoft Windows App Runtime DynamicDependency LifetimeManager” can be a real pain, especially because it pops up kinda randomly or when trying to open specific apps. Sometimes it’s only a handful of your programs that get tripped up, other times it’s seemingly everything. What’s annoying is that after a Windows update, this tends to happen more often, probably because the update shakes up some core components — specifically the DynamicDependency LifetimeManager (DDLM), which is basically the Windows way of managing app dependencies and runtime resources behind the scenes.

So, if you’re staring at this error every time you try launching an app or even at random, the fixes below might help. The good thing is, most of them are straightforward, and if one doesn’t work, another might. But fair warning, sometimes Windows feels like it has a mind of its own with these things, so a bit of patience is needed.

Starting with a quick restart often helps fix temporary glitches—Windows has to clear out the cobwebs and reload its core services. If that doesn’t cut it, these methods have been known to clear up the problem. Just be aware, on some setups, a restart may temporarily hide the issue but not fix it completely, so keep trying if it’s persistent.

How to Fix the “DynamicDependency LifetimeManager” Error in Windows

Method 1: Reset or Repair the Windows App Runtime DDLM

This is usually the first thing to try because it directly targets the component causing the hiccup. When you reset or repair, it forces Windows to refresh that part of the app runtime, which often clears corrupted configs or broken dependencies.

1. Open Settings by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings.
2. Navigate to Apps > Apps & Features.
3. Use the search box to type Runtime.
4. You should see something like Microsoft App Runtime x6 and x8. Those are different versions for various app frameworks.
5. Click on x6, then choose Advanced options. You might have to scroll down a bit or click the three-dot menu.
6. Now, hit the Repair button. The repair process is quick and kinda unremarkable, but it rebuilds the core files.
7. Do the same for x8. Sometimes you need to repair both, as apps might be depending on either version.
8. If the error sticks around, go back to the same screens and hit the Reset button instead. That’ll wipe the local cache and settings for those runtime components.
9. After that, reboot your PC and see if the apps open normally or continue throwing the error.

Method 2: Roll Back or Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

This is kinda a last resort but sometimes needed if an update just breaks things. Microsoft patches are supposed to fix stuff, but often they introduce new bugs, especially if the system isn’t fully compatible or if some files got corrupted during the install.

1. Hit the Start button, then open Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update in the sidebar.
4. Select View update history.
5. Click on Uninstall updates to get to the list.
6. Look for recent updates by name or date—you’ll probably recognize the ones installed just before the error started showing up. Big updates like KBxxxxxxx are typically the culprits.
7. Select the update and click Uninstall. Your system will need to reboot to undo the change.

If you’re not sure which update causes the problem, some people go back a couple of days or weeks to see if that makes a difference. Just keep in mind, rolling back can solve the error temporarily, but Microsoft might release a fix in a later update, so keep an eye out.

Method 3: Repair System Files with DISM and SFC

Sometimes, Windows just gets its files scrambled, especially after updates. Running these commands can fix missing or broken system files without you needing to reinstall everything.

1. Press Windows key or click the Start menu.
2. Type cmd, then right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. If you see User Account Control prompts, accept.

3. In the black window that pops up, enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth SFC /Scannow

Let each process finish — they can take a few minutes. DISM looks for corrupted files and attempts to fix them, while SFC scans and repairs system files. On some setups, running SFC after DISM is enough, but it doesn’t hurt to do both.

Once done, restart your PC and see if the apps launch without the error. If not, you might want to run the commands again or consider more drastic options.

Method 4: Do a Clean Boot to Detect Conflicting Apps

This step basically starts Windows with just the essentials, so if third-party apps or services are messing things up, this should reveal it.

1. Sign in as an admin user.
2. Open Run (press Windows + R), type msconfig, and press Enter.
3. Switch to the Services tab.
4. Check Hide all Microsoft services to avoid disabling core Windows stuff.
5. Click Disable all, then hit Apply.
6. Go to the Startup tab — in Windows 10/11, this opens Task Manager.
7. Click Open Task Manager. Disable all startup items by right-clicking and choosing Disable.
8. Close Task Manager, then click OK on msconfig and restart your PC.

After rebooting, check if apps still pop the error. If not, then some background program was causing it. You can now re-enable stuff gradually to find the culprit.

To undo the clean boot setup, repeat the steps but restore the default startup (select Normal Startup in msconfig) and re-enable your apps and services.

Good luck with this mess. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but these methods usually get you back to working apps without the error hanging around. Fingers crossed this helps someone shave off a few hours.

Summary

• Restart your PC — it’s simple but often effective.
• Try repairing or resetting the app runtime components.
• Consider uninstalling a recent Windows update if the error appeared after one.
• Run DISM and SFC to fix possible corrupt system files.
• Perform a clean boot to track down conflicts with other apps/services.

Wrap-up

Resolving Windows runtime errors like this can be frustrating, especially when they pop up out of nowhere. Usually, whacking the runtime components or rolling back updates does the trick. If all else fails, sometimes waiting for Microsoft to roll out an update or digging deeper with support is the way to go. Hopefully, these steps can save someone a headache or two—and maybe even get those stubborn apps running smoothly again.