Windows error 126 (ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: Windows could not locate a required executable module or one of its dependencies.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
EADDRNOTAVAIL	errno	Solaris
ENOTCONN	errno	Windows
SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED	BugCheck Code	Windows

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ERROR_NO_VOLUME_LABEL	ERROR_PROC_NOT_FOUND

ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND

A module needed for loading is missing

ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND is commonly returned by dynamic loading when the requested DLL cannot be found. It can also mean the named DLL exists but one of its dependent modules is absent, blocked, or unavailable for the current architecture.

What to inspect

Log the full module name and the directory from which loading was attempted.
Check dependent DLLs, not only the top-level file.
Verify x86, x64, or ARM64 compatibility with the process.
Review safe DLL search order and avoid relying on the current directory.

Recovery

Install or deploy the required component in an approved location, correct the configured path, or remove the unavailable optional feature. Do not copy arbitrary DLLs from unrelated systems. Dependency tools and loader diagnostics can reveal the actual missing module.

References

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