FIX – Error (0xc0000142) in MS Office

FIX (0xc0000142) – Later installing the updates on a Windows 10 with Office 2019, the following issue occurred: Not all MS Office applications open with the error: “The application could not be started correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.”

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FIX: Error 0xc0000142 – Application could not be started correctly – Office 2019/2016

Application error 0xc0000142 “The application could not start correctly” can occur when you try to open a Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019 program (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.) after installing the following Windows 10 updates:

KB4480116: Cumulative Update 2019-01 for Wins10

KB4481031: 2019-01 Cumulative Updates for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.7.2 for Windows 10

KB4483235: Cumulative Update 2018-12 for Windows 10

This tutorial offers step-by-step instructions on fixing error 0xC0000142 when starting an Office 2016/2019 App.

How to fix application error 0xC0000142

Important: Before using the following methods any further, go to the Update and Security Center and install any available updates.

Method 1. Uninstall the latest Windows or Office updates.

Method 2. Restore your computer to earlier working state.

Method 3. Repair the desktop installation.

Method 1. Uninstall the latest Windows or Office updates.

The first way to fix error 0xc0000142 in Office programs is to uninstall the latest Windows updates from your PC. To do this:

Simultaneously press Windows Image + R keys to open the Run command box.
In the Run cmd, type: appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
Under Programs and Features on the left, click View installed updates.
Click Installed On to sort the updates by installation date, then select and uninstall the latest Windows (or Office) updates.
When the uninstallation process is complete, restart your computer.
After restarting, open any Office application and see if the error 0x0000142 has been resolved. If the error continues, follow the same steps and uninstall the latest updates before proceeding to the following method.

Method 2. Restore your system to the earlier working state.

The following method to resolve error 0xc0000142 – Application did not start correctly in Office 2016 or Office 2019 is to use Windows System Restore to restore your PC to a previous state. To do this:

At once, press Windows Image + R keys to open the Run command box.
In the Run cmd, type: rstrui and press Enter.
On the first screen of System Restore Wizard, click Next, select a previous state and click Next to restore your system to that chosen date.
After the System Restore is complete, check if the error 0xc0000142 is resolved.

Method 3. Repair office.

The final way to fix error 0xc0000142 in MS Office 2016/2019 is to repair the Office installation by following the steps below:

At once, press Windows Image + R keys to open the command panel to run.
In the Run cmd, type: appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
Under Programs and Features, select the version of Office that you installed and click Change.
Leave the Quick Repair option selected and click the Repair option.
After the Office repair process is complete, start any Office application and see if the error persists. If the “0xc0000142” error occurs over, follow the same steps but this time select the Online Repair option. *

* Note: The online repair process will remove all Office applications on your PC and then reinstall them. After the reinstallation, you may be asked to reactivate your Office product.

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