Skip to main content
xjuanfx
Inspiring
Aug 17, 2025 5:37 AM UTC
Open for Voting

After Effects 25.4 won't start, it crashes on the splash screen, but there is a solution.

After Effects 25.4 does not start, it crashes on the splash screen, but deleting the microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll file located in: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC\File Formats, fixes the problem.

I am not sure if that same file is present in version 25.3.

PC SPECS:
- Ryzen 7 2700X
- RX 6500XT
- 16GB of RAM
- Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (26100.4946)

    9 replies

    Devil's_Eye0480
    Participant
    Oct 26, 2026 3:52 PM UTC

    Title: After Effects 2023 Crashes on Startup Even in Safe Mode — RuntimeInstaller.dll Error

    Hi everyone,

    I am facing a persistent startup crash with Adobe After Effects 2023 on Windows 11. I have tried several troubleshooting steps, but the issue is still not resolved.

    System specifications:

    • Laptop: ASUS Vivobook 16X K3605VC

    • CPU: Intel Core i5-13420H

    • RAM: 16 GB

    • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050 Laptop GPU (4 GB) + Intel integrated graphics

    • OS: Windows 11, build 26300.9711

    • After Effects: Version 23.6.0.62

    Crash dump details:

    • Faulting module: RuntimeInstaller.dll

    • DLL version: 23.6.0.61

    • Faulting function: RuntimeInstaller::SetSupportedCodecs

    • Exception code: 0xC0000005 (Access Violation)

    • Failure bucket: INVALID_POINTER_READ_c0000005_RuntimeInstaller.DLL!Unknown

    An earlier crash report also showed nvoglv64.dll with a BEX64 error.

    Troubleshooting already attempted:

    • Launched After Effects in Safe Mode — it still crashes.

    • Reset preferences and tried disabling plugins.

    • Cleared temporary files.

    • Changed the NVIDIA graphics driver.

    • Ran SFC and DISM; SFC reported no integrity violations.

    • Reinstalled After Effects, but the crash persisted.

    • Adobe Media Encoder 2023 and Adobe Animate 2023 work on the same system.

    I also tested renaming microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll, but it did not fix the issue.

    My questions:

    1. Has anyone experienced this specific RuntimeInstaller::SetSupportedCodecs crash?

    2. Could this be caused by a codec/runtime initialization issue, mismatched installation files, or Windows build compatibility?

    3. Is there a known fix or a reliable way to diagnose this without reinstalling Windows?

    I would appreciate any help. I can provide additional crash dump details if needed.

    Thank you!

    Translate
    Cesar28045243qywc
    Participant
    Oct 31, 2026 3:51 AM UTC

    Hello, was getting this error as well and found the fix for it.

     

    Blocking the AfterFX.exe file from making inbound and outbound connections via Windows Firewall fixed this issue for me.

    Translate
    Romain Cousin
    Romain Cousin
    Participant
    Sep 4, 2026 12:30 PM UTC

    I just had this issue on versions 2022, 2023, and 2024 and the trick of renaming the microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll file worked.
    Oddly enough, versions 2025 and 2026 worked without any problem.

    Translate
    jayborland
    Participant
    Jun 5, 2026 11:06 AM UTC

    If you use the windows resource available to you, specifically Event Viewer and go down into Windows Logs → Application and select the error logged, you will see clearly that it tells you microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll is causing the problem, then renaming it from microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll → microsoft.ai.machinelearning.bak and running AE again, you will find it now loads. There is no credit due or special fix, simply use your common logic and the tools available to troubleshoot.

    Translate
    jayborland
    Participant
    Jun 5, 2026 11:32 AM UTC

    Log Name: Application
    Source: Application Error
    Date: 05 Jun 2026 12:32:28
    Event ID: 1000
    Task Category: (100)
    Level: Error
    Keywords: Classic
    User: N/A
    Computer: AUX-DESIGN
    Description:
    Faulting application name: AfterFX.exe, version: 26.2.1.2, time stamp: 0x69e301de
    Faulting module name: microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll, version: 1.23.0.0, time stamp: 0x68e9647b
    Exception code: 0xc0000409
    Fault offset: 0x00000000000e0827
    Faulting process ID: 0x310c
    Faulting application start time: 0x01dcf4d68ca305f7
    Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects 2026\Support Files\AfterFX.exe
    Faulting module path: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC\File Formats\microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll
    Report ID: 30ca96f7-6f9a-42eb-8237-54755938b44d
    Faulting package full name:
    Faulting package-relative application ID:
    Event Xml: http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event
    <System>
    <Provider Name="Application Error" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>100</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2026-06-05T10:32:28.3172682Z" />
    <EventRecordID>8384</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>AUX-DESIGN</Computer>
    <Security />
    </System>
    <EventData>
    <Data>AfterFX.exe</Data>
    <Data>26.2.1.2</Data>
    <Data>69e301de</Data>
    <Data>microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll</Data>
    <Data>1.23.0.0</Data>
    <Data>68e9647b</Data>
    <Data>c0000409</Data>
    <Data>00000000000e0827</Data>
    <Data>310c</Data>
    <Data>01dcf4d68ca305f7</Data>
    <Data>C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects 2026\Support Files\AfterFX.exe</Data>
    <Data>C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC\File Formats\microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll</Data>
    <Data>30ca96f7-6f9a-42eb-8237-54755938b44d</Data>
    <Data>
    </Data>
    <Data>
    </Data>
    </EventData>
    </Event>

    I renamed the microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll to microsoft.ai.machinelearning.bak and then ran AE again and it loads fine.
    So its definitely the microsoft.ai.machinelearning.dll that causing problems. Is there a different version of it or one thats patched which will allow me to retain the AI functionality?

    Translate
    something_6935
    Participant
    Aug 22, 2025 2:39 PM UTC

    You can view this yourself on Monkrus app comments section for this from the start of August:
    https://ibb.co/zh408WDJ

    Translate
    something_6935
    Participant
    Aug 22, 2025 2:34 PM UTC

    This isn't your own fix, you are taking credit for something that has been posted already on non-genuiune Adobe sites.

     

    This is posetd on Monkrus Premiere Pro app comments sesction for Adobe After Effects 2025 (v25.4) Multilingual

     

    You have just posted this on various forums trying to get credit for the fix.

     

    Comment section showing solution from start of August

    Translate
    erfan_1868
    Participant
    Aug 21, 2025 7:10 PM UTC

    Have the same problem, and it helps. Thank you so much. But, how can we fix this problem without deleting this file. This file will be need it for ai

    Translate
    Mike_Red
    Inspiring
    Aug 19, 2025 9:46 AM UTC

    Whoah!! Thank you so much for this. Your trick did wonders! I deleted this file and AE can finally launch. I wonder how this basic bug went unnoticed at Adobe's end. 

    Translate
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices