At its core, Error 126 is a standard Windows error code meaning "The specified module could not be found."
If you have third-party AV (Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes) or Windows Defender's enabled, Rainmeter may be blocked from loading DLLs from System32 .
A: This is a very common case. The MSIAfterburner plugin is older and its dependencies are not always present on a new system. It almost certainly requires either Visual C++ Redistributables or an updated .NET Framework. You should follow the Targeted Fix #2 above, which should resolve the missing dependencies. One user fixed this exact error simply by updating the .NET Framework from 4.6.2 to 4.8.1.
Download and install the latest stable version from the official Rainmeter website . 2. Install or Repair Visual C++ Redistributables Rainmeter.dll Load Error 126
If you are still seeing this error, it is recommended to check the specific plugin mentioned in the error message for potential incompatibilities with your Windows version. If you want, I can help you: Identify which specific DLL is missing from your error log Locate the proper Visual C++ package Guide you through the safe mode removal of a skin
Many Rainmeter plugins require specific versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable . If the exact version the plugin was built with is missing, you get Error 126.
Run the installers and select if already installed, or install them if prompted. Restart your computer. 2. Check and Reinstall Missing Skin Plugins At its core, Error 126 is a standard
If a Rainmeter plugin is listed, restore it and add the C:\Program Files\Rainmeter folder to your antivirus . 4. Remove Faulty Skins (Safe Mode Method) If the error is caused by a broken skin, you can remove it. Open Task Manager and End Task on Rainmeter.exe .
So, Rainmeter.dll is present on your hard drive, but Windows cannot "load" it into memory because a is missing.
FIX: Failed to load onlinefix64.dll Error Code 126 (2026 Guide) Download and install the latest stable version from
This is the most common cause. Many Rainmeter plugins are built using Microsoft's development tools and require the libraries to function. If these are missing or outdated, Rainmeter can't load the plugin. In fact, for many older plugins, fixing this error is as simple as installing the Visual Studio 2015 Redistributable. Likewise, some plugins may rely on the .NET Framework to operate, so an outdated version can also cause problems.
Did this error happen ? Which version of Windows are you currently running?
Run the installers. If you already have them, choose the option. Restart your computer. 3. Check Antivirus/Firewall Interference