What does it mean when it says Side by side configuration is incorrect?

One of the infamous errors with Windows has been ‘side-by-side configuration is incorrect’ when launching an app. Some Chrome users have been complaining about the same lately. If you are among those, read along to learn how to fix an incorrect side-by-side configuration in Windows 10 or 11.

Before we go ahead and show you how to fix a side-by-side configuration is an incorrect error with any of the affected Windows app, you should learn what’s the issue is all about in the first place.

The issue is largely due to the conflict with several files in the C++ run-time libraries. When you open Google Chrome, the application cannot load the required Visual C++ files.

Let’s go through the troubleshooting steps below and fix the issue for Chrome on Windows.

Step 1: Select the Start menu and search for Command Prompt.

Step 2: Hit the Enter key and open the app.

Step 3: Type the following command in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

sfc /scannow

The tool will start scanning the PC for any harmful files. Wait for a couple of minutes to complete the 100% process.

Reboot your PC and try opening Google Chrome again. If you still notice ‘side-by-side configuration is incorrect’, run a couple of more commands in the Command Prompt menu.

Step 4: Open Command Prompt again and run the following commands.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Step 5: Once Windows runs the process, you should reboot the PC one more time and try using Google Chrome.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Control Panel.

Step 2: Go to the Programs and Features menu.

Step 3: Find Google Chrome from the list. Click on it and hit the Repair button at the top.

These files mess up app opening and other processes on your PC, and you continue to see ‘side-by-side is configuration is incorrect error’. Thankfully, you don’t need to invest in an expensive anti-virus tool to remove such files. You can easily fix the issue using the Windows Security app.

Step 1: Hit the Windows key and search for Windows Security.

Step 2: Go to Virus & threat protection.

Step 3: Click on the Quick scan button and let Windows scan the PC for any harmful files.

You can minimize the app and continue using your PC. The estimated time to run the can is based on the number of files you have stored on your PC.

Step 1: Go to the Windows Settings menu (use Windows + I keys).

Step 2: Open Apps and go to Apps & features.

Step 3: Scroll down to Google Chrome.

Step 4: Click on the three-dot option.

Step 5: Select Uninstall follow on-screen instructions.

Don’t worry about Google Chrome data such as Bookmarks, History, saved passwords, etc. Since you are signed in to Chrome with a Google account, you get back access to all data using the same account.

Go to the Google Chrome website and download the browser to your PC. You can also try using the default Microsoft Edge browser. Since the default Windows browser is based on Chromium, you get access to all Chromium themes and extensions.

If the side-by-side configuration is incorrect issue is widespread, Microsoft will try to install the missing Visual C++ Redistributable packages via Windows updates.

Open Settings and go to the Windows Update menu. Install the available updates and restart the PC.

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