Thank you for reaching out. When you configure your Visual Studio project to:

• Enable Consume Windows Runtime Extension (/ZW)
• Target Windows 10 SDK (e.g., 10.0.10586.0)

Your application becomes statically bound to Windows 10 WinRT APIs.

The DLL mentioned in the error is part of the Windows 10 API set and does not exist on Windows 7.

Even if you perform an OS version check at runtime before calling Windows 10 APIs, the application loader on Windows 7 fails before execution begins, because the dependency is resolved during process initialization not when the API is first called.

Installing the Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable will not resolve this, as this DLL is not part of the VC++ runtime: it is part of Windows OS API set introduced in Windows 8/10.

Important Clarification:

Windows 7 does not support:

• Windows Runtime (WinRT)
• Windows.Devices.WiFiDirect
• /ZW-based components
• Windows 10 Universal API contracts

Therefore an application with direct WinRT dependencies cannot run on Windows 7.

Solution
You have few supported architectural options:

Option 1- Split the Windows 10 Feature into a Separate Module (Recommended)
create a separate DLL that:

• is compiled with /ZW
• Targets Windows 10 SDK
• Containes only the Windows.Devices.WiFiDirect functionality

Then:

• Keep your main application compiled with /ZW
• Dynamically load the WinRT-enabled DLL using LoadLibrary() only if the OS is Windows 10+

This ensures

• Windows 7 never attempts to load WinRT dependencies
• The loader does not fail during startup

Architectural Example:

MainApp.exe (Win7 compatible)
	|_ WifiDirectWin10.dll (Win10 only, loaded dynamically)

Option 2- Use Runtime Dynamic API resolution (more complex)

Instead of linking directly against WinRT, you would:

• Use LoadLibrary()/ GetProcAddress()
• Avoid static WinRT references
• Manually resolve required Windows 10 functions

However, this approach is significantly more complex with WinRT and is not generally recommended unless you need fine-grained control.

Option 3- Drop Windows 7 Support

if business requirements allow, the cleanest long-term approach is to:

• Target Windows 10 as minimum supported OS.
• Remove compatibility constraints

Note that Windows 7 is out of extended support and no longer receives security updates.

Unsupported workarounds

• Copying the missing DLL from Windows 10 -> Not supported
• Installing additional redistributable -> will not resolve
• Using compatibility mode- > Will not resolve
• OS version checks alone -> Insufficient.

Please let us know if you require any further assistance we’re happy to help. If you found this information useful, kindly mark this as "Accept Answer".

@DR HANS RAJ, What version of Windows is your system running?The error you are experiencing relates to an API set introduced in Windows 10, not to a physical dynamic link library file. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/apiindex/windows-apisets#are-api-sets-and-dlls-the-same-thing

If you are running a version of Windows lower than Windows 10 then it is likely that the problematic application was designed for Windows 10 or above. You would need to obtain a version of the application that is compatible with your systems Windows version.

If you are encountering an error indicating that api-ms-win-core-winrt-string-l1-1-0.dll is missing, this typically means that your system is unable to locate this specific DLL file, which is part of the Windows API. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

1. Run Windows Update: Ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated, as missing DLL files can often be restored through system updates.
2. Reinstall the Application: If the error occurs when launching a specific application, try reinstalling that application. This can replace any missing or corrupted files.
3. System File Checker: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. You can do this by running the command sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
4. Check for Malware: Sometimes, malware can cause issues with DLL files. Run a full system scan using your antivirus software to rule out this possibility.
5. Manual DLL Replacement: As a last resort, you may find the DLL file online and place it in the appropriate directory (usually C:\Windows\System32), but this is not recommended due to potential security risks.

If the problem persists, consider seeking further assistance from Microsoft support or relevant forums.

References:

• APIs from api-ms-win-core-winrt-string-l1-1-0.dll