How-To

How to Fix the Specified Procedure Could Not Be Found Error on Windows 11

By Adam Davidson

Published July 26, 2023

Are you having problems with applications not running? Learn how to fix the specified procedure could not be found error on Windows 11 here.

Windows 11 is an excellent operating system with a number of improvements over Windows 10, including the ability to download and install Android apps, use face and voice recognition, and take advantage of additional security measures.

Most of the time, Windows 11 is a great experience, but occasionally, things do go wrong. You may find that an application that was opening fine previously simply refuses to open. Instead, you get an error telling you that the specified procedure could not be found.

If this is happening to you, don’t panic—you should be able to fix it. Here’s what to try if you’re experiencing the specified procedure could not be found error on Windows 11.

Run the System File Checker Utility

If you’re seeing this error, then Windows cannot find a system file needed to run the application. This could be because the file became corrupted, or because it is missing completely. You can try using the System File Checker utility in Windows 11 to scan Windows and look for errors.

If the System File Checker finds errors, you can restore the missing or corrupted files. In order for this to work, you’ll first need to access the files needed to repair Windows. You can do so using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) utility.

To run the System File Checker utility on Windows 11:

1. Click the Search icon.
   
2. Type cmd in the search field.
   
3. Select Run As Administrator for the Command Prompt app.
   
4. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
   
5. The system scan will begin and will take some time to complete.
6. If any errors are found, you’ll see information about the errors in the Command Prompt window.
   
7. If there are errors, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth and press Enter.
   
8. It will appear like nothing is happening initially, but eventually, DISM will connect to Windows Update and find and replace the missing or corrupted files. This can take a significant amount of time.
9. Restart your computer and try opening the application again.

Perform a Malware Scan

A possible cause of the specified procedure could not be found error in Windows 11 is malware. If your PC is infected with malware, this may stop your application from loading correctly.

You can use the in-built malware scanning in Windows 11 to check for any issues.

To run a malware scan in Windows 11:

1. Click the Windows Security icon in the system tray. If the icon doesn’t appear in the main tray, you may need to click the Up Arrow to show the hidden icons.
   
2. Select the Defender tab.
   
3. Under the Quick Scan button, click Scan Options.
   
4. Select Full Scan and click Scan Now.
   
5. If the scan finds any issues, it will remove or quarantine the malware automatically.
6. Try opening the application again.

Reinstall the Application

Since the specified procedure could not be found error indicates a missing or corrupted file associated with the application that you’re trying to open, uninstalling and then reinstalling the application may restore all of the necessary files and get things working again.

To remove and reinstall an application on Windows 11:

1. Right-click the Start icon.
   
2. Select Apps & Features.
   
3. Locate the app that is causing the issue and click the Three Dots icon.
   
4. Select Uninstall.
   
5. Click Uninstall to confirm your decision.
6. Once the process finishes, download and install the application again.
7. Try launching the app to see if it works.

Restore Windows 11 to a Previous State

If all else fails, and the app had been working previously, you can try restoring your computer to a time when the issue wasn’t occurring using the Windows System Restore tool.

This will only work if you’ve created System Restore points prior to the error first happening.

To restore Windows 11 to its previous state:

1. Click the Search icon in the menu bar.
   
2. Type control panel and open the Control Panel app.
   
3. In the Control Panel search field, type Recovery.
   
4. Click Recovery in the results.
   
5. Select Open System Restore.
   
6. Choose to use the Recommended Restore point or to Choose a Different Restore Point and click Next.
   
7. If you opted to choose your own restore point, select one of the options, and click Next.
   
8. Check that you have the correct restore point and click Finish.
   
9. Your computer will now roll back to the selected restore point.
10. When the process is complete, try opening the corrupted application again.

Fix Your Windows 11 Errors

If you’re seeing the specified procedure could not be found error on Windows 11, the steps above will allow you to get your applications back up and running again. If you find any other useful solutions, please let us know in the comments below.

As with all operating systems, Windows 11 will occasionally throw up some unexpected errors. The good news is that there are usually ways to fix them. If you’re having the class not registered error on Windows 11, there are a few things you can try.

If you’re struggling with the unidentified network error on Windows 11, there are some steps you can try to solve that, too. And if you’re suffering from the dreaded Ntoskrnl.exe blue screen of death, we’ve got you covered there also.