This application failed to start because no qt platform plugin could be initialized windows

I got this exact error on linux.

qt.qpa.plugin: Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in "" even though it was found.
This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. 
Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: eglfs, linuxfb, minimal, minimalegl, offscreen, vnc, xcb.

Aborted (core dumped)

First, defining this environment variable before starting qtcreator causes more debug to be printed out:

export QT_DEBUG_PLUGINS=1

And then in the debug it said this when trying to start qtcreator from the commandline on ubuntu 18.04:

Cannot load library /home/myuser/Qt/Tools/QtCreator/lib/Qt/plugins/platforms/libqxcb.so: (libxkbcommon-x11.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)

Note that it cannot find libxkbcommon-x11, so the fix was this:

sudo apt-get install libxkbcommon-x11-dev
export PATH=$PATH:~/Qt/Tools/QtCreator/bin

Now qtcreator starts.

I got this exact error on linux.

qt.qpa.plugin: Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in "" even though it was found.
This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. 
Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: eglfs, linuxfb, minimal, minimalegl, offscreen, vnc, xcb.

Aborted (core dumped)

First, defining this environment variable before starting qtcreator causes more debug to be printed out:

export QT_DEBUG_PLUGINS=1

And then in the debug it said this when trying to start qtcreator from the commandline on ubuntu 18.04:

Cannot load library /home/myuser/Qt/Tools/QtCreator/lib/Qt/plugins/platforms/libqxcb.so: (libxkbcommon-x11.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)

Note that it cannot find libxkbcommon-x11, so the fix was this:

sudo apt-get install libxkbcommon-x11-dev
export PATH=$PATH:~/Qt/Tools/QtCreator/bin

Now qtcreator starts.

Question

Issue: How to fix «Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized» error in Windows?

Hello. Recently, after a Windows update, I was unable to get OneDrive to work. Whenever my PC boots, I receive an error “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized.” Any advice on how to deal with this issue? Thanks in advance.

Solved Answer

Windows operating system consists of many components – some are already pre-installed while others need to be implemented manually. For example, Node.js is one of the third-party components you would see on almost any Windows computer.

Qt is a C++-based^[1] framework that is designed to create applications on Windows, Android, Linux,^[2] and other platforms. While it is not a programming language on its own, apps that are based on it need to have the framework installed on their machines to be able to run. Unfortunately, these dependencies can create certain issues due to one reason or another.

When something goes wrong with the Qt platform, users may receive the “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized” error.

Several applications could be affected by this error, including games such as Apex Legends,^[3] standalone components (Dllhost), or commonly-used apps as OneDrive. The latter resides in every Windows computer and is an extremely useful app commonly used for system/file backups or additional storage for user files.

Here’s the full message that users receive upon encountering the error (the error message text may vary in some instances):

This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: minimal, offscreen, windows.

While it may seem like enabling or installing the Qt platform would fix the “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized” error, it is not the case. Reinstalling the app that is having difficulties detecting the plugin might help, however.

Unfortunately, that is not always possible, as users reported that they then received the “Can’t be found” error while trying to do so. The reason for this being is that a newer version of the app may be already present on the device, hence uninstallation is not possible. There is a way around it.

In some cases, the reasons for the error could be unrelated to the ones mentioned above. For example, system file corruption might also cause this error, so we recommend you try running a scan with FortectMac Washing Machine X9 repair software that could fix underlying Windows issues automatically. Otherwise, proceed with the below methods that should help you solve this error for good.

Method 1. Copy relevant folder to a different location

Method 2. Check system files for damage

• Type in cmd in Windows search
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
• Here, type sfc /scannow and press Enter

  

• Wait till the scan completes and restart your machine
• If the SFC has returned an error saying it was unable to repair damaged files, run the following commands, pressing Enter each time:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Method 3. Try Clean Boot

• Type msconfig in Windows search, hit Enter
• Go to Services tab
• Check the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox and select Disable all
• Go to Startup tab and pick Open Task Manager
• Here, right-click on every entry and select Disable and close the Task Manager
• Go to Boot tab, tick Safe Boot and select Apply + OK.

  

Once booted back into Windows, try running the app you were having problems with. If that fixes your problem, it means that there is a third-party application that is at fault. In order to fix the “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized” error, you should uninstall all recently installed applications and see if that solves your problem in normal mode.

Method 4. Reinstall the application in question

You should try uninstalling the app you are having troubles with and then installing it anew. If you are dealing with OneDrive, you should do the following:

• Press Win + R on your keyboard
• In the Run dialog, copy and paste the following:
  %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\Update\OneDriveSetup.exe
• Go through the installation steps and restart your PC

  

• If Windows can’t find the file specified, you should download the setup file from the official website [direct link].

If this method does not work and you are presented with an error, proceed with the method below and then repeat this step.

Method 5. Uninstall the problematic app via Command Prompt

Uninstalling a program that does not want to uninstall might be difficult, although it is possible via PowerShell, as you can launch it as an administrator. Keep in mind that the below example is for the OneDrive application, and the command would differ depending on the app name and its location.

• Open Command Prompt as administrator as explained above
• Copy and paste the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
  taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe
  %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

  

• Note: if you are using 32-bit Windows system use the following command to uninstall OneDrive instead:
  %SystemRoot%\System32\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall
• This should force-uninstall the app.

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Many users have been reporting an error stating – ‘No Qt Platform Plugin Could be Initialized’ on different tech forums, including Microsoft and Reddit. You may get this annoying error whenever you try to access a third-party screencasting, gaming, or movie-streaming app on your system. Moreover, since the issue doesn’t specify any particular reason, it leaves you wondering. To ease things for you, we’ve shared some proven workarounds to resolve this error. Moreover, understanding the error and its possible causes will give you an edge in fixing it.

What does the ‘No Qt Platform Plugin Could Be Initialized’ error mean?

The complete error message says – This application failed to start because no QT platform plugin could be initialized.

For those who don’t know, QT is a cross-platform software used for creating GUI. Although it offers extensive support for Windows, you may experience compatibility issues due to older, outdated, or the broken software version installed.

The issue usually occurs when you try to access OBS Studio, Python, and Gaming apps (Origin, Civilization VI, etc.).You may also come across this problem while using movie streaming apps.

What causes No Qt Platform Plugin Could Be Initialized?

The probable reasons behind this bug could be several, including corrupted or damaged system files, incompatible or corrupted applications, buggy Windows updates, etc. While this error may seem problematic, some fixes shared below will help you get rid of it quite easily.

Fixes for No QT Platform Plugin Could Be Initialized Error

You can try out the below-discussed workarounds to remove the error – the application failed to start because no QT platform plugin could be initialized from the Windows system. These fixes are result-driven as many users have reportedly been able to resolve the error. With no further delay, let’s fix the problem for good!

#1 Change the QT File Location

Several users have been able to fix this error by simply changing the QT file location. This little trick can save a lot of your time and energy. Follow the below-said steps.

• Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E and then go to This PC.
• There, open Local Disk (C:), and in the Search bar, type pyqt5_tools and hit Enter.
• When found, right-click on the pyqt5_tools folder and select the Open folder location option from the available ones.
• Open the PyQt5 folder on the next prompt, go to the Qt folder, and open the Plugins folder.
• Next, right-click on the platforms folder and select Copy.

• Go to Site-Packages from the address bar.
• Now, open the pyqt5_tools folder, and thereafter, open the Qt folder.
• Navigate to the bin folder and there, on the blank side, right-click and Paste the folder.
• Replace the files in the destination (if prompted).

#2 Run System File Checker Scan

There is a possibility that you’d encounter this error due to corrupted or damaged system files. To be sure, you can run SFC (System File Checker). It is a Windows built-in utility to replace the bad versions of system files with the right ones, thus fixing the problems. Follow the given steps:

• Run CMD (Command Prompt) as administrator.
• In the elevated cmd window, type the sfc/scannow command and press Enter.

• Wait for a while and let the process complete.
• Once done, read the instructions on the screen and check if you need to follow any further instructions.
• Finally, exit the Command Prompt window and check if the error persists.

#3 Perform Clean Boot

Various third-party apps installed on your system can also cause this error. Performing a clean boot will help you find the root cause behind the error and fix the issue. It is quite similar to booting your PC in Safe Mode. However, it provides more control over programs and services running at startup. Follow the given steps to do the same:

• Open Windows Search and type msconfig. It will show System Configuration, click Open to proceed.

• Go to the Services tab and select Hide all Microsoft Services > Disable all > Apply.

• Now, click OK and then follow Startup > Open Task Manager.
• There, identify the application with which you are facing the issue and click Disable.

• Close the window, and click OK to complete the process on the Startup tab.
• When your system will restart, it will be in a clean boot environment. If still, you’re having the error, remove the problematic app from your system.

#4 Uninstall Problematic App

If you see the error with some particular application, check the app version. If there’s an old or incompatible app version you’re using, you can uninstall it. Follow the given steps to do the same:

• Open Settings (press Windows + I) and then follow Apps > Apps & Features.
• Select the problematic app and click Uninstall > Uninstall.

• Finally, click Yes when prompted to confirm your action. That’s it. The app will be removed from your system.

#5 Reinstall the Correct App Version

If the application you removed is important, you can reinstall the latest compatible application version. While reinstalling the app, make sure that you’re downloading it from the official site only. Additionally, check the version you’re downloading and the app support. If there’s any issue, restart your system and see if you can do it now without any issues.

#6 Uninstall Buggy Windows Updates

If you encountered the error after installing any Windows update, you can simply uninstall it or perform a system restore. Remember, uninstalling the update will remove all the changes, and settings that occurred to your system. If certain, remove the buggy Windows update with the following steps:

• Open Settings by pressing Windows + I and then go to Update & Security > Windows Update > Update history.

• On the next prompt, click Uninstall updates.

• Select the update you recently installed and then click Uninstall.

The update will be removed. Reboot your system and see if the problem is solved.

No Qt Platform Plugin Could be Initialized Error- Gone for Good!

System errors like Application Failed to Start Because No Qt Platform Plugin Could be Initialized, are easily fixable. You just need to put more attention while performing the methods discussed above. Other than this, if you encounter a problem accessing your system or some folder, your data could be at risk. Keep professional data recovery software handy, it will help you big time even in the future.

People Also Ask

1. What is a Qt platform?

Qt is an open-source cross-platform software used for building GUI (Graphical User-Interface) and cross-platform applications. It allows staff members to manage the code versions, debug applications, build C++ widget-based apps, accelerate UI performance, and more.

2. How to install the Qt plugin in Visual Studio?

Run Qt Installer and once the installation is complete, open Microsoft Visual Studio and follow Extensions > Manage Extensions > Online. There, search for Qt Visual Studio Tools to install or update Qt VS Tools.

3. Where does Qt look for platform plugins?

Whenever you run an application, there is an application’s executable directory. This is the base directory where the Qt searches for plugins.

4. What is an App error with the value 0xc00007b in Windows?

The error code 0xc00007b occurs while accessing apps on their system. Mostly, gaming and designing applications or software are affected by this app error. However, it is fixable with some proven workarounds, such as downloading DLL files, reinstalling compatible applications, running CHKDSK, installing DirectX Module, and more.

Get this somewhat strange error message fixed on Windows.

Have you recently run into the “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized” error? QT is a cross-platform app that is used to generate graphical user interfaces. Even if QT support for Windows platforms is extensive, your system might display the error message when you try to open OneDrive, OBS Studio, Python, or even video games.

While this isn’t one of the common errors on Windows, you can still fix it using the tips below.

1. Change the QT Files Location

Sometimes, a simple trick such as changing the QT files location is enough to get rid of the error. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Launch File Explorer and open This PC.
2. Using the Search field, search for pyqt5_tools.
3. When Windows finishes the search, right-click the pyqt5_tools and head to Open folder location.
4. Head to PyQt5 > Qt > bin. Copy the platforms folder.
   
5. Make a new search for site-packages and open the folder.
6. There, paste the platforms folder.
7. Windows will warn you there’s already a folder with the same name. Click Replace the files in the destination.

2. Run an SFC Scan

There’s a chance Windows display the “Application failed because no QT platform plugin could be initialized” error due to corrupt system files. Fortunately, Windows has a built-in tool to help you fix the problem.

In the Start menu search bar, search for command prompt and select Run as administrator. Then, run the sfc /scannow command line. Windows will scan and automatically replace any corrupted system file.

If the System File Checker didn’t fix the problem, there are more built-in tools to repair corrupt Windows files.

3. Perform a Clean Boot

One of the installed third-party apps might be the reason why you get the “Application failed because no QT platform plugin could be initialized” error. To test it, perform a clean boot on Windows, which will force it to boot with a minimal list of programs and drivers.

If Windows stops displaying the error, it means something you’ve installed on your PC is causing the problem. Take a look at your installed apps, and remove any software that might be causing the problem. If you’re unsure as to what might be doing it, slowly re-enable apps through the clean boot until the issue reappears.

4. Update the Malfunctioning App

An outdated version of the app you’re trying to use might be the reason for the QT error. In this case, simply updating the app should solve the issue.

If you’ve downloaded the app from Microsoft Store, launch it and head to Library. There, you’ll see a list of available updates. You can update the apps individually, or click Get updates to update them all.

5. Reinstall the Troublesome App

As the error message hints, reinstalling the app might fix the problem. When reinstalling the app, make sure you get it from its official website, to avoid any future problems.

If you’re having issues getting rid of the app, check out how to fix Windows when it won’t allow you to uninstall a program.

6. Uninstall Any Recent Windows Updates

Sometimes, Windows display the “Application failed because no QT platform plugin could be initialized” error after a system update. In this case, you can load a restore point to undo the change and get rid of the error.

But if there’s no restore point available, you can manually uninstall Windows updates.

1. Launch Windows Settings by pressing Win + I.
2. From the left pane, click Windows Update > Update History.
3. Head to Related Settings and click Uninstall updates.
4. Right-click the latest update and select Uninstall.

Get Rid of the QT Error on Windows

Hopefully, one or more of the above solutions helped you fix the “Application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized” error.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to figure out the exact cause of a Windows error, and reinstalling the app every time might not be the most efficient solution. To speed up the troubleshooting process, you should use one of the many Windows repair tools.