If distributing software, always use dynamic loading (as shown above). Do not statically link against the function unless your installer explicitly checks for and installs KB2670838.

If your application targets Windows 7, do not link statically against GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime. Always use GetProcAddress or LoadLibrary and provide a graceful fallback. For new development, consider whether you truly need microsecond precision. Many real-world scenarios work perfectly with GetSystemTimeAsFileTime (millisecond granularity) or a combination of QueryPerformanceCounter for intervals and system time for absolute timestamps.

And if you control the deployment environment, ensure KB3033929 or the Convenience Rollup is installed on all Windows 7 machines. It's a good security practice anyway (enables SHA-2 signing), and the precise time function is a nice bonus.

Have you encountered issues with high-precision timestamps on older Windows versions? Let me know in the comments.

The error "The procedure entry point GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll" occurs because your software is trying to use a high-resolution time function that only exists in Windows 8 and newer. 

Windows 7 does not natively support this specific API, and there is no official "patch" from Microsoft to add it.  Common Causes for Users 

Newer App Versions: Developers often update their tools (like Visual Studio) to use modern APIs, which can accidentally break compatibility with Windows 7.

Third-Party Libraries: Many modern applications use libraries like libuv or SDL that recently added calls to this function, causing crashes on older systems.

Qt6/Qt5 Toolchains: Programs built with Qt6 are particularly prone to this issue on Windows 7.  How to Resolve the Issue  1. Use "VxKex" (Recommended for Power Users) 

VxKex is a popular third-party tool designed to extend the Windows 7 kernel. It acts as a wrapper that "fakes" the presence of newer APIs like GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime, allowing modern programs to run without modification. 

How to use: Install VxKex, right-click the application's executable, and enable "VxKex" in the compatibility settings.  2. Downgrade the Application  14.6 doesn't support Win 7? - FreeFileSync Forum

The error message "The procedure entry point GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll" occurs because the function GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime

is not natively available in Windows 7. It was introduced in Windows 8 to provide higher precision time stamps ( The Julia Programming Language Root Cause Analysis Version Incompatibility

: The application you are trying to run (e.g., Strawberry Music Player, PostgreSQL, or modern games) was compiled to use an API that only exists in Windows 8, 10, or 11. Kernel32.dll Limitations : In Windows 7, the KERNEL32.dll library only contains GetSystemTimeAsFileTime

, which lacks the "Precise" high-resolution capabilities required by newer software. Solutions and Workarounds

sh.exe Entry Point Not Found on push or sometimes when idle #2449 7 Mar 2025 —

You can check if the update is installed via:

Command line (admin):

wmic qfe list hotfixid | find "KB2813345"

Registry key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Hotfix\KB2813345

Programmatic check (C++):

typedef void (WINAPI *pGetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime)(LPFILETIME);
HMODULE hKernel = GetModuleHandleA("kernel32.dll");
pGetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime func = (pGetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime)GetProcAddress(hKernel, "GetSystemTimePreciseAsFileTime");
if (func) 
    // Available on this Windows 7 system