Fix: "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object"

If you're seeing the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error when using Microsoft Visual Studio on Windows, this article will help you fix it.

The error message "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" means that perhaps you're referring to an object that doesn't exist or cleaned up, or was deleted. It's one of the many mysterious and frustrating Windows errors that occur when you're using Microsoft Visual Studio.

In many cases, it's better to avoid a NullReferenceException than wait to handle it after it occurs.

So, this article will show you how to fix this error in a few easy steps to get your computer up and running again!

What Is the "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error in Windows?
What Causes the "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error?
Solved: "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error in Windows
Method 1. Make Sure the 1803 Update is Installed on Windows 10
Method 2. Run Microsoft Visual Studio as an Administrator
Method 3. Reset Your Visual Studio User Data
Method 4. Update Microsoft Visual Studio to the Latest Version
Method 5. Update Your Microsoft Visual Studio Extensions
Method 6. Disable Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel (if Applicable)
Method 7. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software
TL;DR
Conclusion

What Is the "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error in Windows?

The problem "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" is a common Windows error caused by a Microsoft Visual Studio bug. This error code will show when a Microsoft Visual Studio object is missing, categorized as null, or cannot be accessible.

If you receive the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error on your Windows computer, it might be caused by a problem with your .NET Framework. This can be fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling the .NET Framework.

If you still see the error after trying this fix, it might be caused by a corrupt registry key. To fix this, you can use a registry cleaner tool to scan for and fix any corrupted keys.

What Causes the "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error?

As it turns out, this problem isn't limited to Microsoft Visual Studio developers; other apps that rely on Microsoft Visual Studio dependencies can also cause problems. Here's a list of suspects who are most likely to blame for the problem:

Windows 10 Update 1803 isn't installed: If you're using Windows 10, the issue is most likely caused by a conflict between some of your system drivers and some of the touchscreen devices you have installed (most commonly experienced with Surface devices).
Corrupted data in Visual Studio: If you're having trouble using Microsoft Visual Studio, it's likely due to your current user data corruption. You'll need to reset the user data connected to your account to fix this issue.
Missing Microsoft Visual Studio permissions: This issue can occur if the Microsoft Visual Studio application lacks the requisite permissions to override files. To fix this problem, you'll need to force the application to open with administrator privileges.
Microsoft Visual Studio extensions: Make sure all of your Visual Studio extensions are up to date if you're using them in your projects. Several users have confirmed that they were able to resolve the issue by updating or disabling all Visual Studio extensions in use.
Interference from an antivirus or firewall: In some situations, you may encounter this issue if your active antivirus prevents the execution of another executable from the Vault environment. In this situation, you may either whitelist the flagged executable or remove the overprotective suite to fix the problem.

These are some of the main causes of the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error in Windows. If you still see the error after trying all these fixes or need detailed steps, continue reading to troubleshoot further!

Solved: "Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object" Error in Windows

Let's get started on fixing this problem! Check out each potential fix and try them out to resolve "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

Method 1. Make Sure the 1803 Update is Installed on Windows 10

If you're using Windows 10, you should first make sure that you have the 1803 update installed. This update from Microsoft has been known to resolve conflicts between drivers and touchscreen devices, which can cause the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error.

Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or use the Windows + I shortcut.
Click on the Update & Security tile. This is where you can find most of your Windows Update settings and choose when to receive updates.
Make sure to stay on the default Windows Update tab. Click on the Check for updates button and wait for Windows to find available updates.
If any updates are displayed, click on the View all optional updates link to see and install them.
When Windows finds a new update, it automatically starts installing on your computer. Wait for Windows to download and apply the necessary updates.

Method 2. Run Microsoft Visual Studio as an Administrator

If you're having trouble using Microsoft Visual Studio, it might be because the application doesn't have the necessary permissions to access certain files. To fix this, you should try running Microsoft Visual Studio as an administrator.

To do this, right-click on the Microsoft Visual Studio shortcut and select "Run as administrator" from the drop-down menu.

If you're still having trouble, try resetting the user data associated with your account. This will delete all of your current settings and preferences, but it will also clear any corruption that might be causing problems.

Method 3. Reset Your Visual Studio User Data

If you're still having trouble with the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error, it's likely because there is corruption in your current user data. It can also mean you have some general application bugs within your installation.

Don't worry, this is normal! Application bugs may happen if you've been using your software for a long time. You can fix this by resetting the user data associated with your account.

Open Visual Studio and go to Tools > Import and Export Settings.
Select "Reset all settings" in the window that appears and click "Next."
On the next screen, select "No, just reset settings, overwriting my current settings" and click "Finish."

This will delete all of your current Visual Studio settings and preferences, but it will also clear any corruption that might be causing problems.

Method 4. Update Microsoft Visual Studio to the Latest Version

If you're still having trouble with Microsoft Visual Studio, you may be using an outdated software version. You should update Microsoft Visual Studio to the latest version to fix this.

To do this, open the Microsoft Visual Studio installer and click "Update." Microsoft Visual Studio will now check for updates and install them automatically. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

On your PC, look for the Visual Studio Installer. Search for "installer" in the Windows Start menu and select Visual Studio Installer from the results.
Look for the Visual Studio installation that you want to upgrade in the Visual Studio Installer. Click on the Update button to download and install the update.

The Visual Studio Installer may prompt you to reboot your system after completing the upgrade.

If you aren't prompted to restart your computer, select Launch from the Visual Studio Installer to launch Visual Studio.

Method 5. Update Your Microsoft Visual Studio Extensions

The "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message may also appear due to outdated extensions. You should update your Microsoft Visual Studio extensions to the latest version to fix this.

Open Microsoft Visual Studio and go to Tools > Extensions and Updates.
Select "Updates" from the left-hand sidebar in the window that appears.
If any updates are available, they will be listed here. Select the extension that you want to update and click "Update."

Once the updates are finished, restart your computer and use Microsoft Visual Studio again.

Method 6. Disable Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel (if Applicable)

If you're using a touchscreen device, the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message may be caused by the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel service. This service is known to cause conflicts with drivers and can cause problems with certain applications.

To disable this service, follow the steps below:

On your keyboard, press the Windows + R keys. This will launch the Run application.
Without quotation marks, type "services.msc" and hit the Enter key on your keyboard. The Services application will be launched as a result of this.
Scroll down until you see the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel service in the alphabetical list. Right-click on it, and then choose Properties from the context menu.
Use the drop-down menu to change the Startup type to Disabled. When done, click Apply, close the pop-up window, and reboot your computer.
After restarting your computer, see if the problem has been resolved by doing the same action that caused the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error.

Method 7. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software

If you're still having trouble with Microsoft Visual Studio, your antivirus software may be causing the problem. To fix this, you should temporarily disable your antivirus software and try using Microsoft Visual Studio again.

To disable your antivirus, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager from the context menu.
Switch to the Startup tab using the header menu located at the top of the window. Here, find your antivirus application from the list and select it by clicking on it once.
Click on the Disable button now visible in the bottom-right of the window. This will disable the application from launching when you start your device.
Restart your computer and see if you can use Visual Studio in your next startup.

TL;DR

Suppose you're having trouble using Microsoft Visual Studio because of the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error. In that case, it might be because the application doesn't have the necessary permissions to access certain files.
If you haven't upgraded to Windows 11 yet, update your system to the latest available version!
To fix "Object reference not set to an instance of an object," you should try running Microsoft Visual Studio as an administrator.
You can also try resetting the user data associated with your account or updating Microsoft Visual Studio to the latest version. This will make sure no application bugs are interfering with your installation.
If you're still having trouble, try updating your Microsoft Visual Studio extensions or disabling the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel service (if applicable).
Finally, if all else fails, you can try temporarily disabling your antivirus software.

Conclusion

We hope this article was helpful in resolving the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error and preventing future errors similar to it. If you are still experiencing difficulties, please read more articles on our Blog or contact us for assistance.

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Fix: ‘Object Reference Not Set to an Instance of an Object’ on Windows

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