diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-10-24-17-34-22.gh-issue-160624.0izYfQ.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-10-24-17-34-22.gh-issue-160624.0izYfQ.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..97f8c37f4b9e40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-10-24-17-34-22.gh-issue-160624.0izYfQ.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Stop embedding a manifest in the Python DLL, extension modules and
+``sqlite3.dll``. The manifest had no effect in a DLL, and it prevented
+Python from starting or importing those modules from paths close to
+``MAX_PATH`` characters, even with long paths enabled.
diff --git a/PC/python_nt.rc b/PC/python_nt.rc
index ae64fbd217af74..67c375fffc3caf 100644
--- a/PC/python_nt.rc
+++ b/PC/python_nt.rc
@@ -2,16 +2,6 @@
 
 #include "python_ver_rc.h"
 
-#ifndef RT_MANIFEST
-// bpo-45220: Cannot reliably #include RT_MANIFEST from
-// anywhere, so we hardcode it
-#define RT_MANIFEST 24
-#endif
-
-// Include the manifest file that indicates we support all
-// current versions of Windows.
-2 RT_MANIFEST "python.manifest"
-
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // Version
diff --git a/PC/sqlite3.rc b/PC/sqlite3.rc
index 9ae2aa0f6f2f2c..305c593c960379 100644
--- a/PC/sqlite3.rc
+++ b/PC/sqlite3.rc
@@ -2,16 +2,6 @@
 
 #include <winver.h>
 
-#ifndef RT_MANIFEST
-// bpo-45220: Cannot reliably #include RT_MANIFEST from
-// anywhere, so we hardcode it
-#define RT_MANIFEST 24
-#endif
-
-// Include the manifest file that indicates we support all
-// current versions of Windows.
-2 RT_MANIFEST "python.manifest"
-
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // Version