When installing a new program or launching a new app on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine, you may encounter the “DLL is missing” or “DLL Not Found error”. The missing DLL problem is very common among the users and every Windows user would have encountered DLL-related issues on their PC. In this article, I am going to explain all the possible ways to fix DLL-related issues. So, do not skip this article if you really want to know how to resolve the missing DLL problems.
Table of Contents
- What is DLL File?
- Why this is so important to have in the PC?
- Is DLL file Safe or it’s a virus?
- What is DLL Not Found, or DLL is missing Error?
- Automatic DLL Fix Program
- How to Download, Install and Register a DLL File?
- How to Repair Visual C++ Redistributable Package?
- How to Install latest Windows Updates.
- How to Download and Update Drivers?
- Removes Virus and Trojan
- Restore Registry File
- Run System File Checker Tool
- Run System Update Readiness Tool
- Run DISM Tool
- Re-Install the affected Application
- Start PC in Clean Boot Mode
- System Restore
- Repair Windows Installation
Let’s start the session on How to Fix any dll related issue. Before diving deep, you must know a little about the DLL file so that you won’t make any mistakes while restoring this file.
The technical name of this file is Dynamic Link Library and it is a small component of any application that provides specific functionality. A DLL file is a precompiled component that contains functions, classes, variables, and resources (icons, images, files, etc). For example, if your app is providing you various features but unfortunately any DLL file gets damaged then the program will stop providing the functionality which is related to the damaged DLL file and when you try to open the function, you will get more likely DLL’s not found error.
DLLs provide code reusability, efficient memory usage, reduced disk space, multiple processes that load the same DLL at the same time, etc. It is a special component of the Windows-based operating system, so, it is very important to have this file type in Windows-based PC.
Generally, when you install authentic apps on your PC; the DLLs files stored by that apps are safe. When you download the DLL file from a third-party website, there might be a high risk of downloading a virus in the form of DLL files. A DLL file contains executable code inside it so, it is highly risky of running malicious code inside a DLL file. It is recommended not to download a DLLs file from a third-party website.
As mentioned above, DLL is a dependency file for most of the Apps running on Windows 8, 10 & 11. If your app looking for a specified DLL file, and the correct library is not installed in the target computer, the app will start showing the message DLL is not found or DLL is missing. If the specified DLL file gets deleted, damaged, or corrupted by the other application like virus/malware/trojan, you may also get the same error.
Method 1: Fix DLL issues using Advanced System Repair Tool
If you are not tech-savvy and want to fix dll-related issues as well as other system problems with ease, you can just download the Advanced System Repair Tool to optimize and fix problems from your PC. It takes care of your PC and does the necessary optimization like updating system drivers, software, windows updates, fixing missing file errors, improving security, and fixing registry problems.
dll files, exe files, sys files, various types of services, databases, etc so, it is not possible to keep monitoring all the files always. A brilliant PC Optimizer tool repairs damages, fix errors, update windows and drivers, and eliminate various types of errors silently. Outbyte PC Repair Tool does all the above task easily and provides you an errorfree and smooth Windows environment to work so that you can focus on your business only.
Step 2. SCAN your Windows PC
Step 3. Click Fix button to Repair Error
Method 2: Download, Install and Register a DLL File
If you want to fix dll-related issues yourself, you can download the dll file, install it on your PC and then register it properly to work. However, it is highly recommended not to download a DLL file from any third-party site or malicious site because you may download a virus in the form of a DLL file. This is an even worst condition than a simple missing DLL file. The best way to arrange a this file is to ask your friend to give you the same file from the specified location. If you cannot find the this file then do the following steps to Download, Install and Register your dll file.
For 32 Bit:
C:\Windows\System32
For 64 Bit:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64
regsvr32 xxx.dll
Method 3: Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package?
Repairing a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package is necessary if you are getting dll not found error and other errors like AcroRd32.exe is missing, Bluestack App crash, mxdwdrv.dll not found etc. If the necessary MSVC++ Runtime Library is not installed, you may also get several kinds of errors. You must check the below article to Install or Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library on Windows 10 & 11.
Repair & Re-Install MS Visual C++ Redistributable Package Windows 10 & 11
Method 4: Install Latest Windows Updates
Outdated Windows Updates are also a major reason behind missing file errors. When you update your windows operating system, it installs the necessary files that are required to run modern applications and games. So, if you have outdated windows updates, make them quickly updated and fix dll related issues.
Method 5: Update third-party driver
After completing the Windows Updates, it is necessary to install updates for all the third-party drivers on your system. These third-party drivers are those which are installed with games or other third-party apps and hardware. You must check for outdated drivers software and update them.
Method 6: Removes Virus/Trojan/Malware
When did you last scan your PC against Virus/Trojan/Malware? Viruses can come inside your PC in no time without letting you know, and your PC will be affected by some serious trojans/malware/rootkits. So, it is necessary to run a full system scan to remove all these malicious programs from your PC using the trusted antivirus program. Upon completion of scanning, start a Boot Sector Scanning through Windows Defender Program or your antivirus program.
Method 7: Restore or Repair Registry File
Windows uses registry file for storing configuration values for all the installed hardware, software, and drivers. Nothing can be run or attached with PC without making attendance in Registry File. This file is so important that, if it gets damaged or corrupted, your system will be down in no time. That’s why it is recommended to always keep a backup of the registry file on the external location so, in the situation of system failure, one can restore it. If you have a backup of the registry file, then follow the below guidelines to registry file.
Method 8: Run Windows System File Checker (SFC) Tool
The Windows System File checker tool is inbuilt with all modern windows operating system like Windows 8/10/11 & Windows Server. The main objective of this tool is to find the corrupted or damaged system files and repair them. If somehow, System File checker tool is unable to repair the system file, the Clean Windows Installation might be next solution. The best part of this tool is that it can be simply used with command prompt as well as Windows Recovery Media.
sfc /scannow
Method 9: Run System Update Readiness Tool
The System Update Readiness Tool is the great way to find and fix Windows OS Errors. System Update Readiness Tool scans your PC, verify integrity of each resources, and store each details into a log file including errors and fixes. So, if you are unsure about the problem areas, just run this tool as described below and fix the problems if it founds any. Unfortunately, it is not available for Windows 10 & 11. You can use System File Checker Tool in Windows 10 & 11 to fix file corruption issues. If you are running Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista then you can download and use this tool as follows:
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=947821
%SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log
%SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.persist.log
The %SYSTEMROOT% folder points to Windows Installation Directory and it is C:\Windows
Seconds executed: 264
Found 3 errors
CBS MUM Missing Total Count: 3
Unavailable repair files:
servicing\packages\Package_for_KB958690_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.6.mum
It means the package KB958690 is corrupted.
Method 10: Run DISM Tool
The DISM is a command line utility, and it is used for repairing corrupted system images including Windows Recovery, Windows Setup, or WinPE. Full name of this utility is Deploy Image Servicing and Management, and it can also be used for fixing a running Windows 10/11 corruption.
How to use DISM command?
The following dism commands are commonly used for repair corrupted Windows files.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
This command check for your Windows Image health. You can run it as mentioned above.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
This option starts deeper searches for corrupted windows files and components.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This is one of the most useful commands in DISM. The RestoreHealth option scans for common corruption and fix them.
[image]
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Method 11: Re-install the affected application
Sometimes, Re-installing apps may help to recover from a dll error. Due to various reasons, sometimes components of some applications get damaged, corrupted, or replaced by several malicious program and cause a dll error. What you need to do is just remove the apps completely from Windows 10 & Windows 11 machine and then download the latest version of your apps from the official site and install it. This process will re-register the apps once again and your PC will be set free from the further dll error.
Method 12: Start PC in Clean Boot Mode
Clean boot mode helps you to diagnosis the problem in the clean windows environment. When you start your PC in clean boot mode, it cuts-off all the third-party applications, drivers and services and allows your PC to start with only necessary and minimal drivers and services. The benefit of starting your PC in clean boot mode is, it removes the other third-party software conflicts, crashed or other issue so you can easily diagnose the problematic area and fix them. Read this article to know how to start Windows 10 & 11 in clean boot mode.
Clean Boot Startup to Windows 7/8/10 – Step by Step
Method 13: System Restore
System Restore is a technique of reverting back your PC to the stage when it was running good before appearing the dll not found error. This method has been used by computer users for long time to fix or avoid deep PC problems. If you have created System Restore Point earlier, then you are on the safe side and can easily Reset Windows PC without losing your data and files and apps.
Method 14: Repair Windows 10 & 11 Installation using USB
It is the last option to fix dll not found error and all the other errors from your Windows machine without losing your data, files, and apps. In this method, you repair windows installation using the bootable windows 10 or Windows 11 usb stick. To perform this issue, you need to have the bootable windows usb stick. If you don’t have one, see how to Create Bootable Pen Drive using Media Creation Tool – Windows 10 & 11.
Summary:
DLL is very important file for Windows OS and if this file gets damaged, corrupted, missing or replaced by other apps you will start getting “dll not found error”. In this article, I explained 14 useful methods to fix “dll is missing” error on Windows 10 & 11.
